Auschwitz choreography by Unia Oswiecim in CHL – club punished

The Eisbären Berlin were greeted with a highly offensive choreography at their Champions League game in the Polish city of Oswiecim on Saturday.

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The officials of the German club Eisbären Berlin were dreading the trip to the ice of Unia Oswiecim last Saturday in the Champions Hockey League. Not because of the strength of the opponent – even if they are the reigning Polish champions – but because of the historical background. Oswiecim is none other than the infamous Auschwitz (southern Poland), where the Nazis built their largest concentration camp during the Second World War.

At least 1.3 million people were deported there. 1.1 million of them were murdered. 90 percent of them were Jews, making the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp the strongest symbol of the Holocaust and Nazi barbarism.

Before the game, the Eisbären Berlin therefore made their fans aware of the delicate aspect of this trip, especially regarding the choice of their flags and clothing. The day before the game, the German ice hockey players visited the Auschwitz memorial to commemorate the victims, reports Bild. “We don't need to discuss the fact that this is not an ordinary game,” club spokesman Leo Imme summed up.

Some Unia Oswiecim fans insisted on reminding their guests of this. After booing the German anthem, they unfolded a choreography for the Berlin players and fans as the teams entered the pitch, which consisted of several huge banners. On them were written in English:

Translation into English? “German death camps: Welcome to the city of your greatest crime.” The whole thing with letters in the colors of the German flag (black, red and gold) painted on a backdrop of barbed wire.

The fans of Unia Oswiecim unfolded a questionable choreography.Image: Screenshot x

The analogy between the Eisbären Berlin and the Nazi regime that ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945 is shocking and inappropriate. Political or offensive messages are prohibited in the Champions Hockey League ice rinks.

A trial and an apology

The club has initiated proceedings and those responsible have apologized to the German club. The managing director of the Berlin club, Thomas Bothstede, said that they were not the only ones:

Of course, the choreography was not tolerated by the Champions Hockey League either. The league also initiated proceedings and imposed a fine of 2,000 euros.

The German ice hockey players were not too bothered by this unfriendly reception and won 4:1. After two match days, they are in 12th place in the Champions League table, in which Zurich, Lausanne, Freiburg and Geneva also play. The first 16 qualify for the round of 16.

Unia Oswiecim is in 21st place, just behind Geneva. Let's hope that the Polish fans do not repeat their poor hospitality, as they host the Austrian team from Salzburg and the German team from Straubing in their next two home games…

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