Fritz Förderer

National player and trainer of the Buchenwald SS

In June 1939, the 3rd SS Totenkopfstandarte from Buchenwald approached the mayor of Weimar with a request. The administrator of the municipal sports facilities, Fritz Förderer, was to train the Buchenwald SS football team that had been set up a few months earlier. The request was approved. From then on, Förderer trained the SS footballers for two hours a week.

The new coach was no stranger to the football world. He had a successful career as a footballer behind him. Born in Karlsruhe in 1888, "Halbrechts" played for Karlsruher FV from 1905. Together with Julius Hirsch and Gottfried Fuchs, Förderer formed one of the best striker trios of their time. They led their club to the German championship in 1910. They also occasionally played together in the German national team jersey. An injury and the First World War ended Förderer's career for the time being. After two years at the front, the trained electrician worked at the Leuna works in Merseburg from 1916. He also played for VfL Halle 1896, with whom he twice became Central German champion. From 1919, he earned his living by teaching sports. He worked for various clubs in central Germany. In April 1939, he took up his position as a groundsman and sports instructor in Weimar.

It is not known how long he trained the Buchenwald SS. After the war, the occupation authorities had no objections to Förderer, who had joined the NSDAP in 1942, continuing his employment. He remained an employee of the city of Weimar and coached the SG Weimar-Ost until his death in 1952.