The German Chess Championship has been played since 1861, and determines the national champion. Prior to 1880, three different federations organized chess activities in Germany: the ''Westdeutscher Schachbund'' (WDSB), the ''Norddeutscher Schachbund'' (NDSB) and the ''Mitteldeutscher Schachbund'' (MDSB). Each one organized its own championship. In 1880, the nationwide ''Deutscher Schachbund'' was founded, so afterwards only one German championship was played.
Starting from 1933, the
Nazi Party
The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right politics, far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that crea ...
took control of all social activities and until 1943 all chess championships were organized by the ''Großdeutscher Schachbund''. After the end of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, separate championships were played in the occupied zones. Afterwards, from 1950 to 1989, two national championships were held in the
Federal Republic of Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated between ...
and the
German Democratic Republic
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
. After the
reunification of Germany in 1989, a single tournament has been played.
Championships, 1861–1932
WDSB-Congresses, 1861–1880
:
MDSB-Congresses, 1871–1877
NDSB-Congresses, 1868–1872
German Congresses, 1879–1932
:
German Championships, 1933–1949
Championships in Nazi Germany, 1933–1943
:
Western and Soviet zones championships, 1946–1953
Western zone championships, 1947–1953
Soviet zone championships, 1946–1949
West and East Germany championships
center, 150px, Robert Hübner
West Germany championships, 1953–1989
:
::
East Germany championships, 1950–1990
:
German championships since 1991
::
Women
Congress of the German Chess Federation, 1927
Championships of the Greater German Chess Federation, 1939–1943
All-German championships, 1947–1953
Championships of West Germany, 1953–1989
Open German Women's Championships since 1971
International Open German Women's Championships since 1977
Championships of the Soviet occupation zone, 1948–1949
Championships of the GDR, 1950–1990
German championships since 1991
The German Women's Championship is held every odd-numbered year as a 9-round Swiss tournament (DFEM). In even-numbered years an international open tournament is held (IODFEM).
:
::
References
*https://web.archive.org/web/20080608070445/http://schachbund.de/chronik/meister/dem/index.html
*http://xoomer.alice.it/cserica/scacchi/storiascacchi/tornei/pagine/germania.htm
External links
*
{{Chess national championships
Chess national championships
Women's chess national championships
Chess in Germany
