Bayern Munich and the swastika: A dark chapter in the club’s history
By Score More
Bayern Munich was forced to use the swastika on its crest from 1938 to 1945, during the Second World War. The decision was made by the Nazi government, which was trying to control all aspects of German life, including sport.
Bayern Munich was founded in 1900 and had always been an open club, regardless of race or religion. The club's president at the time, Kurt Landauer, was Jewish and the club had a large Jewish following.
The Nazi government, led by Adolf Hitler, was antisemitic and anti-democratic. In 1933, Hitler came to power in Germany and began to persecute Jews and other groups he considered undesirable.
In 1938, the Nazi government ordered Bayern Munich to adopt the swastika on its crest. Landauer, a man of principle, refused to obey the order. In retaliation, ...
