About 1. FC Union Berlin

1. FC Union Berlin’s early history, from 1906 to 1945, is rooted in a series of predecessor clubs formed in Berlin’s working-class neighborhoods. The earliest football activity in this lineage began with small local teams that gradually merged and reorganized over time. In 1920, one of the key predecessors adopted the name Union Oberschöneweide, which became the most direct ancestor of today’s club. During this period, the team established a strong local identity and became a recognized competitor in Berlin and regional football.

In the interwar years, Union Oberschöneweide competed in the top regional leagues of German football and even reached national championship stages, including appearances in the German finals in the early 1920s. While not consistently dominant, the club was considered a strong side in Berlin and Brandenburg football. Its development was shaped by the fragmented structure of German football at the time, where regional success was the main measure of achievement.

The period ended in 1945 due to the collapse of organized sport in Germany during World War II. Like many clubs, Union’s structure was disrupted, and football activity was temporarily halted or reorganized under new conditions. However, the traditions and identity formed between 1906 and 1945 later became the foundation for the post-war re-establishment of Union Berlin, preserving its working-class roots and regional character.