The history of East German football and the 1974 World Cup, Haus des Gastes

Lecture with Thomas Lukow 

As everywhere in the world, football played a major role in East Germany and offered strong potential for identification. Due to the division of the country and the political realities, East German football was quite restricted. This doesn't mean there weren't any talented players. Jürgen Croy and Joachim Streich are examples of this.

For example, 1. FC Union Berlin, despite winning the FDGB Cup in 1968, was ineligible to participate in the European Cup Winners' Cup. The speaker explains the reasons for this, as well as the curious fact that 1. FC Hansa Rostock emerged from a Saxon Oberliga team. The unique characteristics of the East German Oberliga are equally interesting, as are the stories of coaches and players who experienced a wide range of successes and defeats.

The presentation revolves around the only European Cup victory for an East German team, achieved by 1. FC Magdeburg, as well as East Germany's sixth-place finish at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. This too is not without its absurdities. The tragic story of Lutz Eigendorf still resonates today. The speaker has researched extensive documents from archives and files on this and all the other topics, presenting them in a multimedia format. 

• Maps are available at the tourist information offices.
• at www.kaiserbaeder-auf-usedom.de
• Entrance fee: €5,00