Sport – sports

Auftritt der Athleten – the athlete’s appearance

Hermann Zöller was born in Karlsruhe in 1906 and grew up in Stuttgart-Gaisburg. He was a passionate boxer, water polo player, swimmer and member of the Stuttgart Workers‘ Swimming Club, which was founded in 1912. According to its statutes from 1919, the club wanted to prevent ‘exaggerations in the field of sport’ and use swimming as a means of health care. The self-confidence with which Hermann poses, however, indicates a different understanding. Compared to other swimmers in the club, he can be seen as a living example of an athlete who not only trained his body, but also actively shaped it.

Hermann Zöller, 1920s
Haus der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg

Youth section of the Groß Stuttgart workers‘ swimming club, 1923
Haus der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg

Members of the workers‘ swimming club in the Büchsenbad Stuttgart, 1926
Haus der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg

Water polo players from Stuttgart and Esslingen, 1920s
Haus der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg

Spitzen- und Breitensport im Schwimmverein Cannstatt – Elite and Popular sport at SV Cannstatt

The ‘SV’ Cannstatt swimming club, founded in 1898, is one of the oldest and, for a long time, largest and most successful swimming clubs in the south-west, active in both elite and popular sports. Originally based in a clubhouse directly on the Neckar, the club now operates the Mombach swimming pool in Cannstatt’s Neckar suburb. In addition to the classic competitive disciplines, the club is also particularly active in water polo. In 2005/06, the SVC became German champions in the national league. Within popular sports, particular emphasis is now placed on the para-swimming department and the annual inclusive swimming festival. Special honours for both sporting achievements and commitment to the club itself include the ‘Stuttgart Swimmers’ Competition’ and the Wilhelm Walliser Memorial Walking Prize, named after the founder.

The lock keeper must take up a position from which his words can be understood by all participants. He should hear the indulgence calls ‘Are you ready? – Attention! – Go!’ loudly and clearly, and complete the last signal by lowering a flag.’

From the statutes of the German Swimming Association, 1912

Competition of the Stuttgart swimmers, 1931
Schwimmverein Cannstatt e.V.

Wilhelm Walliser Memorial Hiking Prize, awarded to Dr Otto Fahr in 1951 and Prof Wunibald Kamm in 1964, among others
Schwimmverein Cannstatt e.V.

Portrait of the world record holder and Olympic champion Otto Fahr (1892-1969), 1911
Ullstein picture

Die Anwendung des Lichtes als Heilfaktor – the use of light as a therapeutic factor

There was a so-called ‘Russian-Roman’ bath in the lower rooms of the Heslach municipal baths. Warm air, hot air and a steam bath were offered here as well as massages and relaxation areas. The electric intensive light bath was a special feature. It was a forerunner of the solarium, where light and heat were generated in a wooden cabin that tightly enclosed the body. Only the head was visible from the barrel-like structure.

Light therapy has become increasingly popular in recent years. It was not the novelty of the method, but the brilliant successes achieved by using light as a healing factor that brought light therapy to its present development […]. The company C. and E. Fein in Stuttgart launched a completely new, uniquely constructed bathing cell.’

Library of Entertainment and Knowledge, 1905

Intensive light bath cabin from the Heslach municipal baths, around 1929
Stadt Stuttgart, Betriebsmanagement Stuttgarter Bäder

Das Stadtbad Stuttgart-Heslach – Stuttgart-Heslach municipal swimming pool

The Heslach municipal swimming pool opened in 1929 as the largest and most modern indoor swimming pool in Germany at the time. Built in the New Building style with a flat roof and clinker façade, the indoor swimming pool was constructed in reinforced concrete and equipped with 50-metre water slides, which were revolutionary at the time. This was a requirement of the numerous sports clubs that organised their competitions here. In everyday use, however, the water area was divided into an area for men and women by a walkway.

Sie baden u. schwimmen in Stuttgart/They bathe and swim in Stuttgart, leaflet, around 1930
Stadt Stuttgart, Betriebsmanagement Stuttgarter Bäder

Stuttgart-Heslach municipal baths, opening on the 15th of June 1929, brochure
Stadt Stuttgart, Betriebsmanagement Stuttgarter Bäder

Antisemitismus in Baden-Baden – Anti-Semitism in Baden-Baden

During the German Empire, aggressive ‘spa anti-Semitism’ became established in North and Baltic Sea resorts such as Borkum and Zinnowitz. Jewish guests were antagonised as supposed social climbers and competitors for social prestige. Internationally orientated spas such as Baden-Baden defended themselves against this – but mainly out of concern that they would drive away wealthy Jewish customers. In 1919 and 1920, against the backdrop of defeat in the war, revolution and economic crisis, anti-Semitic graffiti and leaflets also appeared in Baden-Baden. The Central Association of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith fought back with this leaflet. It deliberately appealed to the business interests of the majority society. In fact, the city council took vigorous action against the agitation.

Flyer of the „Centralvereins deutscher Staatsbürger jüdischen Glaubens“/‘Central Association of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith’, 16 September 1919
Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg Generallandesarchiv Karlsruhe, Signatur O Nr. 277 (Original and reproduction)