Wilhelm Góra
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Antoni Góra was a Polish
midfield soccer player.
His career started in zarlej] (Scharley O/S)] - a small hamlet located near Bytom
-Beuthen O/S. After some years, he moved to Pogon Katowice (which no longer exists) and then changed to Cracovia - one of the best teams of interwar Poland.
His debut in the Polish Soccer League took place in 1934, and until 1939 Gora participated in 134 Cracovia's games, winning the 1937 Championship of Poland title. In 1935 he debuted in the Polish National Team and in 1936 was a participant in Berlin
, Germany
Olympic Games
, where Poland was placed on the 4th location. Also, he took part in the legendary 1938 FIFA World Cup
game Poland - Brazil
5-6 (the match occurred on June 5, 1938 in Strasbourg
, France
).
Until 1939 Góra was a key midfield player of the Polish National Team and by then he had played in 16 games. After the beginning of World War II
, he signed the Volksliste
(German nationality list), which allowed him to continue the career. Gora remained in Kraków
, playing in a German-only team DTSG Krakau (one of the sponsors of this club was Oskar Schindler
).
Called up to the Wehrmacht
, he was taken with his unit to Italy
, where he was captured by Allied soldiers. There, Góra joined the 2nd Corps of the Polish army
under General Władysław Anders.
After 1945, Góra wanted to return to Upper Silesia. However, this proved to be impossible and thus he remained in West Germany
, where he died.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
midfield soccer player.
His career started in zarlej] (Scharley O/S)] - a small hamlet located near Bytom
Bytom
Bytom is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central-western district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Bytom is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Bytomka river .The city belongs to the Silesian Voivodeship since...
-Beuthen O/S. After some years, he moved to Pogon Katowice (which no longer exists) and then changed to Cracovia - one of the best teams of interwar Poland.
His debut in the Polish Soccer League took place in 1934, and until 1939 Gora participated in 134 Cracovia's games, winning the 1937 Championship of Poland title. In 1935 he debuted in the Polish National Team and in 1936 was a participant 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...
, Germany
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...
Olympic Games
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
, where Poland was placed on the 4th location. Also, he took part in the legendary 1938 FIFA World Cup
1938 FIFA World Cup
The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from 4 June to 19 June. Italy retained the championship, beating Hungary 4–2 in the final.-Host selection:...
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 (the match occurred on June 5, 1938 in 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...
).
Until 1939 Góra was a key midfield player of the Polish National Team and by then he had played in 16 games. After the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he signed the 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...
(German nationality list), which allowed him to continue the career. Gora remained in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, playing in a German-only team DTSG Krakau (one of the sponsors of this club was Oskar Schindler
Oskar Schindler
Oskar Schindler was an ethnic German industrialist born in Moravia. He is credited with saving over 1,100 Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his enamelware and ammunitions factories, which were located in what is now Poland and the Czech Republic respectively.He is the subject of the...
).
Called up to 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:...
, he was taken with his unit to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where he was captured by Allied soldiers. There, Góra joined the 2nd Corps of the Polish army
Polish II Corps
Polish II Corps , 1943–1947, was a major tactical and operational unit of the Polish Armed Forces in the West during World War II. It was commanded by Lieutenant General Władysław Anders and by the end of 1945 it had grown to well over 100,000 soldiers....
under General Władysław Anders.
After 1945, Góra wanted to return to Upper Silesia. However, this proved to be impossible and thus he remained in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, where he died.
See also
- Polish Roster in World Cup Soccer France 1938