All good things come in threes. For the third time in a row, the footballers from Holstein Kiel took part in the final round of the German championship in 1912. After losing the final and dropping out in the semi-finals in previous years, the people of Kiel made a third attempt. But just like in 1910, the seemingly overwhelming Karlsruher FV, peppered with several national players, awaited in the final. However, the Kiel “Storks” also had a strong team, some of which made it into the German Football Association (DFB) team.
And May 26, 1912 was to go down in the history books for the people of Schleswig-Holstein. In the 52nd minute, Ernst Möller from Kiel scored the goal of the day and shot his team to the first and only German soccer championship for a club from the northernmost federal state.
Kiel’s team: From youth to championship
“The fascinating thing about the Kiel team from back then is that it basically grew from a young age,” reports writer Hardy Grüne, who worked on the chronicle of Holstein Kiel’s 100th birthday. “They were 12 or 13 years old when the club was founded and ten years later they were together in the first team.” At that time, many clubs were formed from street or school teams. Young people thus became pioneers in a new sport and football developed at a rapid pace.
“The fascinating thing about the Kiel team from back then is that it basically grew from a young age. They were 12 or 13 years old when the club was founded and ten years later they were together in the first team.”
— Writer Hardy Green
After a short time, the clubs were already taking in money from spectators, but also from sponsors, and were thus able to expand their stadium or pay for players. “At the time, however, the DFB strictly adhered to the principle of amateurism. Sport was a passion and an honor,” reports Tim Cassel from the Schleswig-Holstein Football Association, who, among other things, dealt intensively with the history of Holstein Kiel in his doctoral thesis.
Nielsen brothers from Denmark – First stadium grandstand 1911
The people of Kiel caused a stir in 1910 when the Danish brothers Sophus and Karlo Nielsen from Denmark joined Holstein. “They certainly didn’t come to Kiel because of the beautiful Förde,” says Cassel, who played for Kiel in his youth and later played in goal for second division side VfB Lübeck: “In addition to money, the clubs were able to offer their players other advantages, such as Jobs in companies or in the military. Holstein, for example, had good contacts with the navy. But the clubs kept quiet about all that.”
A milestone for Holstein Kiel was the first own place. At the beginning of the 20th century, footballers first had to establish their standing. At first only meadows or, with the appropriate contacts, parade ground remained for playing. But in 1911, Holstein leased a property from the city, and a little later the first stadium grandstand was built. Cassel calls it the “Kiel phenomenon” that Holstein was able to advance so quickly into the highest German spheres after it was founded in 1900. After all, the big cities had a head start for many years.
Holstein Kiel’s way to the title
Three successful years for Holstein Kiel: from 1910 to 1912, the “storks” were always present at the finals of the German soccer championship.
1909/10, Preliminary round: Holstein Kiel – Prussia Berlin 4:1; Semifinals: Holstein Kiel – Tasmania Berlin 6:0; Final: Holstein Kiel – Karlsruher FV 0:1 aet
1910/11, Preliminary round: Holstein Kiel – Duisburger SpV 3:1; Semifinals: Viktoria 89 Berlin – Holstein Kiel 4:0
1911/12, Preliminary round: Holstein Kiel – Prussia Berlin 2:1; Semifinals: Holstein Kiel – Viktoria 89 Berlin 2:1; Final: Holstein Kiel – Karlsruher FV 1:0
But as early as 1910, Kiel qualified for the final round of the German championship for the first time. And the way led the “Storks” straight into the final. In the preliminary round, Holstein Preussen knocked out Berlin, and Kiel conceded four goals to their opponent. In the semifinals there were even six. Tasmania Berlin, nowadays only known as the worst team in the history of the Bundesliga, could not oppose the Schleswig-Holsteiners at 0:6. But in the final it was over with the glory of Kiel. In the final against Karlsruher FV with their British coach William Townley, Max Breunig inflicted the bitter defeat on the Kielers with a penalty in the 114th minute after 90 minutes without a goal. The following year, the “Storks” lost 4-0 to eventual German champions Viktoria 89 Berlin in the semi-finals.
Hamburger Hoheluft good place for Kiel
In 1912 the people of Kiel made the next attempt. Without defeat, they secured the district and the North German championship. At Reich level, the Schleswig-Holsteiners first defeated Prussia Berlin again and then took revenge for the previous year’s defeat in a 2-1 win against Viktoria – but only in the second extra time: David Binder scored the winning goal in the 129th minute. In the final there was the second opportunity to settle a score.
Again the opponent was called Karlsruhe, which had become the South German champion eight times from 1901 to 1912. With six goals, Fritz Förderer was the top scorer of the final round for Baden. Binder had been the most accurate for Kiel with three goals. Officially, 9,000 spectators gave the match in the SC Victoria stadium on the Hamburger Hoheluft the appropriate setting. But the match was initially mediocre, which was also due to the fact that Kiel held their opponent’s attack in check, as Karlsruhe stated in a game report at the time.