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Kickers, coaches and patrons

Mainz 05 and its Jewish members from its foundation to National Socialism.

Footballers from Mainz 05, around 1920
The Mainz 05 team in the 1920s: bottom right, the Jewish striker Willi Holzmann. His fate is also highlighted.

As part of this year’s SchUM Cultural Days in Mainz, a chapter of Mainz soccer history was shed new light on at the Mainz City Archives. It has been known for several years that Eugen Salomon, the first president of 1.FSV Mainz 05, was persecuted as a Jew under Nazi rule and murdered in Auschwitz.

The author Nils Friedrich, himself a fan of Mainz 05, researched further biographies of Jewish players, coaches, and supporters of the club from the period between 1905 and 1933. His research led Nils Friedrich to the city archives, among other places. He was able to identify a total of 13 Jewish individuals and trace their lives using the surviving sources. After 1933, these "05ers" were subjected to persecution by the Nazis.

Nils Friedrich presented his research at the Mainz City Archives on November 18, 2025. He succeeded in adding a Jewish facet to the history of Mainz 05.

Nils Friedrich's book, "Es war einmal. ... vergessenen Nullfünfer" (Once upon a time... forgotten Mainz 05 players), can be ordered by email at bestellunges-war-einmal-fanzinede. It is also available in the club's fan shop.

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