Polizei SV Berlin
Encyclopedia
SV Polizei Berlin was a German association football club
from the city of Berlin
(SV is the abbreviation of 'Sportverein', i.e., sports club). The early 1920s saw the formation of sports clubs for police and postal workers which included the establishment on 1 June 1921 of Sport-Verein Schutzpolizei Berlin as the club of the city's police force. It was re-named Polizei SV Berlin in 1922 and advanced to play first division football in the Oberliga Berlin
for a single season in 1926–27. They returned to Oberliga play in 1929 for a three year turn that ended after a 9th place finish in 1932. In 1930, the club took part in the Berliner Pokal (Berlin Cup) and went out 1:2 to Minerva 93 Berlin
in a quarterfinal match.
. SV did not immediately qualify, but took part in a qualification playoff in 1934 versus Spandauer BC. Each club enjoyed a 2:0 victory over the other before SV won the third and deciding match 4:0. Polizei would be in and out of Gauliga Berlin-Brandenburg
(I) play over the next ten years through to the end of World War II
. They made their only appearance in national cup play in the opening round of the Tschammerspokal, predecessor to today's DFB-Pokal
(German Cup), in 1938, where they were put out by Vorwärts-Rasensport Gleiwitz
(2:3). In 1941, the club was re-named Sportgemeinschaft der Ordnungspolizei Berlin. They began the 1944–45 season in second division play, but re-joined Gauliga competition to take the place of air force team Luftwaffen SV Berlin
which was disbanded in September 1944.
Following the war, occupying Allied authorities banned organizations across the country, including sports and football clubs, a part of the process of de-Nazification. Polizei was not re-established until 17 July 1949 under the name Polizei SV Grün-Weiß Berlin. The re-constituted club was banned in 1950, but quickly remade as VfL Sportfreunde Berlin. It took on its identity as a police side again on 31 December 1952 when it returned to its roots as Polizei SV. The division of the city during the Cold War
into eastern
and western
sectors led the formation of a second police club known as SG Volkspolizei Potsdam which became part of the separate competition
that emerged in East Germany.
Throughout this period, the SV played as a lower tier local side. The club returned to note in 1957, fielding a strong side in the Amateurliga Berlin (II) that finished second in 1959 and won the division title in 1960. They passed on the opportunity for promotion to the Oberliga Berlin
to remain in second tier play and allowing third-placed Kickers 1900 Berlin
to advance in their stead, along with vice-champions BFC Südring
. That title put Polizei into qualifying play for the German national amateur championship, where they were immediately eliminated (1:3) by 1. FC Kaiserslautern Amateure
.
The team crashed the next year, ending the 1960–61 season at the bottom of the table in 16th place. After a two year absence, Polizei returned to the Amateurliga in 1963, which had become a third-tier circuit with the formation of the Bundesliga
, Germany's new professional first division. They would remain an Amateurliga side until being relegated in 1977. Generally a mid-to-lower tier club, their best result over this period was a 3rd place earned in 1973–74.
In 1991, the football department of the police club merged with 1. FC Concordia Gropiusstadt-Buckow to create PSV Concordia Gropiusstadt. That club joined VfB Britz in 1999 to form present-day side VfB Concordia Britz.
Football in Germany
Association football is the most popular sport in Germany. The German Football Association is the sport's national governing body, with 6.6 million members organized in over 26,000 football clubs. There is a league system, with the 1. and 2. Bundesliga on top, and the winner of the first...
from the city of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
(SV is the abbreviation of 'Sportverein', i.e., sports club). The early 1920s saw the formation of sports clubs for police and postal workers which included the establishment on 1 June 1921 of Sport-Verein Schutzpolizei Berlin as the club of the city's police force. It was re-named Polizei SV Berlin in 1922 and advanced to play first division football in the Oberliga Berlin
Oberliga Berlin-Brandenburg
The Oberliga Berlin-Brandenburg was the highest association football competition in the Prussian Province of Brandenburg, including Berlin, from 1923 to 1933...
for a single season in 1926–27. They returned to Oberliga play in 1929 for a three year turn that ended after a 9th place finish in 1932. In 1930, the club took part in the Berliner Pokal (Berlin Cup) and went out 1:2 to Minerva 93 Berlin
Minerva Berlin
Minerva Berlin is a German association football club from the city of Berlin. The club was established 10 May 1893 as Berliner Fußball Club Minerva taking its name from the Roman goddess of wisdom...
in a quarterfinal match.
History
Germany's regional football leagues were re-organized in 1933 under the Third Reich into 16 top-flight GauligenGauliga
A Gauliga was the highest level of play in German football from 1934-45. The leagues were introduced in 1933, after the Nazi takeover of power by the Sports office of the Third Reich.-Name:...
. SV did not immediately qualify, but took part in a qualification playoff in 1934 versus Spandauer BC. Each club enjoyed a 2:0 victory over the other before SV won the third and deciding match 4:0. Polizei would be in and out of Gauliga Berlin-Brandenburg
Gauliga Berlin-Brandenburg
The Gauliga Berlin-Brandenburg was the highest football league in the provinces of Brandenburg and Berlin in the German state of Prussia from 1933 to 1945...
(I) play over the next ten years through to the end of World War II
World War II
World 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...
. They made their only appearance in national cup play in the opening round of the Tschammerspokal, predecessor to today's DFB-Pokal
DFB-Pokal
The DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
(German Cup), in 1938, where they were put out by Vorwärts-Rasensport Gleiwitz
Vorwärts-Rasensport Gleiwitz
Vorwärts-Rasensport Gleiwitz was a German association football club from the city of Gleiwitz, Upper Silesia, today Gliwice, Poland.-History:...
(2:3). In 1941, the club was re-named Sportgemeinschaft der Ordnungspolizei Berlin. They began the 1944–45 season in second division play, but re-joined Gauliga competition to take the place of air force team Luftwaffen SV Berlin
LSV Berlin
LSV Berlin was a short-lived German association football club from the city of Berlin. It served as the sports club for Luftwaffe personnel in the city during World War II and disappeared with the end of the conflict.- History :...
which was disbanded in September 1944.
Following the war, occupying Allied authorities banned organizations across the country, including sports and football clubs, a part of the process of de-Nazification. Polizei was not re-established until 17 July 1949 under the name Polizei SV Grün-Weiß Berlin. The re-constituted club was banned in 1950, but quickly remade as VfL Sportfreunde Berlin. It took on its identity as a police side again on 31 December 1952 when it returned to its roots as Polizei SV. The division of the city during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
into eastern
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
and western
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
sectors led the formation of a second police club known as SG Volkspolizei Potsdam which became part of the separate competition
Deutscher Fußball-Verband der DDR
The Deutscher Fußball-Verband der DDR was since the 1950s the football association of the German Democratic Republic, fielding the East Germany national football team until 1990 before rejoining its counterpart, the German Football Association DFB, which had been founded in 1904....
that emerged in East Germany.
Throughout this period, the SV played as a lower tier local side. The club returned to note in 1957, fielding a strong side in the Amateurliga Berlin (II) that finished second in 1959 and won the division title in 1960. They passed on the opportunity for promotion to the Oberliga Berlin
Oberliga Berlin (1945-63)
The Oberliga Berlin was the highest level of the German football league system in the city of West-Berlin in Germany from 1945 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. It was by far the smallest of the five Oberligas.-Overview:...
to remain in second tier play and allowing third-placed Kickers 1900 Berlin
BSC Kickers 1900 Berlin
BSC Kickers 1900 Berlin is a German association football club from the Schöneberg district of south central Berlin. The roots of the club are in the establishment of Berliner Thor- und Fußball Club Elf on 1 November 1900...
to advance in their stead, along with vice-champions BFC Südring
BFC Südring
BFC Südring is a German football club from the city of Berlin. The club was formed on 15 June 1935 as Sportclub Südring Berlin out of the membership of Spielvereinigung Fichte Berlin, a worker's club that was banned in 1933 under the politically motivated policies of the Third Reich, which saw the...
. That title put Polizei into qualifying play for the German national amateur championship, where they were immediately eliminated (1:3) by 1. FC Kaiserslautern Amateure
1. FC Kaiserslautern
1. Fußball-Club Kaiserslautern, also known as 1. FCK, FCK or simply Kaiserslautern, is a German association football club based in Kaiserslautern, Rhineland-Palatinate. On 2 June 1900, Germania 1896 and FG Kaiserslautern merged to create FC 1900...
.
The team crashed the next year, ending the 1960–61 season at the bottom of the table in 16th place. After a two year absence, Polizei returned to the Amateurliga in 1963, which had become a third-tier circuit with the formation of the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
, Germany's new professional first division. They would remain an Amateurliga side until being relegated in 1977. Generally a mid-to-lower tier club, their best result over this period was a 3rd place earned in 1973–74.
In 1991, the football department of the police club merged with 1. FC Concordia Gropiusstadt-Buckow to create PSV Concordia Gropiusstadt. That club joined VfB Britz in 1999 to form present-day side VfB Concordia Britz.