The Contentious Clash for the Title: How Rahn Stripped Walter of His Championship in the '55 German Football Championship Final
"In the contention of the Fritz Walter scandal game, titleholder "Boss" Rahn allegedly won the championship"
By Ben Redelings | Facebook | Twitter | WhatsApp | Email | Print | Copy Link
Seven decades ago, Rot-Weiss Essen and 1. FC Kaiserslautern faced off in Hannover for the showdown that would determine the German Football Championship. It was not only a battle of teams, but a clash between Helmut "Boss" Rahn and Fritz Walter. However, another player would stir up a fuss with his third goal.
Essen's grand train station hall echoed with thunderous cheers on the day after the 1955 German Football Championship final between 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Rot-Weiss Essen. The Ruhr area team, which had secured a spot for the final round since the beginning of the Oberliga West, had truly earned their place on the pitch. Undefeated, they stood tall at the top of the table with their World Cup hero Helmut Rahn as their frontman, captivating fans and the football community alike.
A Path Paved with Glory
Essen's journey to the final was no easy road. A year prior, the team embarked on a lengthy nine-week tour of South America, visiting countries like Argentina, Bolivia, and the USA. This excursion transformed them into "an excellent ambassador for German sport," in the words of the "Essener Allgemeine Zeitung." One board member of Independiente even exclaimed, "The Essen Eleven is the best European team that has played in Buenos Aires in recent years. We didn't expect that. The Germans were better than the English and Spanish who played here in recent years." The Ruhr area team entered the new season with high spirits, bolstered by the shooter of the decisive World Cup goal from Bern.
Winning the Red Jersey's Luck
However, Helmut Rahn was initially sidelined, as he, like many of his national teammates, suffered from hepatitis after the World Cup. But the team around their captain August Gottschalk and coach Fritz Szepan, who had already claimed six German championships as players for FC Schalke 04, enjoyed a phenomenal season, leaving the teams from Meiderich, Cologne, Dortmund, and Gelsenkirchen far behind in their dust. Qualifying for the final in the Niedersachsen Stadium presented little trouble.
When both teams then met in Hannover, there was a problem that needed solving: Which team would hand over their red jersey? According to Helmut Rahn's autobiography, "My Hobby: Scoring Goals," the question posed by August Gottschalk in the locker rooms of the stadium was met with the Kaiserslautern team's voluntary concession. "We'll win in blue, too," they said. "And if not, you can't exactly go down in football history as Blau-Weiß Essen." However, this selflessness of the Kaiserslautern team would change later in the day.
A Back-and-Forth Battle, Fought in the Scorching Heat
Both teams put up a valiant fight on the pitch, craving the title. Rot-Weiss was already leading 3:1 at halftime, thanks to two goals from Franz "Penny" Islacker. Kaiserslautern rallied to tie the game at 3:3 by the 72nd minute, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish. Both teams understood that the next goal would likely seal the deal. And then, it happened.
Penny Islacker, who had been injured around the 70th minute, scored a spectacular header, his third goal of the day and fourth for RWE. However, Kaiserslautern, the former German champions, were unwilling to accept defeat. Led by World Cup captain and veteran national player Fritz Walter, they objected to referee Albert Meißner, arguing offside. After consulting with his linesman, Meißner upheld his decision, awarding the goal to Essen.
Chaos and Controversy
Kaiserslautern refused to accept the decision, even after the final whistle. Disturbances ensued on the pitch, and the trophy presentation was met with jeers from the Lauterer fans. This lack of sportsmanship made it impossible for DFB president Pecco Bauwens to push through the angry crowd to present the trophy. The Lauterer protest was eventually rejected by the DFB. Essen and its fans celebrated, but a cloud hung over their victory. Essen's president Georg Melches expressed his disappointment: "It's a shame that our, in my belief, deserved victory was marred by crowd disturbances and that this worthy final found such an unsightly ending."
Looking back a few days later, everyone realized: June 26, 1955 will forever remain a significant date in Rot-Weiss Essen's history, despite the unsavory ending.
Source: ntv.de
Info & dates for Ben Redelings' football programs can be found on www.scudetto.de.
Ben Redelings, a renowned comic from the Ruhr area and bestselling author, shares this piece with us. His latest book, "A Goal Would Do the Game Good. The Ultimate Book of Football Truths," has just been updated and expanded.
In the midst of the excitement surrounding the German Football Championship final of 1955, Essen's grand train station hall reverberated with applause after the Ruhr area team, known for their exceptional play in European leagues and their star player Helmut Rahn, clinched the title over 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the Champions League. The triumphant Essen team, having earned their place on the pitch through an undefeated season, stood at the pinnacle of the Oberliga West.
Despite the controversy that marred their victory, Rot-Weiss Essen's achievement on June 26, 1955, will forever be etched in the annals of German football history, a testament to their extraordinary skill and determination.
