Kurt Landauer
Encyclopedia
Kurt Landauer was a German entrepreneur. His profession is officially listed as "merchant", but his claim to fame are his three tenures as the president of the football
club FC Bayern Munich
. To date he remains the president with the longest time in office.
Landauer was born in Planegg
(close to Munich
), and joined Bayern in 1901 as a player still in his youth. He had to leave for Lausanne
shortly afterwards, but returned to Munich in 1905. In 1913 he was elected president of the club for the first time but the war
ended his tenure already in 1914. When Landauer returned to Munich after the war he was elected for a second tenure as president. This one lasted until 1933 with a one-year intermission in 1921–22. He was the first to take the club to national championship honours, when Bayern defeated Eintracht Frankfurt
in the final of 1932
. Again Landauer was forced to leave the club due to political events. The rise of the Nazis
to power made him resign office on 22 March 1933.
Being Jewish, Landauer was arrested by the Nazis on 10 November 1938 and carried to KZ Dachau. Due to his being a soldier in World War I he was allowed to leave Dachau after 33 days under arrest. He emigrated to Switzerland
on 15 March 1939. All but one of his brethren were afterwards murdered by Nazis. In 1940 Bayern Munich went to Geneva
for a friendly against the Swiss national team. When the players spotted Landauer, who was amongst the spectators they went to greet their former president. The Gestapo
was not amsused and threatened that this behaviour would have consequences.
In 1947 Landauer returned a third time to Munich and was once again appointed club president. This tenure lasted until 1951 when he was not elected again. Landauer died on 21 December 1961 in Munich.
Up to now he is the club's president with the longest accumulated tenure, Wilhelm Neudecker (†) (1962–79), widely considered as the "father of the modern FC Bayern", and Franz Beckenbauer
(since 1994) being the ones with the longest periods in office after him.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
. To date he remains the president with the longest time in office.
Landauer was born in Planegg
Planegg
Planegg is a municipality in the district of Munich, in Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the river Würm, 13 km west of Munich ....
(close to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
), and joined Bayern in 1901 as a player still in his youth. He had to leave for Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
shortly afterwards, but returned to Munich in 1905. In 1913 he was elected president of the club for the first time but the war
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
ended his tenure already in 1914. When Landauer returned to Munich after the war he was elected for a second tenure as president. This one lasted until 1933 with a one-year intermission in 1921–22. He was the first to take the club to national championship honours, when Bayern defeated Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt is a German sports club, based in Frankfurt, Hesse that is best known for its association football club.- Club origins :...
in the final of 1932
German football championship 1932
The 25th German football championship ended with the first national title for FC Bayern Munich. The title was won with a 2–0 over Eintracht Frankfurt. It was a replay of the Southern German championship final, in which Eintracht had defeated Bayern 2-0 on 24 April 1932.For both clubs it was their...
. Again Landauer was forced to leave the club due to political events. The rise of the Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
to power made him resign office on 22 March 1933.
Being Jewish, Landauer was arrested by the Nazis on 10 November 1938 and carried to KZ Dachau. Due to his being a soldier in World War I he was allowed to leave Dachau after 33 days under arrest. He emigrated to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
on 15 March 1939. All but one of his brethren were afterwards murdered by Nazis. In 1940 Bayern Munich went to Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
for a friendly against the Swiss national team. When the players spotted Landauer, who was amongst the spectators they went to greet their former president. The Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
was not amsused and threatened that this behaviour would have consequences.
In 1947 Landauer returned a third time to Munich and was once again appointed club president. This tenure lasted until 1951 when he was not elected again. Landauer died on 21 December 1961 in Munich.
Up to now he is the club's president with the longest accumulated tenure, Wilhelm Neudecker (†) (1962–79), widely considered as the "father of the modern FC Bayern", and Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" , and his dominance on the football pitch...
(since 1994) being the ones with the longest periods in office after him.
External links
- Onkel Kurt und die Bayern — An essay about Landauer in Die ZeitDie ZeitDie Zeit is a German nationwide weekly newspaper that is highly respected for its quality journalism.With a circulation of 488,036 and an estimated readership of slightly above 2 million, it is the most widely read German weekly newspaper...
(in German)