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The Death Match: Start vs Flakelf
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Episode three of the new season of Pieces of History delves into the captivating story of “The Death Match” – Start vs Flakelf.
In this episode, we’ll explore the rich history of Ukraine, from its early origins to its cultural and political evolution. We’ll dive into the development of football in the country, tracing its growth and the rise of Dynamo Kiev as a dominant force. Finally, we’ll uncover the gripping story of the match between Start and Flakelf, examining the events leading up to it, the intense game itself, and the consequences that followed.
Join me as we uncover the remarkable history of Ukrainian football and the powerful story behind one of its most infamous matches.
Email: piecesofhistorypod@outlook.com
Facebook: Pieces of History podcast
Instagram: @pieceofhistorypod
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Transcript
Introduction to Pieces of History
00:00:13
Speaker
Hello and welcome to Pieces of History, I'm Colin McGrath. In each episode I delve into some renowned and lesser known events throughout history.
The 1942 Deathmatch: A Historic Football Game
00:00:22
Speaker
Today we're travelling back to 1942 to the occupied streets of k Kiev, where an extraordinary football match unfolded against the backdrop of World War II.
00:00:31
Speaker
Known as the Deathmatch, this infamous game pitted Ukrainian players against a team representing Nazi Germany. Beyond the sporting event, it became a symbol of defiance, courage, and the human spirit in the darkest of times.
Ukraine's WWII Context
00:00:44
Speaker
So before we dive into the gripping details of the game, let's take a moment to set the stage and understand the historical context of Ukraine in general and KF during the war.
00:00:54
Speaker
Ukraine spans from Belarus in the north to the Black Sea in the south, with its western and eastern borders historically subject to shifting political boundaries. In the west, the Carpathian Mountains provide a natural divide with Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, though political borders have not always aligned with this geographical feature. In the east, the border with Russia has fluctuated over centuries.
00:01:17
Speaker
At the heart of Ukraine lies the vast expanse of flat, fertile farmland, stretching 1,600 km wide and comparable in size to France. This region, known for its nutrient-rich black soil, has made Ukraine a major agricultural powerhouse, historically earning it the title the breadbasket of the Soviet Union. Additionally, the Donbass region is rich in coal, another valuable natural resource.
Ukraine's Historical Resilience
00:01:41
Speaker
However, Ukraine's expansive steppe, while a source of agricultural abundance, has also made it vulnerable to invasions throughout history, as the open terrain offers little defence against aggressors. yeah Ukraine's history is a tale of resilience, cultural richness and enduring conflict shaped by strategic location and fertile lands. From its early days as a settlement on the banks of the Dnieper River to its integration into the Soviet Union, Ukraine has weathered centuries of invasions, occupations and struggles for independence.
00:02:11
Speaker
By the 11th century, Kiev, Ukraine's ancient capital, was a thriving city. In 1036, it faced a dire threat when the nomadic Peshniags besieged the city. Jaroslav the Wise, Kiev's ruler, vowed to build a great church in honor of the Virgin Mary of victorious. His forces triumphed, and true to his word, he built a magnificent cathedral of St. Sophia on the battlefield.
00:02:37
Speaker
Alongside this, Yaroslav fortified the city with new walls and constructed a great imposing golden gate of Kiev, a 12-metre-high architectural marvel adorned with gilded copper doors and crown bat chapel. Kiev, already centuries old, stood as a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of its people.
00:02:56
Speaker
In the mid-17th century, under the leadership of Bogdan Kamilensky, Ukraine gained a fleeting independence, only to turn to Russia for protection. This decision sparked decades of conflict involving Russia, Poland, cossacks on torque the The 1686 Treaty of Eternal Peace formally divided Ukrainian lands between Russia and Poland.
00:03:17
Speaker
By 1793, with the second partition of Poland, most of present-day Ukraine fell under Russian control, except Galicia, which remained part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Ukraine's struggles continued into the 20th century. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, an attempt to establish an independent Ukrainian state was short-lived. Kiev changed hands repeatedly during the chaos, with the Red Army eventually securing control.
00:03:44
Speaker
By 1922, Ukraine was formally incorporated into the Soviet Union. However, Ukrainian nationalism persisted, fueled by a deep-seated distrust of Bolshevik rule. This tense accumulated and devastating suffering during the Soviet era, particularly under Stalin's regime. Despite these trials, Ukraine's national identity remained intact, rooted in its cultural heritage and the unwavering spirit of its people.
00:04:08
Speaker
By the late 1920s, famine and food shortages plagued the Soviet Union, leading to widespread starvation and death. Between 1921 and 1922 alone, 5 million people perished due to famine-related causes such as typhus, cholera and dysentery. The rural communities, resentful of state requisitions and lacking incentives, reduced their cultural output, exacerbating a crisis. Stalin's response to these challenges was a policy of collectivisation, which nationalised all agricultural production.
00:04:38
Speaker
Farmers' for restrictive ownership and even small acts like gathering grain for personal use were punished under draconian laws. The infamous Seven Eights Law, enacted in 1932, could result in a decade of hard labour for cutting a single ear of corn. This policy targeted not just resources but also social classes, in particular, the kulaks, a term weaponised to describe successful farmers.
00:05:03
Speaker
Stalin declared war on this group, resulting in mass executions, forced deportations to Siberian labor camps, and resettlement on barren lands. Accusations of being a kulak, or sympathiser, became tools for betrayal, pettiness, and the settling of old scores, sending millions to their deaths, or to lives of enduring suffering.
00:05:23
Speaker
Unfortunately, Ukraine was hit hardest. Stalin, wary of Ukraine's niceness aspirations, imposed disproportionately severe measures. Collectivisation decimated Ukraine in agriculture, causing catastrophic drops in grain production. The state's quota for grain requisitions were unwavering, even as harvest dwindled. In 1932-1933, these policies created the Holdemore, or Great Hunger, an artificial famine in which five to seven million Ukrainians died.
00:05:52
Speaker
Stalin's distrust of you Ukraine extended beyond famine policies. In the 1930s, during the Great Terror, his secret police, the NKVD, carried out purges with brutal efficiency. This random fear reached Kiev, where night arrests often it ended in interrogation, torture, forced confessions and either execution or deportation to labour camps.
00:06:14
Speaker
In 1937, Stalin targeted Ukraine's Soviet leadership, executing 17 senior officials, including the Ukrainian Prime Minister, as part of a broader campaign to suppress perceived disloyalty. These offence left indelible scars on Ukraine's history. The Holodomor is now recognised as a genocide by many nations, symbolising the cost of Stalin's ruthless consolidation of power.
00:06:38
Speaker
So how does football come into the story? Football's journey to Ukraine followed a similar pattern around the world, tracing its roots to British influence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Britain's maritime dominance saw the game carried by sailors to ports across the globe. In Ukraine, the sport likely gained traction as British sailors played games during their stops in Odessa in the late 1870s.
00:07:01
Speaker
While some argue that Czech engineers introduce football to Ukraine, the British sailor's influence is widely regarded as the origin of the sport in the region. By the early 1890s, football had captured the imagination of Ukrainians. A key figure in his formal introduction was Professor Ivan Bobersky, a sports enthusiast and academic who brought the first genuine football from Britain to Lviv in 1890. The first official football demonstration in Ukraine took place on June 5th, 1892 in Lviv. Though it wasn't a competitive match, the display captivated the audience.
00:07:35
Speaker
Two years later, on July 14th, 1894, Ukraine hosted its first official match during a so-called Congress. The game between teams from Lviv and Krakow ended it with a 1-0 victory for Lviv. Despite lasting less than 10 minutes, this match was a pivotal moment in the history of Ukrainian football, inspiring rapid growth in the sport.
00:07:56
Speaker
By the early 20th century, football had become a popular pastime across Ukraine. Its accessibility, requiring only a ball and an open space, made it appealing. Clubs and marching schools, factories and military units, with local competitions and leagues quickly following.
00:08:12
Speaker
The sport gained further prominence in 1914 when the Turkish team Fenerbache toured Odessa, joined enthusiastic crowds despite mixed results on the pitch. The interwar period saw Ukrainian football develop further under Soviet influence. In November 1927, Dynamo Kiev was founded as a sports club for local police and Ministry of Interior officers.
00:08:33
Speaker
Although Dynamo initially struggled, competing against stronger teams like Kharkov's clubs and their city rivals Seldor, the groundwork was led for future success. The late 1920s also saw Dynamo Keyes' first international match, a 4-3 loss to lower Austria in September 1929.
00:08:51
Speaker
Kharkov, the then capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, dominated regional football in this era, often of them representing Ukraine in Soviet competitions. However, Dynamo Kev's fortunes would soon improve, setting the stage for the club to become a powerhouse in Ukrainian and Soviet football.
00:09:09
Speaker
The rise signaled the beginning of Ukraine's profound contribution to the sport, a legacy that continues to thrive today. By 1935, Dynamo Kiev was poised to become one of the most prominent football clubs in the world. By this time,
Rise of Dynamo Kiev
00:09:22
Speaker
they were firmly established as Ukraine's top team.
00:09:25
Speaker
not just due to their location but because of the remarkable talent they cultivated. The rising prominence was evident during a tour in Belgium and France that summer, where a Ukraine side, featuring seven Dynamo KV players and Suda Neith, goalkeeper Nikolai Trusovich, showcased their skills.
00:09:42
Speaker
The highlight of this tour was the match against Red Star Olympic, a professional team in Paris. This was a landmark event, as it marked the first time Soviet amateur players faced professional footballers. The game symbolised both the sporting challenge and ideological competition, with the French party officials and Red Star manager hyping the match to a favour pitch. Despite the psychological gamesmanship, DynamoCAF demonstrated their capability and further solidified their reputation on the international stage.
00:10:10
Speaker
The establishment of the Soviet National Club Championship in 1936 was a pivotal moment for Soviet football and Dynamo Kiev was chosen to represent Ukraine. That year saw two tournaments, a summer championship and an autumn championship. Dynamo Kiev began her campaign with high expectations but faced at a humbling 5-1 defeat at the hands of Sportak Moscow in their opening match on May 24, 1936.
00:10:35
Speaker
The team, however, regrouped, focusing on teamwork, fluid passing and disciplined play. They rebounded to win their next four matches, finishing second in the Summer Championship. The rivalry with Dynamo Moscow came to a head in a decisive match to determine the USSR's first champion. A historic photograph from that game captures the key of players standing resolutely, with goalkeeper Nikolai Trusovich radiating calm confidence.
00:11:01
Speaker
Although Kiev did not emerge as the inaugural champions, their performance established them as a formidable force in Soviet football. In the autumn of 1936, Dino Kiev finished third, and over the next few years, the club continued to grow in stature. By 1938, although they finished fourth in the league, Dynamo set a new Soviet record with 76 goals in a single season.
00:11:23
Speaker
This remarkable achievement earned recognition for several of their players. Seven Dynamo players, including Trušević, Makayena and Lizović, were named among the 55 best footballers in the Soviet Union, a testament to the team's growing influence.
00:11:38
Speaker
In 1941, the championship began with optimism, but the season was cut short only after four games. World War II, with Hitler's forces advancing eastward, brought an abrupt halt to football in Ukraine and across the Soviet Union. The war would change the landscape of Ukrainian football forever, but Dino Kev's pre-war achievements had only cemented their legacy as a symbol of Ukrainian sporting pride.
00:12:02
Speaker
In 1942, the fall of Kiev was devastating in both scale and consequence. When the city surrendered to German forces, the capture was comprehensive, marking one of the most catastrophic defeats in military history. Over 630,000 Red Army soldiers were taken prisoner, a staggering number that still holds the grim distinction of being the largest single capture of troops ever recorded.
00:12:24
Speaker
To put this in perspective, the original strength of the Red Army at the Battle of Kiev having 677,000, underscoring the completeness of the defeat. For the German archip occupiers, managing such an immense number of prisoners presented immediate logistical challenges.
00:12:40
Speaker
The solution was to confine the captives in sprawling open-hour prison-of-war camps like the one at Dornista on the banks of the Dnieper River. These camps were not mechanised extermination sites like Auschwitz or Bergen-Belsen, but rather vast holding facilities where prisoners awaited processing, a euphemism for sorting based on perceived threat levels. Conditions in these camps were harsh and survival was often fragile. During the German occupation of Kiev, war became a tool for propaganda and pacification.
00:13:10
Speaker
Recognizing the deep cultural significance of physical culture and athletic competition in Soviet society, the occupiers sought to leverage this passion to win the loyalty, or at least the compliance, of the local population. By reintegrating sporting events into daily life, they hoped to foster a sense of normalcy and subtly align the population with the new regime.
00:13:30
Speaker
A cornerstone of this effort was the completion of a sports stadium that had been under construction with KFL. The Germans announced the allocation of an astonishing 50,000 rubles to finish the project, renaming it the All Ukraine Stadium. Scheduled to open on July 8th, the Grand Inauguration featured a diverse programme of gymnastics, boxing and football.
00:13:52
Speaker
To underscore their commitment, a match was arranged between a nationalist Ukrainian football team, Rook, and a German military unit.
FC Start: Symbol of Resistance
00:13:59
Speaker
The mastermind behind reintroducing football to occupied Kiev was Georgi Shislov, a former star player and soldier. A powerful and imposing figure, Shislov had distinguished himself on the battlefield during World War I,
00:14:13
Speaker
and later on the football field as a prolific goalscorer for the locomotive Kiev. Known for his physical strength and determination, Shislaw transitioned from player to a pivotal figure in the German organised football scene. He used his position to establish ROC, a team meant to symbolise a niceness revival on their German occupation.
00:14:32
Speaker
Chezlov sought to bolster ROC by recruiting the best players in KV. His primary target was Kolya Trusovich, the legendary goalkeeper celebrated as one of the finest in the USSR. Trusovich, however, was resolutely opposed to the Germans and rejected every overture from Chezlov, even as others in his circle were drawn from the newly forming team.
00:14:54
Speaker
Trusovitch became a unifying figure among a group of former players who found themselves working at bakery number three, a seemingly mundane post that mastered collective talent. Thanks to the bakery's manager, Isof Kordik, who recognised the propaganda value of sport, these players were allowed to train formally under German oversight. This ad hoc team, with Trusovitch at its heart and soul, embodied quiet resistance.
00:15:19
Speaker
While Sheslov and the Germans aimed to use football as a tool for control, the players of bakery number three represented the enduring spirit of Soviet athleticism and a subtle defiance of occupation. ah Aside from Rook, another team was formed during this period. Start.
00:15:35
Speaker
The creation of FC Sturt brought together an extraordinary array of talent. The team was formed from a blend of pre-war players, including stars from DynamoCave and Locomotive. Among them were accomplished athletes like Mattael Menck, Vladimir Balakin and Vasily Shukarev, whose footballing reputations rivaled those of Dynamo's elite. The combined skill set created a formidable squad that quickly became the pride of their supporters.
00:16:02
Speaker
The players were drawn from the bakery under the guidance of Cordick. The players decided upon the name FC Start for their club. The name was meant to symbolise new beginnings, perhaps reflecting the hope of starting fresh in grim circumstances. Moreover, its apolitical nature was likely intentional, staring clear of associations that might attract unwanted scrutiny from the occupiers.
00:16:24
Speaker
In May 1942, the Germans announced the resumption of football in Kiev, with the season set to begin on Sunday, June 7th. FC Stark's debut match was scheduled against Rook. This marked the beginning of the first organised football championship in Ukraine in nearly three seasons.
00:16:40
Speaker
The competition, however, was not structured as a traditional league. Instead, it consisted of exhibition matches among six teams, including Start and Rook, and sides representing various German garrisons. The occupiers saw this as an opportunity to showcase what they framed as an improvement in daily life under their rule. Determined to turn the opening match into a grand spectacle, they planned a carnival-like atmosphere at the Ukrainian stadium.
00:17:06
Speaker
The weather was glorious and the curfew was relaxed to allow a late kick-off of 5.30pm, giving the game a festival-like atmosphere and joining a large crowd eager to see football bull return to Kiev. Posters in both German and Ukrainian appeared across the city announcing the highly anticipated game.
00:17:22
Speaker
For a population wary of war and daily hardship, the match promised a rare destruction, a chance to escape, even briefly, from the grim realities of occupation. Admission was free, ensuring that anyone not bound by work could take refuge from the drudgery of their lives by attending. The excitement was palpable, as the prospect of live football after years of absence offered a glimmer of normalcy and hope amid the turmoil.
00:17:45
Speaker
The decision to play their first match wasn't one the players of SC start took lightly. In the cramped confines of bakery number three, a heated debate unfolded amongst the team. Some, like Mahina, voiced concerns that participating could be seen as collaboration with occup occupiers, a betrayal of their Soviet roots. Mahina, with his strong Stalinist convictions, argued that they should refuse and accept whatever consequences might follow.
00:18:09
Speaker
Others saw an opportunity to boost the morale of the people of Kiev, believing that by stabbing onto the field and playing their best, they could inspire hope and resistance. This debate was conducted among men who had grown close through their shared struggles. Among them, two players naturally stood out as leaders, the veteran Pustin, known for his steady demeanor, and Tresevich, the team's emotional anchor. Together, they gathered the squad, balancing reason with determination.
00:18:35
Speaker
As the discussion reached its peak, Trusifitz and Pustin revealed something they had found in the ruins of a warhouse, a set of red rolling football jerseys. Though it was unclear which team they had originally belonged to, the sight of the bright red shirts struck a powerful chord.
00:18:51
Speaker
Spreading the jerseys before the team, Tracy Fitz addressed them, quote, We do not have weapons, he said, but we can fight with our victories on the football pitch. Miguel and I will wear these shirts. For a while, the members of Dynamo and Zeldor will be playing one colour, the colour of our flag. The fight should soon know that the colour cannot be defeated.
00:19:10
Speaker
His words carried an emotional weight that silenced any remaining doubts. FC's start would play, and then we'd wear a red. For Rook's coach, Georgi Shisloff, this match was personal. Decades earlier, Dino Kev had rejected him as a player, and he had nursed a deep resentment ever since. Now he saw an opportunity to humiliate his old rivals in front of the city's new rulers and solidify his status as a key figure in the Occupyers Sports Administration.
00:19:36
Speaker
Confident in Rook's superior fitness and resources, Chesloth was certain of victory. On paper, the odds were stacked against Sturt. While the Rook players enjoyed regular jobs, better food and proper training, Sturt's team laboured in gruelling shifts at the bakery. Their equipment was improvised, cut down trousers served as shorts and players wore it whatever footwear they could scavenge. From work boots to camo shoes.
00:19:58
Speaker
Despite these disadvantages, Stark's players had one critical edge, their technical skill and chemistry, honing through countless after-work games. When the Romanian referee's whistle signalled the start of the match, it became clear just how outclass Rook was. Though younger and fitter, Rook's players struggled to match Stark's position, coordination and teamwork. Gonkarako, in particular, dazzled the crowd with his dribbling, repeatedly slicing through Rook's defence. By the end of the match, Stark had secured a decisive 7-2 victory.
00:20:27
Speaker
Chetlov was furious and humiliated. His plans to assert dominance had collapsed in a spectacular fashion. In retaliation, he went to the city commander, Major General Ebehart, demanding that the stadium be closed to start players, claiming that three patriots should not be forced to share the field with prisoners of war. Chetlov succeeded in barring start from the Ukrainian stadium. He also attempted to post their players for work, offering better living conditions and food, but his overtures were rejected outright.
00:20:56
Speaker
Now let's move on to the second theme in our story, Flak Elf.
Anticipation for Flak Elf vs FC Start
00:21:00
Speaker
The story of Flak Elf is shrouded in myth and embellishment. While some sources claim Flak Elf was the official Luftwaffe team, this portrayal appears to be an overstatement. If the SS symbolised Hitler's elite forces and the epitome of of Aryan ideology, the Luftwaffe stood as his noble knights of the skies. Brandein Flak Elf as a Luftwaffe team lent him an aura of invincibility, a reputation carefully cultivated by military authorities.
00:21:25
Speaker
Though the team did include several pilots, most of its players were drawn from the anti-aircraft batteries stationed around Kiev, as the name Flak-Elf meaning Flak-11 suggests. Regardless of their composition, Flak-Elf's prowess was undisputed. They were celebrated in Novor-Ukransky-Flovo as a team that never lost, firmly establishing them as the strongest German side of the era. A match was set up between Flak-Elf and Rook, but details about their match remained scarce.
00:21:54
Speaker
While Novo-Eukransky-Slovo confirms the decisive Flak Elf victory, the exact score was not recorded. Other accounts suggest that when the so dominant it resembled a training exercise. Exactly what it was meant to be. The game against Rook served as a warm-up, sharpening Flak Elf for their anticipated clash with FC Start.
00:22:14
Speaker
The football season had been devoid of any victories for German teams, leaving the authorities eager to conclude it as swiftly as possible. Their attempts to pacify the locals and pursue their agendas had backfired, inadvertently turning the start into a symbol of hope and resilience for the Ukrainians. With the war in the Soviet Union dragging on far longer than anticipated and no resolution in sight, this was an intolerable development.
00:22:37
Speaker
To raise starts emerging mythos, their defeat had to be staged on the football field in front of their own supporters and at the hands of a German team. The symbolism was paramount. Just as the Red Army had been crushed on the battlefield, it now needed to be obliterated on the pitch. Thus, the season was extended once more and an additional match was scheduled.
00:22:57
Speaker
But it turns out this wasn't the first encounter between Stark and Flackelf. The two teams had previously faced off, with Stark securing a decisive 5-1 victory. However, the details of that match have largely been lost to time, leaving only fragments of the story behind, yet one of the victories spread rapidly throughout Kiev. For the Germans, this unexpected blow to their morale came at a time when they could ill afford any additional setbacks.
00:23:22
Speaker
After Stark's victory over Flackelf, hundreds of posters and announced the rematch were plastered across shop windows, buildings, fences and lampposts throughout the city. The very act of producing the posters served as a glaring acknowledgement that the first match had gone poorly for Flackelf. The tone of the announcement left no doubt about the growing frustration within the military administration.
00:23:44
Speaker
The hand-built size posters were printed on the same dull grey paper used for all official notices, reinforcing their authoritative nature. Underneath the word football and picked out in the same size font was the word revenge. The details were presented in both Ukrainian and German, informing the public that the match would take place on Sunday, August 9th at the Zenit Stadium in Krajosana.
00:24:07
Speaker
The stadium was packed to capacity. The neo-classical entrance framed the anxious crowds, who paid five ripples for entry, an expensive price at the time. The venue, nestled within a housing estate, featured rudimentary seating, grassy verges and a pitch surrounded by a running track. German soldiers filled one side of the terraces, while Ukrainian supporters occupied the roman remaining areas, standing or sitting wherever they could find space.
00:24:32
Speaker
The atmosphere was tense. Start supporters were eager for another victory but understood the potential consequences of defying the German occupiers. Security was tight. With Wehrmacht soldiers and their imposing Alsatian dogs stationed along the route and within the stadium, a stark reminder of the German seriousness about this match. While children buzzed with excitement, hoping to catch a glimpse of their heroes or retrieve any stray balls, the adults carried a quiet apprehension.
00:25:00
Speaker
Shortly before five o'clock, the teams emerged from the dressing rooms, squinting into the low, bright evening sun. Stark came out first, escorted by Ukrainian police as the cinder track crunched beneath their feet. The excited crowd surged forward for a closer look at their heroes. The ragged strips of two months prior had been replaced with proper kits, red shirts, white shorts and red socks.
00:25:23
Speaker
Scavings are donated by locals eager to support the team. Trusovits wore his black jersey with red trim, and those with boots walked in a bow-legged gait from their studs. Start uniforms now resembled at USSR's national colours, a defined statement that resonated with the crowd.
FC Start's Victory
00:25:39
Speaker
For them, this match wasn't just start vs. flak health, it was Soviet resistance against fascism. The start players lined up before the grandstand were high-ranking German dignitaries self-protected by SS troops.
00:25:52
Speaker
Gazing around de parksteaddium the the players were buoyed by the thousands of fans but couldn't ignore the ominous sight of German soldiers filling an entire side of the ground. Then Flack Elf arrived, wearing crisp white uniforms. Among them were new players, fit and imposing, who stood tall, clicked their heels and shouted Heil Hitler to roaring approval from the German section.
00:26:13
Speaker
The crowd grew tense, waiting to see how the start players would respond. The Germans expected compliance, but the fans had no idea what was planned. The start team stood silent, heads bowed. Then, in unison, they raised their arms slowly, holding the crowd in suspense.
00:26:30
Speaker
Just as their salutes reached full height, they snapped their arms to their chest and roared, Fizkholtura. I had to look this up and it seems this was a common Soviet sporting salute at the time. The slogan Fizkholtura carried deep meaning. Rooted in the Soviet concept of physical culture, it emphasized self-improvement, both physical and mental, overcompetition.
00:26:51
Speaker
So what happened in the match? The game began poorly for start, with the goalkeeper Trušević repeatedly targeted by rough play ignored by the SS referee. 10 minutes in, a brutal collision left Trušević unconscious, but with no substitutes available, he played on, gazed and unfocused.
00:27:10
Speaker
Shortly after, Flak Elf took the lead. The Germans intensified their physical attacks, fouling mercilessly, but starch resolve remained unbroken. Midway through the first half, Kuzmenko levelled the score, with a powerful long-range shot that stunned Flak Elf.
00:27:26
Speaker
Moments later, Goncarranco's skilful run and calm finish put start ahead, and just before half-time he added another with a brilliant volley, giving start a 3-1 lead. The Ukrainian crowd was ecstatic, unable to believe what they had witnessed. With each go their cheers grew louder, erasing the groans that had followed Flackelf's early lead. They sang, cheered and danced in celebration.
00:27:48
Speaker
Some, emboldened by the team's performance, ventured to the grandstand to taunt the German officers and dignitaries, prompting the deployment of dog handlers. Elsewhere in the stadium, sporadic fights erupted among rival fans, many of whom were soldiers on leave, fueled by a day of drinking.
00:28:05
Speaker
The Ukrainian police and German guards eventually broke up the clashes, but not before several start supporters suffered severe beatings. When the teams returned to the field, armed guards rounded the stadium, and the atmosphere grew even more menacing. Despite the tension, start continued to outplay their opponents. Both sides scored twice in the second half, but flak health never posed a serious threat to start's dominance. The match ended in unforgettable fashion.
00:28:31
Speaker
Start's youngest player, Kimilko, dribbled past the entire German defence, stopped the ball on the goal line, and then kicked it back in into play instead of scoring. Furious, the referee ended the game prematurely to spur Flack Elf further humiliation. Start had tram 5-3 defeating Germany's pride twice in three days and delivering a powerful blow to their occupier's morale. As the Start players left the field, there was no celebration, only exhaustion and quiet apprehension.
00:28:59
Speaker
They exchanged brief handshakes before retreating to the dressing room, knowing their victory could bring severe consequences. Outside, jubilant crowds surged forward, prompting the police and SS to release dogs to disperse them. German officers, humiliated by the propaganda failure, were jostled back static locals as they left, forcing guards to fire shots into the ark to restore order. Despite fears of immediate retaliation, no action was taken against the star players and the devs following the match.
00:29:29
Speaker
Expecting a raster worse, they were instead allowed to resume their work at bakery No. 3. To their surprise, they even continued training at Senate Stadium and learned from ISEV Kordik that another game had been scheduled the following Sunday. In hindsight, it's clear whether Germans hesitated to act immediately.
00:29:46
Speaker
Senior officers had witnessed their claims of superiority crumble in under 90 minutes, a humiliation worsened by jeers from both locals and supposed allies. For days after the match, German control of Kiev felt tenuous. The local population, inspired by the start player's defiance and victory under unfair conditions, was emboldened. Once fearful and subdued, they now carried themselves with a newfound pride to find the occupiers with their very presence.
00:30:14
Speaker
Had the Germans stormed the dressing room and arrested the players, they risked sparking a full-scale riot. Instead, the military authorities chose to wait. And then the reprisals began. The star players became targets due to accusations from Rook manager, Georgi Shaczlov, who claimed they had defied military authority and served as propaganda symbols for the Communists. Shaczlov's nice enough stance resonated with some occupying officials, who saw the players' freedom as a challenge to the Reich.
00:30:43
Speaker
Under this pressure, the Germans ordered the arrest of several start members. The arrest began methodically at bakery number three. Gestapo officers posing in the office of the factory manager, Isaf Kordik, manager of start, summoned the players one by one. Each was checked off the list, bundled into a waiting car and taken away, never to return to their station. The mood in the factory grew grim as workers realised what was happening.
00:31:10
Speaker
The last to be arrested was player coach Savorsky. Not at the bakery, he was found refereeing a local match, and active to fans as he trained teams in secret for extra food. He was arrested on the spot, joining his teammates in custody.
00:31:25
Speaker
The players were imprisoned at Gestapo Headquarters, Kololanko Street, placed in separate cells where they could see but not speak to one another. Integrations were aimed to force confessions of sabotage or theft, with severe beatings and starvation use as coercion.
00:31:41
Speaker
Nikolai Korotik, singled out early, faced even harsher treatment due to his past as an NKVD officer, revealed by his sister to protect their family from reprisals. After weeks of brutal torture, Korotik died and other pairs were transferred to Cérez at a notorious death camp near Babi Yar.
Aftermath of the Match
00:32:01
Speaker
Cérez, once a village with peaceful associations, had become a site of unimaginable suffering.
00:32:08
Speaker
Prisoners endured forced labour, starvation and arbitrary executions. The starved players, with slightly better conditions than most, struggled to survive in this living hell. A typical day began with grueling roll calls, where the dead and infirm were removed, followed by hours of backbreaking labour. A horrific incident in August 1942 saw 48 prisoners executed in retaliation of a guard's death. Their bodies joined thousands in a local ravine. For the star players, Sérez was a grim punishment for their defiant victory. In the brutal conditions of Sérez, fractures within the team began to surface.
00:32:46
Speaker
Kono Koranko accused his teammate, Pavel Komarov, of betraying the group. While Komarov had been a prolific goal scorer, he had always been an night outsider, with some questioning his dedication to the team. According to Kono Koranko, Komarov turned informant in the camp, providing the Germans with information in exchange for relief from the relentless torment. Anecdotal evidence suggests Komarov may have disclosed Nikolai Koratik's NKVD background, sealing his fate.
00:33:16
Speaker
As Soviet forces advanced on Kiev, Komarov reportedly fled, aided by the Germans. He vanished after the war, leaving his alleged betrayal unresolved but deeply felt among the survivors.
00:33:28
Speaker
On the 23rd of February 1943, the anniversary of the Red Army's formation, partisan raids escalated across German occupied territories. In Kiev they struck a a power plant holding over 100 motorised slays, essential winter transportation for the Germans, setting it ablaze and destroying key buildings and supplies.
00:33:48
Speaker
The following morning, news of the sabotage reached Cérez, triggering brutal reprisals. At Roadcall, Commandant Rolominsky decreed every third prisoner was to be executed. Guards counted off the terrified men, silencing the courtyard safe with a crunch of boots and a crack of gunfire.
00:34:07
Speaker
Among the victims were Dino Kia's former stars. Ivan Kuzmenko, once a towering striker, was beaten and shot after refusing to collapse under blows. Alexei Klimiko, the youngest of the team, was killed with a single bullet after being struck to the ground.
00:34:23
Speaker
Then came Nikolai Trusovich, the legendary goalkeeper. Rising defiantly after a blow knocked him down, he shouted, Red sport will never die, before Bane shot dead, still wearing his beloved black and red jersey, the only warm clothing he owned. The survivors, stunned by the loss of their teammates, learned that the bodies of those executed were dumped, like the others, into the ravine.
00:34:47
Speaker
Months later, as Soviet forces near Kiev, the Germans sought to erase their crimes. Prisoners were forced to exhume and burn the dead, dismantling evidence in a grotesque display of cruelty.
00:34:59
Speaker
Meanwhile, Gonarenko, warned by a fellow prisoner that he was also targeted, planned his escape, was Sarah Dolsky. He fled from a police station where they worked for prime boots, slipping into the city and invading capture. Hidden by sympathetic locals, Gonarenko survived until Kiev's liberation, carrying the memory of his fallen teammates and On the 3rd of November 1943, two full Soviet armies launched a surprise assault on Kiev, sweeping down from the north,
00:35:30
Speaker
Bad weather grounded German spoiler planes, allowing the Soviets to move reinforcements undetected. Panic gripped the German troops stationed on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River. Terrified by stories of brutal treatment at the hands of advancing Soviet forces, many fled in chaos. Some, in their desperation, chose to plunge into the icy river, knowing the freezing waters and their heavy packs made survival unlikely.
00:35:56
Speaker
By the 5th of November, Soviet forces had reclaimed Kiev, a city once again engulfed in flames. At 4am on the 6th of November, the official announcement to declared the Ukrainian capital liberated. Stalin seized the moment to celebrate the victory, which coincided with the anniversary of the Russian Revolution.
00:36:15
Speaker
In Moscow, fireworks lit up the sky as Stalin toasted the year of the Great Turning Point at a lavish party. Meanwhile, in Kiev, Soviet troops continued to mop up German resistance, ensuring full control of the city. Once home to over 400,000 residents, Kiev had suffered immensely, its population decimated to 80,000 souls.
Legacy and Remembrance
00:36:38
Speaker
After re-taking Kiev, the Soviets began quickly documenting the atrocities committed under German occupation. This served both propaganda purposes and as evidence to demonstrate to Ukrainians that life under German rule was far worse than under Stalin. Soviet tribranials, convened by late November 1943, gathered testimony, including from survivors of the Baba Yar massacre.
00:37:02
Speaker
These hearings also revealed the story of the infamous death match between FC Sturt and Flackelf. Vladimir Klimiko, a key figure in preserving history, penned a memoir recounting the occupation and the sacrifices of Kiev's players. Despite saving a jury family during the war, Klimiko was haunted by guilt for being unable to help his brother Alexei, one of the players executed. He dedicated his life to sharing her story.
00:37:30
Speaker
Today, Dynamo Cave honours its fallen players, Nikolai Korotik, Nikolai Trusovich, Ivan Kuzmenko and Alexei Klimenko. With a striking granite monument i outside the Dynamo Stadium, the towering sculpture depicts the four men standing united, their strength and resolve immortalised in stone.
00:37:49
Speaker
It serves as a deliver reminder of their sacrifice, inspiring players and fans alike. The club's culture emphasizes defending the honour of Kiev, a legacy celebrated in traditions like newlywed players leaving flowers at the monument, a simple yet profound tribute to the heroes who shaped Dynamo's enduring spirit. Thank you for joining me on this exploration of the history behind the deathmatch, Start vs. Flak Elf.
00:38:15
Speaker
I hope you found this deep dive into the past as fascinating as I did. Be sure to tune in next time as we uncover more hidden stories from history's shadows.
Engagement with the Podcast
00:38:24
Speaker
Make sure to subscribe and we have Pieces of History podcast on iTunes and Spotify, and you can contact me at pacesofhistorypod.com or on Instagram and Facebook at pacesofhistory. Thanks for listening.