The club's origins can be traced to 1906, when its predecessor FC Olympia Oberschöneweide was founded. During theCold War, Union was based inEast Berlin, joining the German league structure upon the reunification of the city and country in 1990.[4] From 2009 until 2019, they competed in the2. Bundesliga, the second tier of German football. In 2019, Union won promotion to theBundesliga for the first time in the club's history. In 2021, Union finished seventh in the league to qualify to the inauguralUEFA Europa Conference League. In 2022, the club qualified for theUEFA Europa League by finishing fifth. The following season, the club qualified for theChampions League for the first time in their history, by finishing fourth in the Bundesliga.
The home ground of the club is theStadion An der Alten Försterei. It is the second-largest in the German capital and has been home to Union Berlin and its forerunners since it opened in 1920.[5] The stadium also hosts concerts and the annual Weihnachtssingen Christmas carols event.[6]
As of 30 June 2025,[update] Union Berlin has 70,111 official members.[7] The club has become well known for its enthusiastic and creative fan base and itschant "Eisern Union" (Iron Union).[8][9]
The name 1. FC Union Berlin was used by two football clubs that shared a common origin asFC Olympia Oberschöneweide, founded in 1906 inOberschöneweide, which at that time was a suburb of Berlin. The side took on the name SC Union 06 Oberschöneweide in 1910.[10] Union was one of Berlin's premier clubs[according to whom?] in the interwar period, regularly winning local championships and competing at the national level, including an appearance in the1923 German championship final which they lost 0–3 toHamburger SV.
Early on, the team was nicknamed "Schlosserjungs" (English: metalworker-boys) because of their then all blue kit, reminiscent of the typical work clothing worn in the factories of the industrial Oberschöneweide district. The popular cry of Union supporters – "Eisern Union!" (Iron Union) – also emerged at this time.[11] Since its foundation the club has had a distinct working-class image,[according to whom?] in contrast to other local clubs with more middle-class origins, such asViktoria 89 Berlin,Blau-Weiß 90 Berlin,BSV 92 Berlin orTennis Borussia Berlin.
In 1933, German football was reorganized under theThird Reich into 16 top-flight divisions known as Gauligen. Oberschöneweide became part of theGauliga Berlin-Brandenburg, where they generally[according to whom?] earned middling,[vague] unexceptional[tone] results. They were relegated in 1935 and returned to first division play in 1936 after only one season's absence.[10] In 1940, the team finished first in Group B of the division and then defeated Blau-Weiß 90 (1–2, 3–0) to win the overall division title. That advanced the club to the national playoffs where they were put out byRapid Wien in the opening group round (2–3, 1–3).[10] Union resumed its place as an average side.[according to whom?] They were relegated again in 1942 and played the final war-shortened Gauliga season in 1944–45.
CoachHanne Sobek (left) in 1955.Historical chart of Union Berlin league performance
After World War II, occupying Allied authorities ordered the dissolution of all organizations in Germany, including sports and football associations. A new sport community called SG Oberschöneweide was formed in late 1945 and it played in the City League organized immediately after the war which had four regional departments. The team did not qualify to the newly created Oberliga Berlin (I) in 1946 after a poor season, but was promoted in 1947, won the division title right away and regained club status as SG Union Oberschöneweide during 1948–49.[10]
The club finished the 1949–50 season in second place in Berlin and qualified to take part in the national final rounds. However, escalating Cold War tensions led Soviet authorities to refuse the team permission to travel to take part. Two Union teams then emerged as most players and coaches fled to the west to formSport-Club Union 06 Berlin which took part in the scheduled playoff match inKiel againstHamburger SV, losing 0–7.[12][13]
The players remaining in the east carried on as SG Union Oberschöneweide while a number of players who had fled to the west to form SC organized a third side calledBerliner Ballspiel-Club Südost.[citation needed] The western team was a strong side until the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, drawing huge crowds to matches in the Olympiastadion.[11] The division of the city led to a change of fortunes for BBC Südost which plays today in the lower divisions before meagre[vague] crowds.
Ulrich Prüfke (captain) and Ralph Quest raise the FDGB Pokal trophy in 1968.
The eastern branch of the club went through a number of name changes: Union Oberschöneweide (1950), BSG Motor Oberschöneweide (1951), SC Motor Berlin (1955), TSC Oberschöneweide (1957), TSC Berlin (1963) – finally becoming thefootball club 1. FC Union Berlin in 1966.
1. FC Union Berlin was founded during the reorganization of East German football in December 1965 and January 1966, when ten dedicatedfootball clubs were created. However, the football department of TSC Berlin was originally not taken into account. Only two clubs were planned for East Berlin, to be formed from the football departments ofASK Vorwärts Berlin andSC Dynamo Berlin. This was already contrary to the original plan, which had envisioned only one football club per district. And the football department of TSC Berlin was only playing in the second tierDDR-Liga at the time.
1. FC Union Berlin was founded on the initiative of the powerfulHerbert Warnke. Herbert Warnke was the chairman of the state-controlled national trade unionFDGB and a member of theSEDPolitburo. Another SED politician and Politburo member who pushed for the founding of 1. FC Union Berlin was the SED First Secretary in East BerlinPaul Verner.[14] Both ASK Vorwärts Berlin and SC Dynamo Berlin were associated with the armed organs (German:Bewaffnete Organe der DDR). Warnke therefore argued for the creation of a third "civilian club" for the working people in East Berlin. He would become a passionate fan of 1. FC Union Berlin and a sponsoring member of the club.[15][16]
1. FC Union Berlin was established in the middle of one of the largest industrial centers in East Germany.[17] 1. FC Union Berlin was initially supported by the FDGB. The intention of the SED to win the support from FDGB for 1. FC Union Berlin was likely well thought out. The FDGB unified all workers in East Germany and therefore was most likely to carry the proper identity for a club of the working people.[16] The club was founded in a ceremony in the clubhouse of VEB Transformatorenwerk Oberschöneheide "Karl Liebknecht" (TRO) inOberschöneweide on 20 January 1966. The founding of the club was organized by the then-SED First Secretary inKöpenick,Hans Modrow.[18] Like Herbert Warnke, Hans Modrow would be a sponsoring member of the club.[16] SED Politburo member Paul Verner held a speech at the inaugural meeting.[19] SED Politburo member Verner would be a very strong sympathizer of the club.[20]
1. FC Union Berlin was the only football club not playing in theDDR-Oberliga at the time of its founding. As a dedicated football club, it was elevated into the upper tier of privileged elite clubs.[21][22] The official sponsor of 1. FC Union Berlin was the state-ownedcombine VVB Hochspannungsgeräte und Kabel, which implemented its support through VEB Kabelwerk Oberspree, VEB Transformatorenwerk Oberschöneweide and other localstate-owned enterprises.[23] The first club president was the general director of VVB Hochspannungsgeräte und Kabel, Werner Otto, and his deputy was the SED Second Secretary in East Berlin, Hans Wagner.[24][25] Even as a "civilian club", 1. FC Union Berlin was part of the state sports political system.[26][nb 1] The most important positions on the board of 1. FC Union Berlin would exclusively be held by directors of state-owned factories orSED representatives.[24] 1. FC Union Berlin was state-funded and all club decisions had to be reported to the all-powerful central sports agencyDTSB.[26] In turn, the DTSB stood under direct control of theSED Central Committee.[27]
The support from the FDGB ended when Herbert Warnke was replaced byHarry Tisch as the chairman of the FDGB in 1975. Tisch had begun his political career inRostock and instead gave his support toFC Hansa Rostock. This event was remarkable, as it revealed the large influence that high-ranking politicians exerted on football in East Germany.[16] 1. FC Union Berlin would then have to rely on support from the regional district management (German:Bezirksleitung) of the rulingSED party inEast Berlin and local state-owned enterprises.[28][29] The main sponsors would be VEB Kabelwerk Oberspree (KWO), VEB Transformatorenwerk Oberschöneweide (TRO) and VEB Werk für Fernsehelektronik (WF).[16][30][31] 1. FC Union Berlin developed a bitter rivalry withBFC Dynamo, which was supported by theStasi.[11] While their arch rivals won 10 titles in a row, Union yo-yoed between theDDR-Oberliga and theDDR-Liga with very little success. Union managed to win theEast German Cup in 1968 when they defeatedFC Carl Zeiss Jena 2–1 although they lost in their second cup appearance in 1986 to1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig by a score of 1–5.
The East German state-owned film studioDEFA produced a documentary about the supporters of 1. FC Union Berlin in 1989. The documentary is calledAnd Fridays at the Green Hell and follows a group of supporters of 1. FC Union Berlin to both home and away matches during the1987–88 season.[11][32]
AfterGerman reunification in 1990, the team continued to perform well on the field,[according to whom?] but almost collapsed financially. They managed to hang on and find sponsorship, but only after winning their division in both 1993 and 1994 and each time being denied a license to play in the2. Bundesliga due to their financial problems. The club had another close brush[tone] with financial failure in 1997.[11]
Union again came close to advancing to the 2. Bundesliga in 1998–99 and 1999–2000, but were disappointed.[vague][according to whom?] They were finally successful in 2000–01, underBulgarian managerGeorgi Vasilev, easily winning the Regionalliga Nord (III) and moving up a division to become the city's second most popular side.[vague] That same[vague] year they appeared inthe final of theGerman Cup where they lost 0–2 toFC Schalke 04, and advanced as far as the second round in UEFA Cup before being put out by Bulgarian sidePFC Litex Lovech. The club slipped to theRegionalliga Nord (III) in 2004–05 and then to theNOFV-Oberliga Nord (IV) in 2005–06, but returned to third division play after capturing[tone] the Oberliga title. In 2008–09, Union became one of the founding clubs of the new3. Liga, and its inaugural champion, securing first place and promotion to the2. Bundesliga on 10 May.
A controversy occurred in 2011 when it became publicly known that club president Dirk Zingler had been a member of theFelix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment for three years during his military service.[33] Only two years before, Zingler had cancelled a sponsorship deal with the company International Sport Promotion (ISP) because the head of the board at the company had been a Stasi officer.[33][34] The Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment was the paramilitary wing of the Stasi.[35] Zingler explained that he had sought to spend his military service in Berlin and that he was unaware beforehand that the regiment belonged to the Stasi.[36][34] However, the Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment was an elite formation; it was not possible to simply apply for the regiment.[36] The Stasi selected who it thought were best fit to serve with the regiment,[36] only accepting recruits who were "loyal to the line".[34] Zingler had also been a member of theSocialist Unity Party (SED) and leader in theFree German Youth (FDJ) at the time.[37][34] Speaking about the reports on Zingler in 2011, Union Press spokesman Christian Arbeit said: "We do have a very unique history, compared to other clubs. But it wasn't us that always claimed we were this big anti-Stasi club. These are stories that get simplified in the media."[38]
On 1 June 2018, Swiss coachUrs Fischer was announced as new head coach of the club.[39] The team remained in the second tier until the2018–19 season, when they secured a first promotion to theBundesliga after defeatingVfB Stuttgart in the relegation play-offs. The club's supporters invaded the pitch after the victory, but no one was harmed.[40]
Bundesliga era and European football (2019–present)
On 22 May 2021, in Union Berlin's second Bundesliga season, the club qualified for theinaugural UEFA Europa Conference League after finishing seventh, following a 2–1 home win againstRB Leipzig, withMax Kruse confirming Union Berlin's first European campaign in twenty years, with a 92nd-minute winner.[vague][47] In the following season, the club finished fifth in the league to qualify to theEuropa League, where they reached the round of 16.[48] In the 2022–23 season, Union Berlin qualified for theChampions League group stage for the first time in its history, after a 1–0 home win againstWerder Bremen on the final matchday.[49]
In the2023–24 season, the club experienced a bad start including 14 winless competitive matches in a row, hence they decided to separate with coachUrs Fischer by "mutual agreement".[50] Following two consecutive defeats against relegation rivalsBochum and1. FC Köln in the late stages of the season, Union dropped to the 16th place.[51] On the final matchday, they clinched a 2–1 win overFreiburg in the stoppage-time, securing their continued presence in the Bundesliga.[52]
The main building of the stadium was inaugurated in late 2013.
In 1920, SC Union Oberschöneweide (forerunner of today's 1. FC Union Berlin) had to find a new home ground as its former pitch had been built over by developers with residential buildings. The club moved a little further away from the city to the north-western part of the borough ofKöpenick. The new stadium was officially opened in August 1920 with a match between Oberschöneweide and the thenGerman champions1. FC Nürnberg (1–2). The inaugural match in at the Alte Försterei had already been played on 17 March, when Union challengedViktoria 89 Berlin.[10]
When Union won promotion to the DDR-Oberliga (the top flight inEast Germany) in 1966, the stadium soon needed to be expanded. The ground was first expanded in 1970 when the Gegengerade terrace was raised, whilst further extensions to the terracing at both ends in the late 1970s and early 1980s increased the capacity furthermore to 22,500. However, the somewhat[vague] spartan facilities at Alte Försterei had quickly begun to show their age and went into a serious decline.
AfterGerman reunification, when Union were assigned by theGerman Football Association to play in the third league, the outdated stadium proved only one of a number of factors[vague] that hampered[tone] the club's push for promotion to higher leagues.
In the middle of 2008, the club decided to finally modernise the stadium, theStadion An der Alten Försterei (Old Forester's House). Money was still tight,[tone] and so the fans simply built the ground themselves. More than 2,000 Union supporters invested 140,000 working hours to create what is now regarded[by whom?] as the largest football-specific stadium in Berlin.[53] During the redevelopment, Union played at theFriedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark. Inside the stadium an array of outside beer kiosks and open air grills serving bratwurst and pork steaks at the back of the stand provide the culinary staples.[citation needed] The official opening on 12 July 2013, was celebrated with a friendly against Scottish ChampionsCeltic.[54] It holds 22,012 people with 3,617 seats.[2] The rest is terracing.
In 2014, the club came up with the idea of inviting their fans to take their own sofas to the ground for the whole of the World Cup, to enjoy the televised matches in the company of fellow supporters.[55] More than 800 sofas were placed on the pitch in rows in front of a big screen.[56] The event was later recognized with the Fan Experience Award at The Stadium Business Summit 2015 in Barcelona.[57]
Redevelopments of the Försterei and European Games
In 2017, plans were announced[by whom?] to expand the Försterei from 22,012 to 37,000 with the installation of a new tier across the 3 stands that oppose the main stand. It was announced[by whom?] that the plans should start at the end of the 2023/24 season. The President of Union, Dirk Zingler stated that for the 2024/25 Season, Union Berlin will play at theOlympiastadion in the former West Berlin.
In 2021/22, Union Berlin played theirUEFA Europa Conference League Games at the Olympiastadion due toUEFA's ban of Terracing, which was lifted in the 2022/23 season in favour ofSafe Standing. Union was able to play at the Försterei for the2022/23 UEFA Europa League campaign. Then, in the Wake of their Qualification to the2023/24 UEFA Champions League, Dirk Zingler confirmed that Union will be again playing at the Olympiastadion, as well as confirming that the Försterei will be used in theUEFA Youth League. This was not done in guidance of UEFA instead was done willingly. This is because of the demand of ticket sale being too much for the Försterei to handle, which was proven to be the case as in the UCL Season ticket sales, they sold out a total 120,000 tickets for all 3 Home Games (40,000 in each game) in one day
TheAlte Försterei (Old foresters house) is the main office of the club.
1. FC Union Berlin is led mostly by fans. Dirk Zingler has served as the club's president since 2004.[58] The club had 41,088 registered members in 2022.[59]
The organizational history of 1. FC Union Berlin includes several different clubs and names.
The organizational history 1. FC Union Berlin (inGerman).
Date
Name
Note
17 June 1906
FC Olympia Oberschöneweide
Founding of FC Olympia Oberschöneweide.
22 July 1906
BTuFC Helgoland, department Oberschöneweide
Joined club BTuFC Helgoland as a third team and department in Oberschöneweide.
10 February 1907
BTuFC Union 1892, department Oberschöneweide
Joined club BTuFC Union 1892 as a fourth team and department in Oberschöneweide.
20 February 1909
Union Oberschöneweide
Joined the football association Verband Berliner Ballspielvereine (VBB) as Union Oberschöneweide, or more precisely SC Union Oberschöneweide.
1945
SG Oberschöneweide
SC Union Oberschöneweide was dissolved by theAllied occupation authorities and the club was refounded as SG Oberschöneweide.
December 1948
SG Union Oberschöneweide
The club was re-admitted under its old club name.
1951
BSG Motor Oberschöneweide
Joined with enterprise sports community BSG Motor Oberschöneweide. The team colours are changed from the traditional blue and white to today's characteristic red and white.
1 February 1955
SC Motor Berlin
The first team was joined with the newsports club SC Motor Berlin as a football department.
6 June 1957
TSC Oberschöneweide
SC Motor Berlin was merged with several enterprise sports communities (BSG) to form sports club TSC Oberschöneweide.
18 February 1963
TSC Berlin
Merged with other sports clubs to form TSC Berlin.
20 January 1966
1. FC Union Berlin
The football department of TSC Berlin was separated from the sports club and reorganized into afootball club. Founding of 1. FC Union Berlin.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
The number 22 will not be[clarification needed] worn on the back of a Union shirt until someone breaks the all-time Union scoring record of Karim Benyamina, who scored 87 goals in 213 appearances for the club. "This is a great gesture by president Dirk Zingler. That is the reward for six successful years," he said in 2016. Over 14,000 fans turned out to give Benyamina his career send-off alongside another legend,[tone]Torsten Mattuschka, who is often seen[by whom?] as the face of that particular era for Union.[61]
Theclub's reserve team,1. FC Union Berlin II, most recently played in the tier fourRegionalliga Nordost, having won promotion to the league in 2012. Previous to this, it spent two seasons in theNOFV-Oberliga Nord. At the end of the 2014–15 season, the club withdrew the team from competition.[62][63]
Union Berlin'swomen's team was formed in September 1969, becoming the first women's team in Berlin and one of the first in East Germany. The women's team initially competed against Union Berlin's youth teams due to a lack of opponents, playing their first game on 17 January 1970, losing 7–1. In 1971, the team were amalgamated intoKWO Berlin's women's team, before KWO merged with Union Berlin in June 1990 following German reunification.[64]
1. FC Union Berlin is recognized as one of Europe's "cult" clubs, based on many unique fan and club initiatives over the last two decades.[66][67][68]
The nicknames of the club areEiserne (the Iron Ones) orEisern Union (Iron Union). These nicknames evolved from the earlier sobriquetSchlosserjungs (metalworker boys), a reference to the blue kit the Union played in, as it was reminiscent of the overalls worn by local workers.[69]
In May 2004, the supporters raised enough money to secure the club's license for fourth-division football through a campaign called 'Bleed for Union'.[70] This catchphrase was not meant metaphorically. One element of the campaign was that fans donated blood to Berlin hospitals and then gave the money they received from the blood bank to their club.
After 2010, Union Berlin became increasingly attractive for new Berliners, even internationals, who were drawn to the atmosphere at the club.[71]
In 2023, Rootz Ltd entertainment brand Wildz became a premier sponsor of the club.[72] Wildz is the sister brand to Wheelz, a platform that featuresThe Hoff, an entertainment figure who also enjoys cult status in Germany.
Punk musician Nina Hagen
Weihnachtssingen (Christmas carols singing) in 2010
During the East German era, 1. FC Union Berlin was known for a rivalry withBFC Dynamo, which was reputedly affiliated with the powerful state security service of East Germany (Stasi). Union, on the other hand, was supported by the regional district management of the rulingSED party and sponsored by local state-ownedenterprises.[28][29] The club played some identificatory role in the unofficial opposition against the authorities of the communist system.[73] Between 1979 and 1988, BFC Dynamo won ten consecutive East German league titles, with popular allegations of sporting misconduct helping to fuel the rivalry, and clashes between both sets of fans occurred.[74] BFC Dynamo was seen as the supreme representative of the security agencies, with advantages in the recruitment of players and financial support, as well as the political clout ofErich Mielke.[21] An expression among the supporters of Union Berlin was: "Better to be a loser than a stupid Stasi pig".[75] Supporters of Union cultivated the image of their club as the eternal underdog that was firmly rooted in the working class.[21][76] Union became the most popular club in East Berlin.[77]
It is said that fans of 1. FC Union Berlin often chanted "The wall must go!", with a reference to theBerlin Wall, when the opponents formed a wall duringfree kicks in 1980s. However, some sources suggest that this is partly a myth and exaggerated.[78][79][nb 2] Supporters of Union saw themselves as stubborn and non-conformist. But this image should not be confused with actual resistance.[81] For some supporters of Union, the dissident reputation is a legend that was created afterDie Wende.[82] Honorary president of Union Günter Mielis has said: "Union was not a club of resistance fighters, but we had to fight against a lot of political and economic resistance over and over again. We got strength from our fans".[83] Politics was not in the foreground.[22] Most supporters of Union were just normal football supporters.[84] There were no political groups at Union.[79] A supporter of Union from the East German era has said: "With the best of intentions, Union fans did not contribute to the overthrow of the GDR. No way, we were interested in football. There is the cliché about the club for the enemies of the state, but that wasn't us".[85] Another supporter said: "I think it's a myth that all Unioners were in the opposition. I think it was a basic attitude of the East German football youth in the 1970s and 1980s, that they were critical of the system."[86]Supporters of Union from the East German era have testified that the club was the most important thing, and the identification with Union had primarily to do withKöpenick.[87]
Despite 1. FC Union Berlin andHertha BSC making up the two biggest clubs in Berlin, a rivalry between the two has been much less pronounced. Sympathies between supporters of the two clubs developed in divided Berlin. The first personal contacts between supporters of the two clubs occurred in the 1970s.[88] Supporters of Hertha visited theStadion An der Alten Försterei and supporters of Union accompanied the supporters of Hertha when Hertha played in theEastern Bloc countries, such as the quarter finals in the1978–79 UEFA Cup againstDukla Prague.[89] Chants and slogans such as "Ha-Ho-He, there are only two teams on theSpree – Union and Hertha BSC" (German:Ha-Ho-He, es gibt nur zwei Mannschaften an der Spree – Union und Hertha BSC) and "Hertha and Union – one nation" (German:Hertha und Union – eine Nation) became popular among the two sets of supporters.[88] The two sets of supporters came together for the first time after the opening of theBerlin Wall during the first edition of the indoor tournament "Internationales Berliner Hallenfußballturnier" in theWerner-Seelenbinder-Halle on 18–20 January 1990.[90] Supporters of Union and Hertha now also sangxenophobic andnationalist chants.[91] The teams of Hertha BSC and 1. FC Union Berlin also met in the tournament on 19 January 1990. It was the first ever meeting between the two sides. Hertha BSC won the match 3–2 in front of 4,000 spectators in Werner-Seelenbinder-Halle.[92][90]
On 27 January 1990, 79 days after the fall of theBerlin Wall, Hertha hosted Union Berlin at theOlympiastadion in a friendly in front of 52,000 spectators. Fans of both clubs paid for admission in East andWest Germany's respective currencies, and sang songs ofGerman reunification, as Hertha won 2–1. Over twenty years later, on 17 September 2010, the duo faced each other for the first time in a competitive meeting, at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, drawing 1–1 in the 2. Bundesliga.[93] On 2 November 2019, Union Berlin faced Hertha at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, in the first meeting between the clubs in German football's top flight. An 87th minuteSebastian Polter penalty secured a 1–0 win for Union, in a game temporarily suspended by refereeDeniz Aytekin, following fireworks thrown by Hertha fans, which landed amongst Union Berlin fans, as well as on the playing surface. 1,100 police officers were on duty for the game, with Hertha fans burning Union Berlin shirts, flags and scarves during the game.[94] Hertha supporters had also been joined by 20–25 supporters of BFC Dynamo in the guest block.[95] Following full time, Union Berlin goalkeeperRafał Gikiewicz won praise from fans and media alike after ushering Union Berlin ultras from the field of play, following a minor pitch invasion devised to attack Hertha supporters.[94]
More recently, the club has developed a rivalry with RB Leipzig, following the takeover of license and teams from fifth division sideSSV Markranstädt financed byRed Bull GmbH and the ascension by Leipzig to the Bundesliga system. In 2011, Union Berlin ran adverts against the investment of the club whilst also cancelling a pre-season friendly with the club. On 21 September 2014, Union Berlin fans staged a silent protest for the first 15 minutes of a 2. Bundesliga home game against RB Leipzig, labelling RB Leipzig a "marketing product pushed by financial interests" with "brainwashed consumers in the stands". Union Berlin won the game 2–1.[99] On 18 August 2019, during Union Berlin's first ever Bundesliga game, at home against RB Leipzig, the club's oldestultras group, theWuhlesyndikat, successfully called for a 15-minute silent protest at the start of theclub's 2019–20 opener.[100]
The official Union Berlin song is "Eisern Union" by German punk singerNina Hagen[101] The composition was recorded in 1998,[102] with an intro added in 2006 using the opening ofRammstein's songRammstein.[103] Four versions were issued on a CD single by G.I.B Music and Distribution GmbH.
The famous[according to whom?] supporters' chant 'Eisern Union' (Iron Union) bounces back and forth between the terraces namedWaldseite and theGegengerade, and is followed by mutual acknowledging applause.[104]
Union Berlin is also well known for its Christmas traditions celebrated in their home stadium.[105] In 2003, the yearly Union Weihnachtssingen started as an unofficial gathering to which just 89 fans showed up. In 2013, 27,500 people attended, including players and supporters of other teams from around Germany and Europe. Fans drink Glühwein (mulled wine), wave candles around, light flares and sing a combination of Christmas carols andfootball chants.[106]
Böttcher, Jan; Willmann, Frank. (2017).Alles auf Rot: Der 1. FC Union Berlin (in German), Berlin: Blumenbar.ISBN978-3-351-05046-7.
Holden, Kit. (2022).Scheisse! We're Going Up!: The Unexpected Rise of Berlin's Rebel Football Club. London: Duckworth.ISBN978-0715654439.
Koch, Matthias. (2013)."Immer weiter – ganz nach vorn": Die Geschichte des 1. FC Union Berlin (in German). Göttingen: Die Werkstatt.ISBN978-3730700495.
^Being a "civilian club" did not mean that the club was independent from the state sports political system. A "civilian club" was simply a club that was not affiliated to thesports associations (SV) of the armed organs:SV Dynamo orASV Vorwärts. The civilian clubs were instead clubs of theDTSB. All clubs in the1966-67 DDR-Oberliga, exceptFC Vorwärts Berlin, BFC Dynamo andSG Dynamo Dresden, were civilian clubs.
^A former Stasi employee, who was one of two employees responsible for monitoring the supporter scene of Union Berlin, claims that he never heard such chants himself, and that they would not have intervened with such chants anyway. Chants were only noted in their reports and classified among themselves: if they came from someone they had to worry about or if it was just someone venting their frustration.[80] The Stasi also had two employees responsible for monitoring the supporter scene of BFC Dynamo in the same way.[80]
^Glaser, Joakim (2015).Fotboll från Mielke till Merkel – Kontinuitet, brott och förändring i supporterkultur i östra Tyskland [Fotball from Mielke to Merkel] (in Swedish) (1st ed.).Malmö: Arx Förlag AB. p. 127.ISBN978-91-87043-61-1.
^McDougall, Alan (2014).The People's Game: Football, State and Society in East Germany (1st ed.).Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 24.ISBN978-1-107-05203-1.
^abcdeKannowski, Stephan (1999).Der Einfluss der SED auf den Sport der DDR am Beispiel des Fußballvereins 1. FC Union Berlin (October 1999 ed.). Hamburg: Diplomarbeiten Agentur diplom.de (Bedey Media GmbH). pp. 44–45.ISBN978-3832419226.
^"Kröten im Tümpel".Der Spiegel (in German). Vol. 1983, no. 14. Hamburg: Der Spiegel GmbH & Co. KG. 3 April 1983. Retrieved12 March 2023.
^Nüssbauer, Frank (n.d.)."111 Gründe, Unioner zu sein: Eine Liebeserklärung an die wundervollsten Fans der Welt"(PDF).kulturkaufhaus.de (in German). Berlin: Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus GmbH. p. 22. Retrieved30 November 2024.Verner übrigens war ein ausgesprochener Sympathisant unseres Vereins und Union, im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen Vertretern seiner Zunft, sehr wohlgesinnt.
^abcDennis, Mike; LaPorte, Norman (2011).State and Minorities in Communist East Germany (1st ed.).New York: Berghahn Books. p. 131.ISBN978-0-85745-195-8.
^Stier, Sebastian (22 July 2011)."Stasi-Affäre: Wie eisern ist Union?".Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Berlin: Verlag Der Tagesspiegel GmbH. Retrieved5 April 2021.
^Tomilson, Alan; Young, Christopher (2006).German Football: History, Culture, Society (1st ed.).Abingdon-on-Thames: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. p. 54.ISBN0-415-35195-2.
^Wyschek, Helmut (1999)."Erich Mielke, soll unser Führer sein".Telegraph (De) (in German).1999 (3). Berlin: Prenzlberg Dokumentation e.V. Retrieved27 December 2019.
^Glaser, Joakim (2015).Fotboll från Mielke till Merkel – Kontinuitet, brott och förändring i supporterkultur i östra Tyskland [Football from Mielke to Merkel] (in Swedish) (1st ed.).Malmö: Arx Förlag AB. pp. 167–168.ISBN978-91-87043-61-1.
^abLeue, Gunnar (22 January 2015)."Was macht die Staatsmacht jetzt?" – Ein ehemaliger Stasi-Mann über Berliner "Fußballrowdys".11 Freunde (in German). Berlin: 11FREUNDE Verlag GmbH & Co. KG.Wenn im Stadion Sprechchöre kamen wie „Die Mauer muss weg"? Die habe ich selbst nie gehört. Aber bei solchen Sprechchören wurde noch nicht eingegriffen. Das wurde in unseren Berichten notiert und unter uns eingeordnet: Kommt das von einer Person, um die wir uns Sorgen machen müssen oder hat da nur einer seinen Frust abgelassen.
^MacDougall, Alan (2014).The People's Game: Football, State and Society in East Germany (1st ed.).Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 242.ISBN978-1-107-05203-1.
^Koch, Matthuas (28 November 2019)."Vom Mauerblümchen zum Fußball-Leuchtturm".bpb.de (in German). Bonn:Federal Agency for Civic Education. Retrieved5 April 2021.'Union war kein Club von Widerstandskämpfern, aber wir mussten immer wieder gegen viele politische und ökonomische Widerstände ankämpfen. Kraft holten wir uns von unseren Fans', sagt Unions Ehrenpräsident Günter Mielis.
^Willmann, Frank (2013).Stadionpartisanen nachgeladen. Fans und Hooligans in der DDR (1st ed.). Berlin: nofb-shop.de, Sole trader: Stephan Trosien. pp. 382–383.ISBN978-3-00-039788-2.Die Masse der Unioner war normale Fans ... Unioner waren schon pfiffig. Aber man sollte keine Widerstandskämpfer daraus machen. Provokationen gehörten in Fußball dazu. Und es wurde eben auch das gerufe, wofür man ncht gleich mitgenommen werden konnte.
^Willmann, Frank (2013).Stadionpartisanen nachgeladen. Fans und Hooligans in der DDR (1st ed.). Berlin: nofb-shop.de, Sole trader: Stephan Trosien. p. 147.ISBN978-3-00-039788-2.Unionfans haben beim besten Willen keinen Beitrag zum Sturz der DDR geleistet. Auf keinen Fall, wir warn am Fußball interessiert. Es gibt das Klischee vom Club der Staatsfeinde, aber das waren wir nicht.
^Willmann, Frank (2013).Stadionpartisanen nachgeladen. Fans und Hooligans in der DDR (1st ed.). Berlin: nofb-shop.de, Sole trader: Stephan Trosien. p. 92.ISBN978-3-00-039788-2.Ich halte es für eine Mär, dass nur alle Unioner Opposition waren. Ich glaube, es war eine Grundeinstellung der DDR-Fußballjugend in der 70ern und 80ern, dass sie kritisch zum System stand.
^Glaser, Joakim (2015).Fotboll från Mielke till Merkel – Kontinuitet, brott och förändring i supporterkultur i östra Tyskland [Football from Mielke to Merkel] (in Swedish) (1st ed.).Malmö: Arx Förlag AB. pp. 131–132,171–172.ISBN978-91-87043-61-1.
^Braun, Jutta; Wiese, René (7 June 2019)."Hertha und Union – eine Nation".Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Berlin: Verlag Der Tagesspiegel GmbH. Retrieved30 May 2021.
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