Splitter der Herrschaft: Schach im Generalgouvernement in Polen 1939–1945
In a context of internecine conflicts, mass murder and exploitation within the Nazi-occupied General Government in Poland, the idea of chess as a popular non-political pas¬time became untenable. The motto of the World Chess Federation FIDE, gens una sumus, was nullified in the social hierarchy betwe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
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Verlag Herder Institut
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Zeitschrift für Ostmitteleuropa-Forschung |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.zfo-online.de/portal/zfo/article/view/11342/11247 |
| _version_ | 1797791671792959488 |
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| author | Bernd-Peter Lange |
| author_facet | Bernd-Peter Lange |
| author_sort | Bernd-Peter Lange |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In a context of internecine conflicts, mass murder and exploitation within the Nazi-occupied General Government in Poland, the idea of chess as a popular non-political pas¬time became untenable. The motto of the World Chess Federation FIDE, gens una sumus, was nullified in the social hierarchy between the German perpetrators of terror and their victims among indigenous communities. In the “gray areas” of everyday culture any shared interest in the game was suppressed by rigid boundaries. Supported by the chess enthusiasm of the Governor General Hans Frank, top players from Germany were attracted to participate in a series of chess tournaments with world class professionals like the World Champion Alexander Alekhine and his rival Efim Bogoljubow. Both were officially employed by the Propaganda Department and, like their fellow-travelling elite compe¬titors, they benefitted from the privileges of a dominant small minority. In the chief cities Kraków and Warsaw and other district capitals chess clubs were organized for the military and civilian German residents. Other communities, except Ukrainians, were excluded, but Polish players found avenues for playing the game, be it on the level of privacy or even in contact with German players. While they were barred from any organized sports, they per¬sisted in playing the game in cafés and clandestine meetings. The inhabitants of the Jewish ghettoes were, on a few occasions, permitted to organize chess matches. The regional minorities of Ukrainians were, in hopes of enhancing their collaboration with the Nazis, encouraged to organize their sports and games, particularly in Galicia. The propaganda press of the Kraków administration provided chess columns in Slavonic languages. Per¬sonal contacts in chess matters could never be completely suppressed. Altogether, the complexities of the situation led to a profusion of contradictions that defied any complete control by the occupants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T02:22:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-97ad9503ebd5449daba14f93317f3275 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0948-8294 2701-0449 |
| language | deu |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T02:22:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Verlag Herder Institut |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Zeitschrift für Ostmitteleuropa-Forschung |
| spelling | doaj.art-97ad9503ebd5449daba14f93317f32752023-06-30T08:06:08ZdeuVerlag Herder InstitutZeitschrift für Ostmitteleuropa-Forschung0948-82942701-04492023-06-01722227273https://doi.org/10.25627/202372211342Splitter der Herrschaft: Schach im Generalgouvernement in Polen 1939–1945Bernd-Peter Lange0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4299-0869Otto von Guericke University MagdeburgIn a context of internecine conflicts, mass murder and exploitation within the Nazi-occupied General Government in Poland, the idea of chess as a popular non-political pas¬time became untenable. The motto of the World Chess Federation FIDE, gens una sumus, was nullified in the social hierarchy between the German perpetrators of terror and their victims among indigenous communities. In the “gray areas” of everyday culture any shared interest in the game was suppressed by rigid boundaries. Supported by the chess enthusiasm of the Governor General Hans Frank, top players from Germany were attracted to participate in a series of chess tournaments with world class professionals like the World Champion Alexander Alekhine and his rival Efim Bogoljubow. Both were officially employed by the Propaganda Department and, like their fellow-travelling elite compe¬titors, they benefitted from the privileges of a dominant small minority. In the chief cities Kraków and Warsaw and other district capitals chess clubs were organized for the military and civilian German residents. Other communities, except Ukrainians, were excluded, but Polish players found avenues for playing the game, be it on the level of privacy or even in contact with German players. While they were barred from any organized sports, they per¬sisted in playing the game in cafés and clandestine meetings. The inhabitants of the Jewish ghettoes were, on a few occasions, permitted to organize chess matches. The regional minorities of Ukrainians were, in hopes of enhancing their collaboration with the Nazis, encouraged to organize their sports and games, particularly in Galicia. The propaganda press of the Kraków administration provided chess columns in Slavonic languages. Per¬sonal contacts in chess matters could never be completely suppressed. Altogether, the complexities of the situation led to a profusion of contradictions that defied any complete control by the occupants.https://www.zfo-online.de/portal/zfo/article/view/11342/11247general governmentchessworld war iipoland |
| spellingShingle | Bernd-Peter Lange Splitter der Herrschaft: Schach im Generalgouvernement in Polen 1939–1945 Zeitschrift für Ostmitteleuropa-Forschung general government chess world war ii poland |
| title | Splitter der Herrschaft: Schach im Generalgouvernement in Polen 1939–1945 |
| title_full | Splitter der Herrschaft: Schach im Generalgouvernement in Polen 1939–1945 |
| title_fullStr | Splitter der Herrschaft: Schach im Generalgouvernement in Polen 1939–1945 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Splitter der Herrschaft: Schach im Generalgouvernement in Polen 1939–1945 |
| title_short | Splitter der Herrschaft: Schach im Generalgouvernement in Polen 1939–1945 |
| title_sort | splitter der herrschaft schach im generalgouvernement in polen 1939 1945 |
| topic | general government chess world war ii poland |
| url | https://www.zfo-online.de/portal/zfo/article/view/11342/11247 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT berndpeterlange splitterderherrschaftschachimgeneralgouvernementinpolen19391945 |