A relic of history stands before you. This is the Sportschule in Flensburg. Its red brick walls whisper tales of triumphs and tragedies.
The Sportschule wasn’t always a sporting venue. Built between 1936 and 1937 it served the German Navy. It held a dark secret. In 1945 it became the unlikely seat of the last Nazi government under Admiral Dönitz. The building’s very stones bear witness to this pivotal moment in history. The unconditional surrender of the Wehrmacht was orchestrated from within these walls.
The Sportschule’s history doesn’t end there. In June 1947 it was reborn. This time as the municipal Sportschule Flensburg-Mürwik. Siegfried Perrey took the helm. He transformed it into a Landessportschule in 1948. Under Perrey’s direction the school boasted athletics tracks a hockey field and a gymnasium. Even the nearby Marine riding school was used.
An interesting fact: Hinrich Medau established his Medau-Schule within the Sportschule in 1947. Medau’s unique gymnastics approach initially flourished in Berlin. The Berlin school was sadly destroyed by bombing in 1943. It relocated to Breslau. It was forced to close in 1945. The Flensburg location offered Medau a fresh start.
The street name changed too. The section of Twedterholz near the Sportschule was renamed Fördestraße in 1961. The Sportschule’s address then became Fördestraße 37.
The eastern part of the gymnasium houses a remarkable feature. This is a ship simulator for nautical training. It’s called the AANS system for nautical ship guidance. It trains the next generation of sailors.
The Sportschule in Flensburg. A building that has quietly witnessed some of the most dramatic moments in German history. Its walls still stand. A silent testament to its past as a military facility a temporary seat of power and now a vital sports center. The Sportschule has stood the test of time. It continues to serve Flensburg’s community. It’s a place where history and sport intertwine. This is the story of the Sportschule a truly unique place.