The Amazing Story of Fritz WalterI've been a bit morose the past few days, as México--where I spent the last 7 months living--the USA--the country I call home--and England--the country where my mom was born and raised--were all sent home in the last two days. Thank god Japan--where I spent eleven or so months of my life living--is still in it! That said, I've been lazy with these updates. But anyway...
Today I bring you the amazing story of West German player Fritz Walter, who was the captain of the '54 West Germany team that won the World Cup. But by all rights, Fritz should have died in the Gulag.
Like most young men of his age, Walter was conscripted by the Nazis and ended up fighting the Soviets on the eastern front. He was captured toward the end of the war and destined for shipment to Siberian work camps, where prisoners were expected to live 5 years.
While at a holding camp for prisoners of war, Walter caught a stray ball from a friendly game of football between guards and so dazzled them with his skill that he was quickly playing exhibition matches set up amongst the prisoners to show off his ability. Some say that he even coached teams and organized leagues in the detainment center, though how much of that is myth is hard to know.
When time came for the prisoners to board the train for the Gulag, a guard spoke up on Walter's behalf. The soldier managed to convince his superiors that Walter was in fact Austrian, not German, and that he didn't deserve the punishment.
The upper echelons of the power structure relented, and Fritz Walter was let go, only to be made the captain of the West German team upon return to his homeland. A little bit of football and kind heart in the coldness of the Soviet front was all it took to get him freed.
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