Football fan culture started in the football motherland, Football fan culture started in the football motherland, England, in the 1960s and spread throughout Europe from there, conquering stadiums in both West and East Germany. grundsätzlich suspekt. schaftsgefühl der Fans als auch der emotional-euphorische Aspekt werden abgelehnt und als „Massenpsychose“ gedeutet. In der DDR entstehen Fanclubs nach westlichem Vorbild, die allerdings mehrheitlich als nicht registrierte Gruppen illegal existieren. Sie gelten in den Augen der SED als unberechenbarer Faktor und mögliche Sammelbecken politischer Opposition. Deshalb sollen die Fanclubs „zersetzt“, das heißt aufgelöst oder unter die Kontrolle der Fußballclubs gebracht werden. Der Name ebenso wie die Utensilien und Fahnen haben, so der Wunsch der Sportführung, streng der Symbolik der Fußballclubs zu entsprechen. Die Sicherheitskräfte erhalten deshalb den Auftrag, die „wilden“ Fangruppen mit geheimpolizeilichen Methoden zu identifizieren und zu zerschlagen.
Ein anderes Ärgernis ist aus SED-Sicht die gesamtdeutsche Identität, die sich auf den Stadionrängen bemerkbar macht. DDR-Fans usually keep their top league team a West German Bundesliga team or the German national league at the same time. national team. Western fan symbolism as well as any form of expression of sympathy, however, is politically undesirable. GDR fans who made contact with West German fans or stars such as Franz Beckenbauer or Helmut Schön at soccer matches of Bundesliga teams in the GDR. get caught up in the surveillance and People’s Police and Stasi control network. The trips made by GDR fans to watch West German teams play in the socialist Neighboring countries have been closely closely monitored.
Zoom into the crowd: In 1986, the MfS takes a look at the Union guest block at the Oberliga match between 1 FC Union Berlin and league rivals Fortschritt Bischofswerda. In the center of the photo, a member of the “Lichtenberger Union-Fanclub Borussen” is photographed standing with his back to the pitch. His frock is adorned with a self-designed fan club logo, including the Union Jack, the national flag of Great Britain. (3)
Banners from fan clubs of FC Karl-Marx-Stadt. The use of western, bourgeois club names such as “Fortuna” or “Eintracht” is already considered a provocation. Karl-Marx-Stadt, Dr.-Kurt-Fischer-Stadion: FC Karl-Marx-Stadt’s first league match, 1985/86 season (4).
In December 1982, a supporter and supporting member of BFC Dynamo is “brought in” by the People’s Police in the run-up to the match in Jena because he has a banned flag with him. The self-made flag shows the national flags of the four Allied victorious powers
of the Second World War, which at that time still held certain sovereign rights in both German states and especially in divided Berlin. The fan had already displayed the banner at FC Carl Zeiss Jena’s cup match against BFC a few weeks earlier.
previously shown to the public. (5, 6, 7)
In order to infiltrate the fan clubs, the MfS deployed unofficial agents (IM) in various fan clubs in the 1980s. Advertising is sometimes carried out in a repressive manner, as some violent fans exchange immunity from prosecution after their arrest for a job as an informer for the Stasi. The IM’s mission is to provide photos of stadium visitors and fan club members. A Rostock IM and soccer fan of FC Hansa hands over blurred photos of a visit to the “Bloody Angels” fan club in East Berlin to the MfS. (9, 10)
Banners from various fan clubs of 1. FC Union Berlin at the Union away match at Energie Cottbus 1987. The People’s Police and the Stasi know from their observations that some of these fan clubs maintain intensive relations with West Berlin fan clubs of Hertha BSC. (20)
Fan of 1. FC Lok Leipzig during identification treatment after a “feed”. The man from Leipzig was arrested together with other Lok fans for the “Ruppen”, i.e. theft, of a BFC fan scarf in the run-up to the Leipzig Lok team’s match against BFC Dynamo in East Berlin in 1978. An emblem is visible on his right arm showing him as a fan of the West German Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04. (21)
Panel of an internal MfS exhibition presenting the successful “processing” of the GDR soccer fan scene by the security forces under the headings “Football abuse” and “Youth as an object of attack – colorful, primitive, dangerous”. It shows the patches of the Bundesliga clubs Hertha BSC, Hamburger Sportverein and 1. FC Köln detached from the fan shirts. The “battle song” of 1. FC Union, which celebrates the friendship with the supporters of Hertha BSC across the wall, is also printed. (23)
BFC Dynamo supporters are involved in a brawl near the stadium. The MfS documents the events with a hidden camera. A fan of the BFC wears the inscription of the Hamburger Sportverein (HSV) on his denim jacket as a sign of his favorite club in the Bundesliga. East Berlin, around the mid-1980s. (24)
A Union fan is targeted by the Volkspolizei photographers at his club’s match against 1 FC Magdeburg at the An der Alten Försterei stadium in 1977. The fan is wearing a pennant from the 1977 DFB Cup final attached to his jacket. Original commentary on the photo: “This youth was carrying a pennant with the inscription DFB (Association in the FRG) and a match of the West Berlin soccer club Hertha BSC.” (25)
In the summer of 1983, the Chemie-Leipzig fan club Möckern presents a special fence banner during the Chemiker’s Oberliga match against FC Hansa Rostock. Chemie fans admire the striker from SV Werder Bremen and the West German national team. But the idolization of Rudi Völler at Georg-Schwarz-Sportpark is short-lived. The stewards remove the unwanted banner from the stadium fence. (26, 27)
During the Oberliga match between 1. FC Union Berlin and Stahl Riesa in May 1977, a Volkspolizei photographer discovers a handmade banner with the inscription “Hertha” (for Hertha BSC) in the Union fan block at the An der Alten Försterei stadium. (28, 29)
In the Magdeburg fan block in May 1977, the People’s Police photographer notices a banner bearing the letters “HSV” (for Hamburger SV). East Berlin, An der Alten Försterei stadium: 1. FC Union Berlin – 1. FC Magdeburg. (30, 31)
In the guest block of FC Carl Zeiss Jena, the national flag of the Federal Republic of Germany is attached to the stadium fence together with a British Union Jack. Erfurt, Georgi-Dimitroff-Stadion: FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt – FC Carl Zeiss Jena, around the mid-1980s. (33)
In the BFC Dynamo fan block at Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark, a soccer fan (left) from the right-wing scene wears a Hamburger SV (HSV) jersey under his bomber jacket. East Berlin, around the end of the 1980s. (34)
Union fans display a fan scarf with the inscription “Hertha BSC” in the An der Alten Försterei stadium during the 1. FC Union Berlin Oberliga match against Stahl Riesa in May 1977. (35, 36)
European Champions Cup, second leg between 1. FC Magdeburg and FC Bayern Munich November 1974: FC Bayern Munich fans arrive in Magdeburg. The People’s Police prevent Magdeburg soccer fans from making contact with FC Bayern supporters. (38)
FC Bayern 1974 in Magdeburg: An unknown person waits for several hours outside the Interhotel Magdeburg to make contact with the FC Bayern team. The photo group of the German People’s Police in Magdeburg secretly documents the events. (39)

Like the MfS, the People’s Police sometimes worked undercover to record the fraternization of East and West German fan groups. A plainclothes police officer (“K-Angehöriger”) mingles with the crowd during a clash of fans in the run-up to FC Bayern’s European Cup match in Magdeburg in 1974. (40)
The West Berlin Hertha fan and head of the “Hertha Frogs”, known for their violent tendencies, Peter “Pepe” Mager, often travels to East Berlin to attend matches of 1 FC Union. Friendly relationships develop with Union fans. However, the MfS had long had Mager in its sights when he entered the GDR, as the photo of a meeting between Mager (right) and Union fans at the end of the 1970s documents. (41)
Two Magdeburg soccer fans wait at the bus of FC Bayern fans. They want to come into contact with West German soccer supporters on the fringes of FC Bayern’s European Cup duel in Magdeburg in 1974. The People’s Police mark them with arrows to determine their identity. (42)
Souvenir with the mascot of the 1974 World Cup. GDR soccer fans try to get hold of souvenirs such as pennants, autograph cards or key rings at matches with West German Bundesliga stars and fans. Magdeburg, second leg of the round of 16 in the 1974 European Champions Cup. (43)
Fans of Hertha BSC and 1. FC Union meet at Ostbahnhof in East Berlin in the summer of 1977 on the occasion of Hertha’s Intertoto match with Slovan Bratislava to travel together to the Czechoslovakia and cheer on Hertha. The MfS is prepared for this meeting at the station and initiates measures to record the fans from East and West. (44)
The bus of the Dutch top team PSV Eindhoven arrives at the Interhotel Magdeburg in March 1978 for the UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg. The People’s Police shield the team from the onlooking GDR fans. The original commentary on the photo shows that the security forces are satisfied: “Exit of the players in front of the Interhotel. No distribution of souvenirs. Orderly behavior.” (45)
Covert MfS photograph of VfB Stuttgart fans: the MfS photographer takes a picture of the action in Dresden city center from behind a reflective screen. UEFA Cup match between Dynamo Dresden and VfB Stuttgart in the fall of 1979. (50)
GDR soccer fans take a look through the window of the Interhotel “Neva” to see the stars of FC Bayern. Dresden city center, round of 16 of the European Champions Cup between Dynamo Dresden and FC Bayern Munich in 1973. (51)
The MfS secretly photographs the arrival of VfB Stuttgart fans in Dresden city center. Waiting family members or friends from Dresden are warmly embraced by the West German fans. The marking in the 2nd photo clearly shows that the East German person was processed for identification purposes. UEFA Cup match between Dynamo Dresden and VfB Stuttgart in the fall of 1979. (52, 53)
In autumn 1974, several hundred soccer fans from Magdeburg await the arrival of FC Bayern Munich in front of the Interhotel Magdeburg in police cordoned-off zones for the upcoming round of 16 in the European Cup of Champions between 1. FC Magdeburg and FC Bayern Munich. (55)
At Magdeburg main station, FC Bayern Munich fans arriving by train change to buses provided for them. Waiting GDR fans seek contact with the Bavarian supporters, as the MfS photograph taken secretly from an upper floor of the building makes clear. Round of 16, European Champion Clubs’ Cup between 1. FC Magdeburg and FC Bayern Munich, fall 1974. (56)
The capital letters H and C stand for “Hagen Club”, named after a Perleberg town park– Der Hagen. In 1970, the MfS district office in Perleberg became aware of the activities of a Group of amateur footballers who set up a private soccer club with a club fund within the company sports association “Einheit” without official permission. The players give themselves nicknames. One is called Beckenbauer, another is called Netzer. Such “glorification” of West German soccer and any form of self-organization are undesirable. The MfS initiates “measures to break up the club”. (57, 58)
The world champion coach of the 1974 West German national team, who left his
Helmut Schön, who fled his hometown of Dresden, is often away from home for private or international
Trainers’ congresses in the GDR. During his visits, the MfS regularly followed him in order to document his contacts with friends, relatives and fans. (59)
All-German in Dresden 1973: In the European Cup of the national champions in the round of sixteen German-German clash in the European Cup for the first time. In November 1973, Bayern Munich visits Dynamo Dresden. The DDR fans are thrilled and waiting to the arrival of the FC Bayern coach in Dresden. The stars from the West are pressured to sign autographs as soon as they get off the bus. The autographs are particularly popularcards from Bayern center forward Gerd Müller, who hands them out from the bus. (60)
Uli Hoeneß of FC Bayern Munich is besieged by GDR soccer fans in 1974 in the run-up to the round of 16 match in the European Cup of Champions between 1. FC Magdeburg and FC Bayern Munich. The fans clamor for an autograph from the Bayern star and world champion as he joins the numerous soccer fans waiting outside the Interhotel Magdeburg. (61)
Reminiscence of a West German soccer idol in Brand-Erbisdorf, Saxony: the team photo of FC Cosmos Brand-Erbisdorf, taken by a professional photographer, falls into the hands of the MfS in 1978. The amateur soccer players wear black and white jerseys with the inscription “COSMOS” to express their affection for former FC Bayern Munich star Franz Beckenbauer, who has played for Cosmos New York since 1977. (62)
East Berlin 1982: Hamburger SV and BFC Dynamo meet in the first round of the European Champions Cup. Franz Beckenbauer continues his career after his active soccer as an expert and commentator for the Bild newspaper. As an officially accredited journalist he travels to East Berlin for the game. Although the MfS shadowed the former world star at every turn, the fans managed to ask Beckenbauer for autographs. The recording is only available as a photocopy in the Stasi archive. (63)
Paul Breitner of FC Bayern Munich is asked for an autograph by GDR fans at the Hotel Imperial in Ostrava, Czech Republic, in 1981. FC Bayern will play Banik Ostrava for a place in the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup. The Czech security forces record this moment for the Stasi. The numbering of the photos shows that the identity of the four fans is to be determined. (64)
The MfS documents banners carried by GDR fans from Naumburg and Geisleben/Thuringia during the World Cup qualifying match between the DFB team and the Czechoslovakian national team in Prague in 1985. (65, 66)
National coach Helmut Schön travels to his home town of Dresden in 1973 to watch FC Bayern Munich play Dynamo Dresden in the round of 16 of the European Champions Cup. Schön is surrounded by GDR fans at the Interhotel “Neva”. (71)
Federal Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher, born in Halle (Saale), travels to Dresden for the 1973 German-German soccer match in the European Cup of Champions between Dynamo Dresden and FC Bayern Munich. Genscher is secretly observed by the MfS in the restaurant of the Interhotel “Neva”. (72)
The MfS documents banners carried by GDR fans from Taucha/Saxony during the World Cup qualifying match between the DFB team and the Czechoslovakian national team in Prague in 1985. (75)
The banner of GDR fans “Mecklenburg greets the German team” is confiscated by the security forces during the DFB team’s World Cup qualifying match against the Czechoslovakian national team in 1985. (76)
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