Ewald Dytko
Encyclopedia
Edward Jan Dytko (October 18, 1914 – June 13, 1993) was a German-born Upper Silesian soccer player, who, when his home country became Poland by Treaty of Versailles
represented the no longer existing team of Dąb Katowice
, also in 1935-39 he played in the Polish National Team.
He was born in Zalenze (now a district of Katowice
) and since early childhood played soccer. In 1931 he became a player of Dab, where he spent his all career. In 1936, his team was promoted to the Polish Soccer League, but due to Dąb's disqualification, the club was relegated in the middle of the 1937 season.
His national debut occurred on August 18, 1935 in Katowice, against Yugoslavia
. Soon Dytko became a key midfield, participating in 25 games. He played in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin
(in all four games of the Polish Team), also in a legendary World Cup Soccer 1938 game Poland - Brazil
5-6 (June 5, 1938, Strasbourg
, France
). On August 27, 1939, Dytko took part in the last (and one of the best) match of interwar Polish National Team - at Warsaw
, vs. Hungary
(4-2)
Dytko is regarded as the co-author of the biggest successes of Polish soccer in the interwar period.
During the Second World War, he signed the German
nationality list (Volksliste
) and in 1942 was drafted into the Wehrmacht
. In 1944 he was captured by the U.S. Army and for a while was kept at a POW camp in Austria
.
After the war he returned to Silesia and his beloved team, representing Dab until 1950. Like many other inhabitants of Upper Silesia, he had problems with the communist government, which initially treated him as a traitor. He was cleared, but only after signing the declaration of loyalty to the Polish state.
After 1950 he worked as a coach in several Silesian teams, but without major successes. He died in Katowice.
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
represented the no longer existing team of Dąb Katowice
Dab Katowice
Dąb Katowice was a former Polish sports club from Upper Silesian capital of Katowice. Founded in 1911 as SV Eiche , the club existed until September 9, 1968, when a merger with GKS Katowice took place and a new organization took over the name GKS.Dąb had numerous sports sections, including...
, also in 1935-39 he played in the Polish National Team.
He was born in Zalenze (now a district of Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
) and since early childhood played soccer. In 1931 he became a player of Dab, where he spent his all career. In 1936, his team was promoted to the Polish Soccer League, but due to Dąb's disqualification, the club was relegated in the middle of the 1937 season.
His national debut occurred on August 18, 1935 in Katowice, against Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
. Soon Dytko became a key midfield, participating in 25 games. He played in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
(in all four games of the Polish Team), also in a legendary World Cup Soccer 1938 game Poland - Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
5-6 (June 5, 1938, Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
). On August 27, 1939, Dytko took part in the last (and one of the best) match of interwar Polish National Team - at Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, vs. Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
(4-2)
Dytko is regarded as the co-author of the biggest successes of Polish soccer in the interwar period.
During the Second World War, he signed the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
nationality list (Volksliste
Volksliste
The Deutsche Volksliste was a Nazi institution whose purpose was the classification of inhabitants of German occupied territories into categories of desirability according to criteria systematized by Heinrich Himmler. The institution was first established in occupied western Poland...
) and in 1942 was drafted into the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
. In 1944 he was captured by the U.S. Army and for a while was kept at a POW camp in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
.
After the war he returned to Silesia and his beloved team, representing Dab until 1950. Like many other inhabitants of Upper Silesia, he had problems with the communist government, which initially treated him as a traitor. He was cleared, but only after signing the declaration of loyalty to the Polish state.
After 1950 he worked as a coach in several Silesian teams, but without major successes. He died in Katowice.
See also
- Polish Roster in World Cup Soccer France 1938
- The last game: August 27, 1939. Poland - Hungary 4-2