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ENGLAND 3-0 GERMANY, A THREAD:
In December 1935, just four years before the start of the Second World War, the swastika flew over Tottenham’s White Hart Lane.
Around 10,000 Germans came to England to see an international friendly match. 1,600 of them came through Southampton.
In December 1935, just four years before the start of the Second World War, the swastika flew over Tottenham’s White Hart Lane.
Around 10,000 Germans came to England to see an international friendly match. 1,600 of them came through Southampton.
The 1,600 fans arrived at Southampton on board the liner Columbus and they were given a warm welcome.
A large floodlit banner on the quayside read: ‘Southampton football supporters welcome the German football supporters’.
A large floodlit banner on the quayside read: ‘Southampton football supporters welcome the German football supporters’.
As the ship docked, the Albion Silver Band - who usually played before #SaintsFC games at the Dell - performed the national anthems.
The decks were lined with Germans, who ‘stood erect and silent giving the Nazi salute’ during theirs. They then applauded God Save the King.
The decks were lined with Germans, who ‘stood erect and silent giving the Nazi salute’ during theirs. They then applauded God Save the King.
Charles Hoskins, a @SouthamptonFC director and chairman of the #SaintsFC supporter’s club, went on board to welcome the visitors.
“International sport, especially football, is, in my opinion, one of the most essential factors in promoting friendship between nations,” he said.
“International sport, especially football, is, in my opinion, one of the most essential factors in promoting friendship between nations,” he said.
The Germans took trains to London.
‘Leicester-square could have been taken for a street in Berlin. It was thronged with thousands of Germans’.
Some German fans laid a wreath at the Whitehall Cenotaph. “It is a token of remembrance from German sportsmen to your dead,” one said.
‘Leicester-square could have been taken for a street in Berlin. It was thronged with thousands of Germans’.
Some German fans laid a wreath at the Whitehall Cenotaph. “It is a token of remembrance from German sportsmen to your dead,” one said.
There wasn’t any major trouble, but police did seize some anti-Nazi literature and some placards with ‘stop the Nazi match’ written on them.
The Swastika flew at half mast over Tottenham’s White Hart Lane. Someone cut the rope and it fell, but its position was soon restored.
The Swastika flew at half mast over Tottenham’s White Hart Lane. Someone cut the rope and it fell, but its position was soon restored.
The Nazi anthem ‘Horst-Wessel-Lied’ was played and the German players and fans gave the Nazi salute.
England won the match 3-0, with goals from George Camsell and Cliff Bastin.
The youngest German fan there was a four-year-old girl. She was apparently a big fan of Bastin.
England won the match 3-0, with goals from George Camsell and Cliff Bastin.
The youngest German fan there was a four-year-old girl. She was apparently a big fan of Bastin.
Some footage of the day from @BritishPathe:
Whilst the match was being played in London, 7,000 people came out in Southampton to see ‘the seamen’s international’.
An unbeaten eleven from the crew of the Columbus played against sailors from Southampton.
The mayor of Southampton kicked the game off. The local lads won 3-2.
An unbeaten eleven from the crew of the Columbus played against sailors from Southampton.
The mayor of Southampton kicked the game off. The local lads won 3-2.
In December 1939, the Columbus was spotted by HMS Hyperion 400 miles off the coast of America.
The crew of the Columbus scuttled the ship to avoid capture. They spent the rest of the war in America.
@BritishPathe has incredible footage of the incident:
The crew of the Columbus scuttled the ship to avoid capture. They spent the rest of the war in America.
@BritishPathe has incredible footage of the incident:
With the football match and the arrival of the Columbus at Southampton coming just four years before Britain declared war on Germany, I wonder what happened to the ship’s crew, and the 10,000 football fans who came to England on that December day in 1935.
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for reading.
