Considering the Volksstadion Rostock before us, can you imagine the echoes of history resonating within these grounds? This is the Volksstadion Rostock. It stands as a testament to Rostock’s sporting heritage. It is a place where dreams were realized and community bonds were forged.
The Volksstadion Rostock was built between 1923 and 1928. Before the Ostseestadion, the Volksstadion was Rostock’s largest sports venue. This stadium could hold more than 20,000 spectators. However its limited area makes that seem improbable. Imagine the fervor of the crowds.
In 1912, Rostock’s worker sports enthusiasts wanted their own space. World War I put those plans on hold. In June 1923, Mecklenburg’s state government gave 200,000 marks. This was for Rostock’s “Kartell für Arbeiterbildung, Sport und Körperpflege”. The city of Rostock had to provide a matching grant. A month later, the city gave the Kartell the Barnstorfer Sandkuhle. It was a 38,000 square meter area behind the old racetrack. Rostock’s landscape architect Arno Lehmann designed a massive arena. It was designed for 20,000 spectators. Initial surveys began in December 1923.
Inflation devalued the state government’s 200,000 marks. The worker sports cartel decided to charge each adult member a special contribution. It was 20 marks. Athletes and unemployed people were involved in earthworks. In July 1926, workers thought they found a prehistoric burial site. Further investigation disproved this idea. A 2.60-meter boulder of red Swedish granite was found. It was in front of the main entrance near Barnstorfer Wald. The city seized this relic of the Ice Age. It reburied the “old Swede” for later use. The playing field measured 70 by 105 meters. A 400-meter track surrounded it. It was made of layered clay, peat, and slag. Jumping and throwing areas were in the curves. A 2.70-meter high standing grandstand was on the west side. A grassy slope rose on the east side.
The Volksstadion Rostock was dedicated on July 29, 1928. It was the largest stadium in Rostock. It was also Mecklenburg’s first athletics stadium. It was one of the Weimar Republic’s largest stadiums built by worker athletes. The day began with a concert. Two hundred proletarian musicians played on Margaretenplatz. Three thousand people marched to the Arbeitersport Stadium. Flags of the ATSB, the Republic, Mecklenburg, and Rostock flew. Four loudspeakers carried the speeches. Speakers included Mecklenburg’s Prime Minister Paul Schröder. Reichstag member Carl Schreck and City Councilor Dr. Langerstein also spoke. Ten thousand spectators listened. Several sports demonstrations followed. The celebration ended in the evening.
In 1933, the National Socialists seized the Arbeitersport Stadium. They renamed it Volksstadion. This name remains today.
In 1945, occupying forces banned all German sports clubs. The local “Anti-Fascist Youth Committee” divided Rostock into four sports groups. In early 1946, the Red Army gave the Volksstadion to Sportgruppe Mitte. Restoring the fields, tracks, jumping pits, fences, and gates took until late October 1947.
In 1951/52, BSG Motor Wismar played five DDR-Oberliga games in the Volksstadion. Up to 13,000 fans attended. The Jahnplatz in Wismar was unplayable. In 1986/87, F.C. Hansa played nine league games here. They also played two cup games. This was while the Ostseestadion had new turf. In 1988, another game was moved. The match against Wismut Aue was at risk. The main field was unplayable. In 1989, F.C. Hansa played its Intertoto Cup home games here. Teams were B 1903 Copenhagen, TJ Plastika Nitra and Malmö FF.
The Volksstadion Rostock often hosted F.C. Hansa Rostock’s reserve team. They competed in the DDR-Liga. This was the second highest division. F.C. Hansa Rostock’s amateur team played Oberliga Nordost home games here. In 2008/09 and 2009/10, they played in the Regionalliga. The Volksstadion was unsuitable. In 2010/11, the team was entered in the Oberliga again. This was to save costs. They had not been relegated. In the 2022/23 season, the team won the Oberliga title. They were promoted to the Regionalliga for the 2023/24 season. The second team moved back to the Ostseestadion.
Since 2023, Hansa Rostock’s new women’s team has played some home games at the Volksstadion. The sounds of cheering fans still echo. The Volksstadion Rostock remains a cherished part of Rostock’s sporting identity.