Gauliga Danzig-Westpreußen
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- For the main article, see Gauliga
| Gauliga Danzig-Westpreußen |
|---|
| Founded |
| 1940 |
| Disbanded |
| 1945 |
| Nation |
 Nazi Germany |
 |
| State & Voivodeships |
 Pomeranian Voivodeship |
 Free City of Danzig |
| Gau |
| Danzig-West Prussia |
| Number of Seasons |
| 5 |
| Replaced by |
| Region became part of Poland |
| Level on Pyramid |
| Level 1 |
| Domestic Cup |
| Tschammerpokal |
| Last Champions 1943-44 |
| Luftwaffen SV Danzig |
The Gauliga Danzig-Westpreußen was the highest football league in the former Prussian province of West Prussia (German: Westpreußen) and the Free City of Danzig from 1940 to 1945. From 1919 to 1939, West Prussia had been a part of Poland as the Pomeranian Voivodeship (Polish: Województwo Pomorskie) while Danzig was a free city under protection of the League of Nations.
After Polands defeat, the Nazis reorganised the administrative regions in the occupied Polish provinces, and the Gaue Danzig-West Prussia replaced the Polish Voivodeship and the Free City.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The league was introduced in 1940, after the defeat of Poland through Nazi Germany. Germany reoccupied the territory and made it a Gau, an administrative region. Historically, the region had belonged to Poland and Prussia, changing hands numerous times.
The league replaced the Gauliga Ostpreußen as the highest level of play in the Danzig region, while West Prussian football was part of the Polish league system. Polish clubs were however not permitted to take part in the competition. Originally, the league only consisted of clubs from the region of Danzig and Elbing, only from 1942 did West Prussian clubs from Thorn and Bromberg enter the competition, too.
The Gauliga Danzig-Westpreußen was established with six clubs in a single divisions. Teams played each other once at home and once away. The league champion then qualified for the German championship. The 1941-42 season was played with ten clubs and two relegated teams. In 1942-43, the league was reduced to nine teams but returned to its former strength the season after.
The imminent collapse of Nazi Germany in 1945 gravely affected all Gauligas and football in West Prussia ceased in 1944. The 1944-45 season may not have been started at all anymore. It was scheduled to operate on the same system as the year before.
[edit] Aftermath
With the end of the Nazi era, the Gauligas ceased to exist. West Prussia and Danzig came under Soviet control. The region then became a part of Poland again. The German population was almost completely expelled from the region. All German football clubs were dissolved.
[edit] Founding members of the league
The six founding members and their positions in the, in completed, 1939-40 Gauliga Ostpreußen season were:
- Preußen Danzig, 2nd Gauliga Ostpreußen
- VfR Hansa Elbing, not part of the Gauliga
- SV 19 Neufahrwasser, 5th Gauliga Ostpreußen
- SC Viktoria Elbing, not part of the Gauliga
- BuEV Danzig, 3rd Gauliga Ostpreußen
- Polizei SV Danzig, not part of the Gauliga
[edit] Winners and runners-up of the Gauliga Westpreußen
| Season | Winner | Runner-Up |
| 1940-41 | Preußen Danzig | VfR Hansa Elbing |
| 1941-42 | HUS Marienwerder | SV 19 Neufahrwasser |
| 1942-43 | SV 19 Neufahrwasser | Luftwaffen SV Danzig |
| 1943-44 | Luftwaffen SV Danzig | Post Gotenhafen |
[edit] Sources
- The Gauligas Das Deutsche Fussball Archiv (in German)
- Germany - Championships 1902-1945 at RSSSF.com
- Where's My Country? Article on cross-border movements of football clubs, at RSSSF.com
[edit] References
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