What are the sources of inspiration? While the answer to that question for each of us is both varied and personal, for me, I find inspiration in reading stories about generosity, overcoming adversity, achievement, spirituality, commitment, moral strength, honor and courage. Each week as I ponder and search for the inspiration that will drive the creation of this weekly message, I find myself opening my mind, my eyes, and my soul for guidance. In that sense, authoring Weekend Inspiration is, and has been, a true blessing for me.
The spark for this week’s missive came from two sources. First, was this week’s invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops. The second was a historical novel I recently read about the Czech resistance of the Nazis during World War II. It is titled HHhH and is authored by a French writer named Laurent Binnet.
The gist of the novel centers around the assassination of arguably the most dangerous man in Hitler’s inner circle, Reinhard Heydrich, who was known as the “Butcher of Prague.” However, throughout the book the author offers up numerous examples of extraordinary courage shown by ordinary people who lived their daily lives in the midst of the evil of the Nazi regime. One such story involves a soccer game that has become known as the Death Match of Kiev.
In the summer of 1942, the Ukraine in Russia was governed by the Nazis with their characteristic brutality. Despite the ongoing war, the Nazis decided that they wanted to organize soccer matches pitting teams from occupied and satellite countries against each other and, on occasion, against German teams. One team soon distinguished itself with a series of victories over Romanian and Hungarian opponents. This team was named FC Start. It was a team that was hastily put together primarily from former soccer team members of a defunct team called Dynamo Kiev, which was banned upon the occupation of Kiev by the Nazis but whose ex-players were now being allowed to reassemble for these matches.
FC Start was a good soccer team and immediately began amassing a string of victories over other Ukrainian teams. Their successes soon caught the attention of the Germans, who decided to organize a match in Kiev between FC Start and the Nazi Luftwaffe’s team.
Prior to the day of the game, the Kiev players received orders that they would be required to raise the Nazi salute when both teams lined up in the opening ceremony.
The day of the match, the stadium was full to the bursting. The two teams entered onto the field, and the German players lifted their arms and shouted “Heil Hitler!” The FC Start players also lift their arms, no doubt a disappointment to the many locals in the crowd, who saw the match as an opportunity to show some symbolic resistance. But instead of shouting “Heil Hitler!,” they closed their fists and banged them against their chests, yelling, “Long live physical culture!” This slogan, with its Soviet connotations, sent the crowd into a frenzy of wild cheering.
The match had hardly begun when one of the FC players leg was broken by a German player. There were no substitutes, so the Ukrainians had to play the remainder of the game with only ten men. Thanks to that numerical superiority, the Germans initially opened up a lead. But the Kiev players refused to give up and they were soon able to tie the score sparking a near constant wave of loud cheers from the locals. Then when they scored another goal to take the lead, the crowd exploded with joy.
At halftime, General Eberhardt, the German superintendent of Kiev, visited the FC Start players in their dressing room and is quoted as saying, “Bravo, you’ve played an excellent game and we’ve enjoyed it. But now, in the second half, you must lose. You really must! The Luftwaffe team has never lost before, certainly not in any of the occupied territories. This is an order. If you do not lose, you will be executed.”
The players listen in silence. Back on the field for the start of the second half, after a brief moment of uncertainty, they made their decision: they would play to win.
They scored a goal, then another and ended up winning 5-1. The Ukrainian fans went crazy.
The German supporters muttered angrily. Shots were fired in the air. But none of the FC Start players needed to worry yet about being executed because the Germans demanded a rematch. They sent urgently for reinforcements. Some professional players from Berlin were ordered to be sent to Kiev to strengthen their team.
Within days the second match kicked off. Once again, the stadium was full, but this time it was patrolled by armed SS troops. Officially they were there to maintain order. As before, the Germans scored first. But the Kiev team never lost faith, and they ultimately won the match 5-3.
When the final whistle blew, the crowd was ecstatic but the players looked pale. The field was invaded by the spectators, and in the confusion three FC Start players disappeared into the crowd. They would survive the war.
The rest of the team was arrested and four were immediately taken to a killing field outside of Kiev and executed. On his knees at the edge of the ditch, Nickolai Trusevich, the captain and goalkeeper for FC Start managed to yell, before a bullet to his head ended his life: “Communist sport will never die!” The other players were then murdered, one by one.
This incredible story, though horrific, should give pause for each of us to ponder what values we hold dearest to our heart such that we would be willing to die for them. As one who has enjoyed the privilege of living in the relative peace and luxury of this country, I am uncertain that I would possess the level of courage shown by these brave sportsmen, but their steadfastness certainly does inspire me to aspire to possess such resolve.
One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest. – Maya Angelou
Have an AWE-full Weekend!
William “Bill” Bacque