The
Gauliga Baden was the highest football league in the
GermanGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
state of
BadenBaden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
from 1933 to 1945. Shortly after the formation of the league, the Nazis reorganised the administrative regions in Germany, and the
Gau Baden replaced the state
Baden.
Overview
The league was introduced in 1933, after the
Nazi take over of powerMachtergreifung is a German word meaning "seizure of power". It is normally used specifically to refer to the Nazi takeover of power in the democratic Weimar Republic on 30 January 1933, the day Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor of Germany, turning it into the Nazi German dictatorship.-Term:The...
in Germany and Baden. It replaced the
BezirksligaThe Bezirksliga, Bezirksklasse or Landesklasse is the 8th tier of football in Germany. The Bezirksliga exists in all regions of German football. Below the Bezirksliga usually ranks the Kreisliga...
as the highest level of play in German football competitions.
The
Gauliga Baden was established with ten clubs, all from the state of Baden.
The Gauliga replaced as such the
Bezirksliga Württemberg-BadenThe Bezirksliga Württemberg-Baden was the highest association football league in the German states of Württemberg and Baden and the Prussian Province of Hohenzollern from 1923 to 1933. The league was disbanded with the rise of the Nazis to power in 1933....
and
Bezirksliga Rhein-SaarThe Bezirksliga Rhein-Saar was the highest association football league in the German state of Saarland, the Bavarian region of Palatinate and the northern-most part of Baden from 1927 to 1933...
, the highest leagues in the region until then.
In its first season, the league had ten clubs, playing each other once at home and once away. The league winner qualified for the
German championshipThe German football champions are the annual winners of the highest association football competition in Germany. The history of the German football championship is complex and reflects the turbulent history of the country through the course of the 20th century.Brought to the country by English...
while the bottom two teams were relegated. The league remained unchanged until the outbreake of
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In this era, the only success to come for a club from Baden was, when the
SV Waldhof MannheimSV Waldhof Mannheim is a German association football club, located in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg. The club today has a membership of over 2,400.-History:...
reached the German cup final in 1939, losing to the 1. FC Nuremberg.
In 1939-40, the league played in four different groups with a finals round at the end to determined the Baden champion. The year after, it returned to its old system.
For the 1941-42 season, the
Gauliga Baden split into a northern and a southern group with six teams each and a four-team finals round. In 1942-43 it returned to a single, ten-team format. Another change of system for the season after meant 19 clubs in three groups with a three team-finals round.
The imminent collapse of
Nazi GermanyNazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in 1945 gravely affected all
Gauligas and football in Baden ceased in January 1945 with none of the groups having absolved their full program.
With the end of the Nazi era, the
Gauligas ceased to exist and the state of Baden found itself sub divided between two
allied occupation zonesThe Allied powers who defeated Nazi Germany in World War II divided the country west of the Oder-Neisse line into four occupation zones for administrative purposes during 1945–49. In the closing weeks of fighting in Europe, US forces had pushed beyond the previously agreed boundaries for the...
, the
French zoneThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the south and the US zone in the north.
The northern half soon saw the formation of the
Oberliga SüdThe Oberliga Süd was the highest level of the German football league system in the south of Germany from 1945 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963.It covered the three states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hessen.-Overview:...
as the highest football league for the US occupation zone, while the south became part of the
Oberliga SüdwestThe Oberliga Südwest was the highest level of the German football league system in the southwest of Germany from 1945 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. It covered the two states of Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland.-Overview:...
.
Founding members of the league
The ten founding members and their positions in the 1932-33
Bezirksliga Württemberg/Baden and
Bezirksliga Rhein/Saar season were:
- SV Waldhof Mannheim
SV Waldhof Mannheim is a German association football club, located in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg. The club today has a membership of over 2,400.-History:...
, winner Rhein division
- VfR Mannheim
VfR Mannheim is a German association football club based in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg formed in 1911 out of the fusion of Mannheimer FG 1896, Mannheimer FG 1897 Union, and FC Viktoria 1897 Mannheim...
, 5th Rhein division
- Freiburger FC
Freiburger FC is a German association football club based in Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg. Freiburger FC was a founding Clubs of the DFB in 1900.-History:...
, 4th Baden division
- Phönix Karlsruhe, winner Baden division
- 1. FC Pforzheim
1. FC Pforzheim was a German association football club playing in Pforzheim, Baden-Württemberg. The club was established on 5 May 1896 and was a founding member of the German Football Association in Leipzig in 1900. In 2010 it merged with VfR Pforzheim to 1. CfR Pforzheim.-Early success:The club...
, 4th Württemberg division
- Karlsruher FV
Karlsruher FV is a German association football club that plays in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg. Established on 17 November 1891, KFV was a founding member of the German Football Association in 1900. The team went on to capture the national championship in 1910 with a 1–0 victory over Holstein Kiel...
, 2nd Baden division
- VfL Neckarau
VfL Neckarau is a German association football club from the district of Neckarau in the city of Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg.-Foundation and early years:...
, 3rd Rhein division
- VfB Mühlburg, merger club of VfB Karlsruhe (3rd) and FC Mühlburg (5th)
- Germania Brötzingen
Germania Brötzingen is a German association football club from the district of Brötzingen in Pforzheim, Baden-Württemberg. Together with the 1. FC Pforzheim and VfR Pforzheim, it is one of three clubs in the city who have played higher league football....
, 6th Württemberg division
- SC Freiburg
Sport-Club Freiburg, commonly known as SC Freiburg, is a German association football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. SC Freiburg has played in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, since their promotion in 2009...
, 6th Baden division
Winners and runners-up of the Gauliga Baden
| Season |
Winner |
Runner-Up |
| 1933-34 |
SV Waldhof Mannheim |
VfR Mannheim |
| 1934-35 |
VfR Mannheim |
Phönix Karlsruhe |
| 1935-36 |
SV Waldhof Mannheim |
1. FC Pforzheim |
| 1936-37 |
SV Waldhof Mannheim |
VfR Mannheim |
| 1937-38 |
VfR Mannheim |
1. FC Pforzheim |
| 1938-39 |
VfR Mannheim |
1. FC Pforzheim |
| 1939-40 |
SV Waldhof Mannheim |
VfB Mühlburg |
| 1940-41 |
VfL Neckarau |
VfB Mühlburg |
| 1941-42 |
SV Waldhof Mannheim |
VfB Mühlburg |
| 1942-43 |
VfR Mannheim |
VfTuR Feudenheim |
| 1943-44 |
VfR Mannheim |
VfB Mühlburg |
Placings in the Gauliga Baden 1933-44
| Club |
1934 |
1935 |
1936 |
1937 |
1938 |
1939 |
1940 |
1941 |
1942 |
1943 |
1944 |
SV Waldhof MannheimSV Waldhof Mannheim is a German association football club, located in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg. The club today has a membership of over 2,400.-History:...
|
1 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
VfR MannheimVfR Mannheim is a German association football club based in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg formed in 1911 out of the fusion of Mannheimer FG 1896, Mannheimer FG 1897 Union, and FC Viktoria 1897 Mannheim...
|
2 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
Freiburger FCFreiburger FC is a German association football club based in Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg. Freiburger FC was a founding Clubs of the DFB in 1900.-History:...
|
3 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
1 |
| Phönix Karlsruhe 1 |
4 |
2 |
10 |
|
6 |
7 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
10 |
|
1. FC Pforzheim1. FC Pforzheim was a German association football club playing in Pforzheim, Baden-Württemberg. The club was established on 5 May 1896 and was a founding member of the German Football Association in Leipzig in 1900. In 2010 it merged with VfR Pforzheim to 1. CfR Pforzheim.-Early success:The club...
|
5 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
Karlsruher FVKarlsruher FV is a German association football club that plays in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg. Established on 17 November 1891, KFV was a founding member of the German Football Association in 1900. The team went on to capture the national championship in 1910 with a 1–0 victory over Holstein Kiel...
|
6 |
8 |
3 |
9 |
|
6 |
5 |
9 |
|
|
5 |
| VfL Neckarau VfL Neckarau is a German association football club from the district of Neckarau in the city of Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg.-Foundation and early years:...
|
7 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
8 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
8 |
4 |
| VfB Mühlburg |
8 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
8 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
Germania BrötzingenGermania Brötzingen is a German association football club from the district of Brötzingen in Pforzheim, Baden-Württemberg. Together with the 1. FC Pforzheim and VfR Pforzheim, it is one of three clubs in the city who have played higher league football....
|
9 |
|
6 |
7 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| SC Freiburg Sport-Club Freiburg, commonly known as SC Freiburg, is a German association football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. SC Freiburg has played in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, since their promotion in 2009...
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
6 |
|
6 |
| Germania Karlsdorf |
|
9 |
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
| FC Mannheim 08 |
|
10 |
|
|
|
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| Amicitia Viernheim |
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
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|
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| SV Sandhofen |
|
|
|
8 |
7 |
9 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
|
|
| FC Rastatt 04 FC Rastatt is a German association football club from the city of Rastatt, Baden-Württemberg. It was established as Fußball-Klub Rastatt on 9 October 1904 at the Gasthaus zur Linde. A 1919 union with Fußball-Club Phoenix created Rastatt Fußballverein 04, which merged with Frankonia 1912 Rastatt on...
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|
10 |
|
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6 |
|
4 |
9 |
2 |
Kehler FVKehler FV is a German association football club from the town of Kehl, Baden-Württemberg. In addition to fielding a football side, the club has departments for athletics, and badminton, as well as general fitness and recreational sport.-History:...
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9 |
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Offenburger FVThe Offenburger FV is a German association football club from the city of Offenburg, Baden-Württemberg. The club is one of the most successful amateur football clubs in Germany.-Early years:...
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|
10 |
2 |
|
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|
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| SGK Heidelberg |
|
|
|
|
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|
6 |
|
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|
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| FC Birkenfeld |
|
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|
|
|
2 |
10 |
|
|
|
VfR AchernVfR Achern is a German football club from the city of Achern, Baden-Württemberg near the Hornisgrinde mountain. The club was established on 17 October 1907 as Fußball-Club Achern and adopted the name Verein für Rasenspiele Achern in 1910.-History:...
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1 |
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| FV Lahr |
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|
3 |
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| Jahn Offenburg |
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|
4 |
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| FC Gutach |
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3 |
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| FV Emmendingen |
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|
4 |
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|
4 |
| FC Waldkirch |
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5 |
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| VfTuR Feudenheim |
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|
5 |
2 |
3 |
| SG Plankstadt |
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|
6 |
|
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| FV Daxlanden |
|
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|
7 |
6 |
| SC Käfertal |
|
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|
2 |
| KSG Walldorf |
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|
6 |
VfR PforzheimThe VfR Pforzheim was a German association football club from the city of Pforzheim, Baden-Württemberg. The club archived notability by playing in Germany's second division in the 1965–66 season. In 2010 the club merged with 1. FC Pforzheim to form 1...
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|
4 |
| KSG Karlsruhe 1 |
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|
7 |
| Luftwaffen SV Freiburg |
|
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2 |
| SpVgg Wiehre |
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|
3 |
| Kickers Haslach |
|
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|
5 |
Source:
- 1 In 1943, the Phönix Karlsruhe and Germania Durlach formed the KSG Karlsruhe.
Sources
- Die deutschen Gauligen 1933-45 - Heft 1-3 Tables of the Gauligas 1933-45, publisher: DSFS
- Kicker Almanach, The yearbook on German football from Bundesliga to Oberliga, since 1937, published by the Kicker Sports Magazine
kicker Sportmagazin is Germany's leading sports magazine and is focused primarily on football. The magazine was founded in 1920 by German football pioneer Walther Bensemann and is published twice a week, usually Monday and Thursday, in Nuremberg...
- Süddeutschlands Fussballgeschichte in Tabellenform 1897-1988 History of Southern German football in tables, publisher & author: Ludolf Hyll
External links
The Gauligas Das Deutsche Fussball Archiv