Imagine playing a football match, but this time, it’s not just about winning or losing. It’s about survival. That was the reality in 1942, during World War II, when the Death Match took place under Nazi occupation.
A game that has inspired books, films, and endless debate.
But what really happened? Was it a brave act of resistance or a legend shaped by Soviet propaganda?
Let’s dive into the chilling story of the Death Match, a battle between football and fascism.
The Historical Backdrop
In 1942, World War II was in full force, and the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, was under Nazi occupation. Operation Barbarossa, Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union, had wreaked havoc, and life in Kyiv was a nightmare.
The Nazis deported thousands of Ukrainians to forced labor camps in Germany. Those who stayed behind lived under brutal conditions, with surveillance and violence at every corner.
Football clubs were dissolved, and the game was regulated by the Nazis. But football, like the human spirit, was not so easy to suppress.
One of the clubs that emerged during this time was FC Start, a team formed under extraordinary circumstances.
This was no ordinary team—it consisted of former Dynamo Kyiv and Lokomotyv Kyiv players, many of whom had served in the Red Army.
And this is where our story begins.
The Birth of FC Start
FC Start was founded by Joseph Kordik, a bakery owner and a passionate Dynamo Kyiv fan. He was no Nazi sympathizer, though.
In fact, he despised them and had an idea: use football to fight the Nazis in his own way.
He offered jobs at his bakery to former footballers, including goalkeeper Nikolai Trusevich, who was desperate to escape the cold and hunger that plagued the city.
Trusevich wasn’t the only player to join. With Kordik’s help, he managed to recruit a group of players who had once played at the highest level of Soviet football.
For them, playing football wasn’t just a chance to get back on the field; it was a chance to survive.
FC Start was born, and soon they were training in the bakery courtyard, ready to take on any team the Nazis threw their way.
FC Start vs. Rukh: Patriots vs. Traitors
Rukh was another football club created during the Nazi occupation. Unlike FC Start, Rukh was founded by a Nazi sympathizer named Georgiy Shvetsov.
He even tried to recruit Dynamo Kyiv players, but they refused. Why? Because he was seen as a collaborator, a traitor to his people.
The matches between FC Start and Rukh became more than just football games. To the people of Kyiv, they were battles between patriots and traitors. FC Start, with their roster of former professional players, dominated these encounters.
In fact, between June and July 1942, FC Start played seven matches and won every single one of them, scoring 37 goals and conceding only eight.
But the victories didn’t go unnoticed by the Nazis. They were not pleased with a team of locals humiliating the teams of their occupying forces. This led to the infamous Death Match.
The Death Match: FC Start vs. Flakelf
On August 6, 1942, FC Start faced off against Flakelf, a team made up of German soldiers from the Luftwaffe.
The Germans saw this as their chance to crush FC Start and restore their pride. But FC Start had other ideas. They handed Flakelf a humiliating 5-1 defeat.
Furious and embarrassed, the Nazis demanded a rematch, which was scheduled for August 9, 1942.
This time, the stakes were even higher. The word “revenge” was plastered on posters around the city.
The atmosphere was tense. The match was played under the watchful eyes of Nazi officers, and rumors circulated that FC Start players were threatened with death if they won again.
But these threats didn’t scare them. Despite the intimidation, FC Start emerged victorious once more, winning 5-3 in front of 2,000 local fans.
This was the match that would go down in history as the Death Match.
The Aftermath: Arrests and Executions
The Death Match didn’t end on the pitch. Just days after their final victory, the Gestapo arrested several FC Start players.
The official reason? Some claim it was because FC Start kept winning, humiliating Nazi teams in the process.
Others believe that Shvetsov, bitter over his team’s repeated losses, reported the players to the Gestapo, accusing them of being Soviet agents.
Whatever the reason, eight players were arrested on August 18 and 20, 1942. They were subjected to brutal treatment, and two players—Trusevich and Kuzmenko—were eventually executed in concentration camps.
These tragic events cemented the legend of the Death Match.
Truth vs. Myth: The Soviet Propaganda
After the war, the Soviet Union spun the story of the Death Match into a heroic tale of resistance. According to Soviet propaganda, the players were threatened with execution if they won.
They were allegedly forced to give the Nazi salute before the match but refused. And after their victory, they were taken to a ravine and shot while still wearing their red jerseys.
But the reality was much more complex. While FC Start players were indeed arrested and some were executed, the idea that they were killed immediately after the match is not entirely true.
In fact, they played another match after the so-called Death Match, and some players survived long after the war.
This doesn’t diminish their courage or the tragedy of what happened. But it’s a reminder that history is often clouded by myth, especially when it serves political purposes.
Legacy of the Death Match
The Death Match has become a symbol of resistance, not just in Ukraine but across the world. It’s a story of how a group of footballers defied their oppressors, not just by playing football, but by refusing to give up their dignity.
It has inspired countless retellings, from books and documentaries to films like Escape to Victory.
But beyond the myths and legends, the Death Match is a reminder of the horrors of war and the human spirit’s resilience.
For the players of FC Start, football wasn’t just a game—it was a fight for survival, a stand against tyranny.
Conclusion
The story of the Death Match is one of courage, sacrifice, and the power of sport in the darkest times. While the truth may be surrounded by myth, one thing is clear: the players of FC Start are heroes, not just because they won a football match, but because they stood up to an oppressive regime, even when it cost them their lives.
It’s a story that transcends football—a reminder that even in the face of evil, the human spirit can never be truly defeated.
