Stadion Wisły pod okupacją (English)

Z Historia Wisły

Wisła Stadium Under Occupation

As we have mentioned before, the legal activity of Polish clubs in the General Government (GG) territories was prohibited. The decree from the General Governor on July 23, 1940, dissolved existing Polish associations in the GG, including all sports organizations.

In fact, by the end of October 1939, Wisła Stadium, along with its movable and immovable assets (including sports equipment), was handed over for use to the 3rd Landesschützenregiment.

The formal regulation of the confiscation of sports assets, both movable and immovable, was established in January and February 1940. The mayor of Kraków, Schmid, sent a letter to the Wisła authorities on February 19, 1940, stating:

“On the orders of the internal department at the General Governor’s office for occupied Polish territories dated January 29, 1940… I hereby requisition the sports facilities and equipment in your possession. You must refrain from disposing of the requisitioned sports objects and equipment and you are responsible to me for the proper and appropriate handling of the secured valuable items. You may continue to use the seized facilities and equipment until you receive further instructions. Please submit an inventory of the requisitioned sports facilities and equipment immediately.”

The requisitioned Wisła facilities included: the enclosed sports facility at 21 Aleja 3 Maja, a grandstand with seating for 1,200 people, a changing room, a standing-room grandstand, a bathroom (boiler under the grandstand), an Omega clock, and a guardhouse (2 rooms). It seems that already by late autumn of that year, German military formations stationed in Kraków were using the Wisła facility for sports purposes. This was reported by Tadeusz Orzelski, whom the Germans deceitfully made responsible for inventorying the Wisła sports equipment. In connection with this, he wrote to the city chief Bausenhardt (on April 12, 1940) as “responsible for the proper use of the seized items,” stating, “that various military formations currently using our equipment at the sports facility have failed to return it several times, which compels me to request that the inventory management no longer remain in my hands and that an order be issued in this matter.”

Similarly, other Kraków clubs experienced the same situation.

In the spring, Georg Niffka, the General Governor's representative for sports, conducted a comprehensive inventory of sports facilities in Kraków and ordered their renovation and adaptation “for the needs of German sports associations.” From the German perspective, he was an efficient organizer, as evidenced by the relatively quick restoration of, for example, the Cracovia stadium, which had been damaged in September 1939 due to bombing raids (part of the stands and the cycling track were damaged). As a reward, it was later named the SS- und Polizei Stadion.

Wisła Stadium, at least in its sports section, did not require any renovation work, as evidenced by the fact that football matches were held there from the autumn of 1939.

Thus, the Germans, by right of occupation, acquired the facilities and sports equipment. As a result, in the spring, German sports clubs began to appear in Kraków like mushrooms after the rain.

Deutsche Turn und Sportgemeinschaft Krakau (DTSG in Kraków) took over most of the requisitioned sports equipment from Polish clubs and became the main user of the representative sports complex known as Deutsche Kampfbahn. This complex included Wisła Stadium.

Deutsche Kampfbahn primarily included the facilities and grounds of the Municipal Sports Stadium, which construction began in the mid-1930s but was not completed before the outbreak of the war. Nevertheless, the main stadium with a six-lane cinder track, three football or handball fields, a paddling pool, a swimming pool, a diving pool, tennis courts, a shooting range, an amphitheater, and changing rooms was ready for use before the war and later revitalized by the Germans. The stands of these facilities were not yet fully completed.

Located in close proximity to Wisła Stadium, the occupying authorities decided that these two facilities should be merged into one. This is how the condition of the Wisła stadium was described in mid-April 1940 by the "Krakauer Zeitung":

“The Wisła Stadium, former Polish state club Wisła, bordering the stadium, has recently frequently hosted football matches between Kraków's military teams. It is not yet decided whether this pitch will also be available for soldiers in the future or if they will move to the Cracovia pitch. The Wisła pitch, with its long wooden grandstand, can accommodate 10,000 spectators, just like the Cracovia pitch. The ugly, semi-collapsing wooden fence surrounding this facility will soon be dismantled and replaced with a new, less obstructive fence.”

An internal fence within one sports complex made no sense, as “the entire facility will be surrounded by a uniform wooden fence with palings. Therefore, the ugly wooden fence around the ‘Wisła’ sports field, which does not fit with the overall framework of the complex, must also be removed. On the Wisła field itself, the not very attractive grandstand will be preserved for now. Later, a more massive, concrete grandstand will be built next to the athletics facility. Additionally, the cinder track of Wisła Stadium will be restored to its former shape and size,” it was reported at the end of April.

Deutsche Kampfbahn was formally opened on June 2. This was done with great pomp and propaganda flair, accompanied by a series of sporting events: athletics and football. The main celebrations, however, took place at the Municipal Stadium facilities. At this occasion, the Wisła proximity was also mentioned: “From the grandstand of the stadium, one can also see the former Wisła club stadium from the side. A large part of the ugly fence has already disappeared and both facilities with their well-maintained grassy surfaces have actually merged into one.”

The General Governor’s representative for sports, Niffka, was also expected to keep a vigilant eye on his sports domain, having “established his headquarters right in the middle of the German stadium area in Kraków, between the football fields, shooting ranges, and the newly constructed tennis courts, overlooking the swimming stadium, stadium, and Wisła pitch.”

The Germans’ self-satisfaction seemed boundless, and at the beginning of October, they once again boasted about the benefits bestowed upon Kraków by the German administrators. The surroundings of Wisła Stadium were given as an example: “The former Wisła Stadium was incorporated into the German stadium complex, the ugly, crooked wooden fence fell, the destroyed wooden and junky shacks were demolished, and a new stadium was built. The ruins were torn down, and an equally beautiful and solid fence was erected. The destroyed ticket booths were replaced with beautiful stone buildings. New wide entrances were constructed and a solid access road was laid.”

Although the photograph meant to document this looked more like a path in a labor camp, we will not argue with German aesthetics.

This concludes the discussion of the organizational situation of Wisła Stadium.

It is characteristic that in the early years of the occupation, the Germans had no problem with using the Polish name for the facility in their daily usage. It appeared in announcements and sports reports. This was likely for purely informational purposes, so that fans would not confuse Wisła’s football field with the one within the former Municipal Stadium complex. Furthermore, until mid-1940, the main stand still had the inscription “Towarzystwo Sportowe Wisła” (Wisła Sports Society). This was probably removed around the time of the ceremonial opening of the Deutsche Kampfbahn (i.e., at the beginning of June).

What were the terms used to refer to the Wisła facility at that time? Here is a list of the official names that were in use:

𝖂𝖎𝖘𝖑𝖆 𝕾𝖙𝖆𝖉𝖎𝖔𝖓 𝖂𝖎𝖘𝖑𝖆 𝕻𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖟 𝖂𝖎𝖘𝖑𝖆 𝖋𝖊𝖑𝖉 This was the case until the end of 1942. In the last years of the occupation, likely as part of a Germanization policy, the stadium was no longer identified in this way. Occasionally, the term 𝖂𝖊𝖎𝖈𝖍𝖘𝖊𝖑 𝕾𝖙𝖆𝖉𝖎𝖔𝖓 appeared, but it eventually came to be referred to solely as Deutsche Kampfbahn. Therefore, from 1943 onwards, there were doubts about whether specific football matches were played at Wisła Stadium or at the football field of the former Municipal Stadium.

Now, let’s focus on the purely sports aspect.

As mentioned several times, football matches “between Kraków’s military teams” were played at Wisła Stadium since the autumn of 1939. Such information appeared sporadically in the German press and, from early spring 1940, regularly and in quite detail.

This indicates that the pitch was in good condition throughout that time. Moreover, following announcements and sports reports, it seemed to be the main venue for football matches in Kraków. The fact that it also had a considerable number of seats in the stands (approx. 10,000) likely contributed to this. The number of matches played was impressive. Often, several football games were held over a weekend... How did the pitch endure this? Probably quite well, as its condition, based on known photographs, appeared more than decent. And this was the case until the end of the war. As is known, it was at Wisła Stadium that the first derby match between Wisła and Cracovia took place after the end of the German occupation.

1940

Until the end of March 1940, football in Kraków was purely recreational. However, regular football competitions began to be organized in the General Government (GG) very quickly. Initially, these were only local events, but they later expanded to include the Cup and Championships of the Third Reich.

The first known press reports about matches at Wisła Stadium date back to late March.

On March 27, Erzgängungtampfgruppe defeated Luftwaffenbaubatl. 3:2. On March 31, Flughaffenbereich defeated Luftwaffenbaubatl. 4:1. Matches were regularly played at Wisła Stadium every few days. It is even possible that more matches were played than were found in the press search, as not all reports specified the stadium where the match was held.

On April 21, there was an unusual score in the Flughafenbereich - Stawiko-Elf match (9:4). The match was attended by 4,000 spectators. A week later, Stawiko had to concede to Fernsprechbaukomp. At the beginning of May, SS Totenkopfstandarte competed with Kdo. Flughafenbereich, and the newspaper published a photo report on the match. On May 14, unexpectedly, the FBK team won the Kraków Cup at our stadium.

The "highlight" of the opening ceremony of the Deutsche Kampfbahn on June 2 was supposed to be a match between the Kraków and Warsaw teams. Despite the announcements, it seems that this match was played at the former Municipal Stadium. On June 6, a football and handball match was held between Luftwaffen SB and SS Sportgemeinschaft. On June 23, two matches were held in the Kraków District Championships. On June 29, three matches took place as part of the Kraków District Championships.

And so, week after week, Wisła Stadium regularly hosted championship (in various classes) and friendly matches. Sometimes as many as 4-5 matches in a weekend (e.g., July 20 and 21). Adding to this the matches during the week results in an impressive number of games. On September 15, a derby match between DTSG and Luftwaffen-SV. Krakau drew significant interest. The 2:1 victory brought the "Polish" club closer to winning the group championship. The competition with SS Krakau was also a "highlight" of the championship matches and determined the championship winner almost until the final stages.

Of course, Wisła Stadium hosted not only club teams but also national teams. A prestigious match between the Kraków and Eastern Upper Silesia teams took place there on August 4. The line-ups of both teams strongly resembled the pre-war rivalry. The Kraków team included Joksch, Góra, Skrzypiec, and the Pazurek brothers.

On August 24, the Vienna national team visited under the Wawel. In front of 7,000 spectators, they defeated the Kraków eleven 8:2. In the Kraków team, Joksch, Góra, and Stankusz played this time.

The stadium served not only footballers but also hosted athletics competitions and handball matches.

For example, on June 6, a handball match between Luftwaffen SB and SS Sportgemeinschaft was played. On August 25, the same teams returned for another match. On August 31, in a championship match, SS und Polizei Sportgemeinschaft faced Ostbahn Sportgemeinschaft. The following day, Ostbahn Sportgemeinschaft played against Polizei Sportgemeinschaft. On October 6, SS und Polizei Sportgemeinschaft again faced Ostbahn Sportgemeinschaft.

Wisła Stadium, 1941

In 1941, the football season at Wisła Stadium started in earnest in mid-March, with multiple matches often being played every few days. For instance, on March 15, the DTSG reserves played against the Poczta Kraków team, followed by the DTSG first team facing SG Tarnów. The following week, the DTSG first and second teams competed against Luftwaffen SV I and II.

During the Easter period (April 12-14), there were a series of four matches for the so-called Easter Cup.

On May 1, Germans celebrated at Wisła Stadium as Luftwaffen SV faced Krakauer Auswahlelf. During this match, Jan Borek photographed German soldiers standing outside the stadium, watching the game for free. His ironic comment highlighted that "football at Kraków's Wisła Stadium. A 'marginal' scene of the match. And after it, viewers rub their hands: Once again, saved 50 groszy! (And the footballers really need that money for equipment)." This comment provided insight into ticket prices and the presence of up to 1,000 spectators at the stadium [9].

On May 18, the Ukrainian Championships began at Wisła Stadium.

Following this, the schedule returned to regular league play. However, there was a noticeable decrease in the frequency of matches at Wisła Stadium. Other Kraków sports venues, such as Ostbahn Platz, Cracovia Stadium (SS und Polizei Stadion), and Olsza (where handball matches were frequently held), were used more often.

Between late May and early June, Wisła Stadium hosted five matches, including one handball game.

A notable addition to the football scene was the competition between German teams from GG in the Tschammer-Pokal (German Cup). DTSG Kraków proved to be a revelation in these matches, defeating "Sturm" Litzmannstadt Pabianice 7:1 on June 8, and then eliminating LSV Krakau 4:1 in the final on June 29. This victory allowed DTSG Kraków, as a representative of GG, to advance to the next phase of the competition. These matches were, of course, held at Wisła Stadium. In the match against Sturm, Polish players Majowski (2), Góra, and Stankusz (1 each) contributed to the score. Polish players also played a prominent role in the final, with Józef Smoczek joining the previously mentioned names.

Subsequent matches, within the GG championships, were regularly held at Wisła Stadium in the following months.

It is worth noting that by late autumn, the term Deutsche Kampfbahn frequently appeared in reports, without specifying whether the matches were held at Wisła Stadium.

Wisła Stadium, 1942

The football season in occupied Kraków in 1942 began with friendly matches at the end of March. As with the previous autumn, reports frequently only referred to Deutsche Kampfbahn without specifying whether the matches were held at Wisła Stadium. It is possible that less attractive opponents and lower spectator interest led to these matches not being played at Wisła Stadium. Instead, Cracovia's stadium (SS und Polizei Platz) was increasingly used.

Wisła Stadium briefly returned to media attention between late May and early June, although the number of matches held there was not as high as before. The overall frequency of sporting events in GG decreased, likely due to intensifying battles not only on the Eastern Front. German clubs, primarily based on military units, reduced their activity.

On June 27 and 28, however, matches in the Kraków district championship were held twice at Wisła Stadium.

On July 12, a match between GG and Upper Silesia was played at Deutsche Kampfbahn, attracting 3,000 spectators. Given the attendance, it is possible that this match took place at Wisła Stadium. With fewer photographs of sports events being published, it is challenging to definitively determine the location of subsequent football matches.

It is confirmed that Wisła Stadium hosted the notable match between the Kraków District and Eastern Slovakia on August 23, which ended in a 3-3 draw [10].

In the GG Handball Championships, on October 11, a match between LSV Adler Deblin and Ostbahn-SG Krakau was held at Wisła-Stadion der Deutschen Kampfbahn.

October and November were months when DTSG typically played championship matches at Wisła-Stadion with a significant number of Polish players participating, which is discussed elsewhere.

Wisła Stadium, 1943-1944

The evolution of Wisła Stadium’s use and naming during WWII reflects the shifting priorities and circumstances of the time. Initially, despite the occupation, the stadium continued to host matches and maintain its role as a significant sports venue. Over the years, as the war intensified and Allied forces approached, the number of sporting events diminished, and the stadium’s name shifted to align more with German administrative preferences.

By late 1944, the frequency of events decreased, and the stadium's role shifted towards other uses, but it remained in relatively good condition. This preservation allowed for a swift transition back to sports use after the war, highlighting its importance and the care with which it was maintained even during tumultuous times.