The leaflets were symbolically printed on the same paper as Nazi official announcements, and below the word “football” read the word “revenge”- of equal size and prominence 8. The rematch was scheduled for Sunday the 9th of August- and signs alerting the masses of the game plagued the city. Inevitably, the capitulation of Flakelf to Start resulted in a harsh and significant blow that the Nazi’s would have to avenge. The perfection of the Aryan nation implied superiority in all respects, especially in the physical realm of sport. The loss put Hitler’s philosophy in stark jeopardy. The game between Flakelf and Start occurred on August 6th, 1942, and the latter won a simple game 5-1 7. The goal was to rid Kiev of its rallying force without shooting or imprisoning those responsible for it, since that would only result in 11 martyrs. The Luftwaffe halo floating above the Flakelf team offered an aura of invincibility, and a personification of purebred superiority. In response came team Flakelf, the German official Luftwaffe team, assembled with pure and perfect Aryans. The team was not only undefeated, but also quickly adhering to their reputation as folk heroes. Drawing large crowds and more intense competition, the rematch still saw Start away with a 3-2 win 6. Complaints ensued that MSG Wal had only ten players due to an injury, and they called for a rematch. Start would continue to play another, stronger Hungarian team known as MSG Wal and defeat them 5-1. When Start defeated their first German team, PGS (a military unit), 6-0 the German spirit towards the game began to change 5. A hefty five roubles to the impecunious crowds did not stop them from coming- it was their only hope at escape, albeit just an emotional one 4. As morale began to build with each subsequent Start win, the Germans began imposing admission charges. While restricted at best, the press’s acknowledgment secured a consistent fan base at their games and bolstered their growing reputation. Slowly, Nova Ukrainksi Slovo began coverage of Start’s games. Days later, they would beat the Romanian garrison team at Zenit 11-0.
Their Zenit-christening game against Hungary saw them win 6-2. Little time was to pass before Start became something of a legend. It was subtly representative of a new beginning and painstakingly apolitical. Barred by the Nazis from the name “Dynamo” (a creation of evil Soviet forces), the players symbolically chose the name Start- whose meaning remains largely the same thing as it does in English 3. They were Mikhail Melnik, Vladimir Balain and Vasily Sukharev 2. The last three came from Lokomotiv, a club team of equal caliber and status. His forwards were Nikolai Makhinya, Pavel Komarov, Ivan Kuzmenko, the beast who practiced with a football impregnated with two others so he could kick the original one thrice as far, and Makar Goncharenko.
The vast majority of Start’s roster consisted of seasoned Dynamo players, such as Alexei Klimenko, the incredibly young but equally ferocious defender, Mikhail Sviridovsky, Fyodor Tyutchev, Mikhail Putistin, the 1936 silver medal veteran, and Nikolai Korotkykh. This team, as much legend as they are myth, made the mistake of losing against a team bred not to ever do so. Little did they know, an amalgam of old-footballers-turned-bakers under the epithet FC Start would actively quell Nazi hopes for an obsequious Kiev. It was dubbed one of their many methods under the “pacification by normalization” strategy 1.
In hopes of quietly proceeding through their execution and deportation policies, the Nazis welcome football’s revival during their occupation. Written in 2009 by Emma Anspach, Hilah Almog, and Taylor.Įdited & Updated in 2013 by Brittney Balser and Alessandro Santalbano
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