Bundesliga club St. Pauli is facing a dilemma about whether to continue using its traditional stadium anthem following new revelations about the lyricist’s connections to Nazis. The song, “Das Herz von St. Pauli” (The Heart of St. Pauli), was written by Josef Ollig, whose wartime activities were uncovered in a podcast by the St. Pauli Museum.
Ollig, a journalist who was drafted into the Luftwaffe (German air force) in 1940, worked as a war correspondent and contributed to reports that were used alongside Nazi propaganda, according to the museum.
Ahead of their Bundesliga match against Freiburg on Saturday, St. Pauli chose not to play the anthem, a decision that has sparked division among fans. Some fans booed the club’s president, Oke Göttlich, while others applauded the move.
Sven Brux, the head of matchday organization, addressed the crowd, saying, “We’re all attached to the song, including me, but a stadium anthem doesn’t work if 20, 30, or 40% are against it. We need to have a discussion, and this debate has only just started.”
For the first time in nearly 20 years, St. Pauli chose not to play its traditional hymn before one of its home games.
St. Pauli’s president, Oke Göttlich, addressed the fans, emphasizing that debates are what have made the club great. The club and its supporters have a long-standing reputation for standing against racism, fascism, and right-wing politics.
The club acknowledged that many members and fans have expressed discomfort with the hymn, noting that it has become a source of division rather than unity among supporters.
To address the issue, St. Pauli announced that they are conducting further research on the song and its lyricist. More discussions will follow, including an event with the club museum and fan shop, where the findings will be shared.
The club stated that a final decision on how to handle the anthem will be made after this process is completed. In 1999, St. Pauli had already renamed its stadium from Wilhelm-Koch-Stadion to Millerntor-Stadion due to Koch’s Nazi ties.