1. FC Union Berlin

The name 1. FC Union Berlin was used by two football clubs that shared a common origin as FC Olympia Oberschöneweide, founded in 1906 in Oberschöneweide, which at that time was a suburb of Berlin. The side took on the name SC Union 06 Oberschöneweide in 1910.{{cite web |url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/en/Club/club-history/ |title=Club History |website=FC-Union-Berlin.de |publisher=1. FC Union Berline |access-date=2 June 2024}} Union was one of Berlin's premier clubs{{according to whom|date=January 2024}} in the interwar period, regularly winning local championships and competing at the national level, including an appearance in the 1923 German championship final which they lost 0–3 to Hamburger SV.

Early on, the team was nicknamed "Schlosserjungs" (English: metalworker-boys) because of their then all blue kit, reminiscent of the typical work clothing worn in the factories of the industrial Oberschöneweide district. The popular cry of Union supporters – "Eisern Union!" (Iron Union) – also emerged at this time.[https://beyondthelastman.com/2018/04/18/iron-union-east-berlins-favourite-football-team/ 'Iron Union!': East Berlin's Favourite Football Team], Beyond The Last Man, 18 April 2018 Since its foundation the club has had a distinct working-class image,{{according to whom|date=January 2024}} in contrast to other local clubs with more middle-class origins, such as Viktoria 89 Berlin, Blau-Weiß 90 Berlin, BSV 92 Berlin or Tennis Borussia Berlin.

In 1933, German football was reorganized under the Third Reich into 16 top-flight divisions known as Gauligen. Oberschöneweide became part of the Gauliga Berlin-Brandenburg, where they generally{{according to whom|date=January 2024}} earned middling,{{vague|date=January 2024|reason=how middling is 'middling'?}} unexceptional{{tone inline|date=January 2024}} results. They were relegated in 1935 and returned to first division play in 1936 after only one season's absence. In 1940, the team finished first in Group B of the division and then defeated Blau-Weiß 90 (1–2, 3–0) to win the overall division title. That advanced the club to the national playoffs where they were put out by Rapid Wien in the opening group round (2–3, 1–3). Union resumed its place as an average side.{{according to whom|date=January 2024}} They were relegated again in 1942 and played the final war-shortened Gauliga season in 1944–45.

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-30442-0001, Berlins Fußballer im Trainingslager.jpg (left) in 1955.]]

File:Union Berlin Performance Chart.png

After World War II, occupying Allied authorities ordered the dissolution of all organizations in Germany, including sports and football associations. A new sport community called SG Oberschöneweide was formed in late 1945 and it played in the City League organized immediately after the war which had four regional departments. The team did not qualify to the newly created Oberliga Berlin (I) in 1946 after a poor season, but was promoted in 1947, won the division title right away and regained club status as SG Union Oberschöneweide during 1948–49.

The club finished the 1949–50 season in second place in Berlin and qualified to take part in the national final rounds. However, escalating Cold War tensions led Soviet authorities to refuse the team permission to travel to take part. Two Union teams then emerged as most players and coaches fled to the west to form Sport-Club Union 06 Berlin which took part in the scheduled playoff match in Kiel against Hamburger SV, losing 0–7.[http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/union/sc-union-06-gegen-den-1--fc-union-berlin-ein-spiel-fuer-verein-und-fluechtlinge,10808802,29476388.html Ein Spiel für Verein und Flüchtlinge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118194227/http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/union/sc-union-06-gegen-den-1--fc-union-berlin-ein-spiel-fuer-verein-und-fluechtlinge,10808802,29476388.html |date=18 November 2015 }} {{in lang|de}} Berliner Zeitung, published: 4 January 2015 Retrieved 18 November 2015[http://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/berlinsport/alte-bekannte-im-berliner-fussball-7-sc-union-06-die-erben-der-schlosserjungs/6916438.html SC Union 06: Die Erben der Schlosserjungs] {{in lang|de}} Der Tagesspiegel, published: 25 June 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2015

The players remaining in the east carried on as SG Union Oberschöneweide while a number of players who had fled to the west to form SC organized a third side called Berliner Ballspiel-Club Südost.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} The western team was a strong side until the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, drawing huge crowds to matches in the Olympiastadion. The division of the city led to a change of fortunes for BBC Südost which plays today in the lower divisions before meagre{{vague|date=January 2024}} crowds.

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-G0612-0203-003, FDGB-Pokal, Finale, 1 FC Union Berlin - FC Carl Zeiss Jena 2-1.jpg

The eastern branch of the club went through a number of name changes: Union Oberschöneweide (1950), BSG Motor Oberschöneweide (1951), SC Motor Berlin (1955), TSC Oberschöneweide (1957), TSC Berlin (1963) – finally becoming the football club 1. FC Union Berlin in 1966.

1. FC Union Berlin was founded during the reorganization of East German football in December 1965 and January 1966, when ten dedicated football clubs were created. However, the football department of TSC Berlin was originally not taken into account. Only two clubs were planned for East Berlin, to be formed from the football departments of ASK Vorwärts Berlin and SC Dynamo Berlin. This was already contrary to the original plan, which had envisioned only one football club per district. And the football department of TSC Berlin was only playing in the second tier DDR-Liga at the time.

1. FC Union Berlin was founded on the initiative of the powerful Herbert Warnke. Herbert Warnke was the chairman of the state-controlled national trade union FDGB and a member of the SED Politburo. Another SED politician and Politburo member who pushed for the founding of 1. FC Union Berlin was the SED First Secretary in East Berlin Paul Verner.{{cite book |last=Glaser |first=Joakim |date=2015 |title=Fotboll från Mielke till Merkel – Kontinuitet, brott och förändring i supporterkultur i östra Tyskland |trans-title=Fotball from Mielke to Merkel |edition=1st |language=sv |location=Malmö |publisher=Arx Förlag AB |page=127 |isbn=978-91-87043-61-1 }} Both ASK Vorwärts Berlin and SC Dynamo Berlin were associated with the armed organs ({{langx|de|Bewaffnete Organe der DDR}}). Warnke therefore argued for the creation of a third "civilian club" for the working people in East Berlin. He would become a passionate fan of 1. FC Union Berlin and a sponsoring member of the club.{{cite book |last=McDougall |first=Alan |date=2014 |title=The People's Game: Football, State and Society in East Germany |location=Cambridge |edition= 1st |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=24 |isbn=978-1-107-05203-1}}{{cite book |last=Kannowski |first=Stephan |date=1999 |title=Der Einfluss der SED auf den Sport der DDR am Beispiel des Fußballvereins 1. FC Union Berlin |edition=October 1999 |location=Hamburg |publisher=Diplomarbeiten Agentur diplom.de (Bedey Media GmbH) |pages=44–45 |isbn=978-3832419226 }}

1. FC Union Berlin was established in the middle of one of the largest industrial centers in East Germany.{{cite thesis |degree=Bachelor |last=Dost |first=Robert |date=17 January 2011 |title=Der zivile Club – Die gesellschaftliche Stellung des 1.FC Union Berlin und seiner Anhänger in der DDR |url=https://monami.hs-mittweida.de/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/940/file/BA.Arbeit.Robert.Dost.pdf |language=de |location=Berlin |publication-place=Mittweida |publisher=Hochschule Mittweida |page=12 |access-date=2 March 2021}} 1. FC Union Berlin was initially supported by the FDGB. The intention of the SED to win the support from FDGB for 1. FC Union Berlin was likely well thought out. The FDGB unified all workers in East Germany and therefore was most likely to carry the proper identity for a club of the working people. The club was founded in a ceremony in the clubhouse of VEB Transformatorenwerk Oberschöneheide "Karl Liebknecht" (TRO) in Oberschöneweide on 20 January 1966. The founding of the club was organized by the then-SED First Secretary in Köpenick, Hans Modrow.{{cite news |last=Ludewig |first=Alexander |date=12 February 2016 |title=Der 1. FC Union als Hauptstadtklub im geteilten Berlin |url=https://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/1001500.der-fc-union-als-hauptstadtklub-im-geteilten-berlin.html |language=de |newspaper=Neues Deutschland |location=Berlin |publisher=Neues Deutschland Druckerei und Verlag GmbH |access-date=4 April 2021 }} Like Herbert Warnke, Hans Modrow would be a sponsoring member of the club. SED Politburo member Paul Verner held a speech at the inaugural meeting.{{cite news |author= |date=3 April 1983 |title=Kröten im Tümpel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/sport/kroeten-im-tuempel-a-4ccf90bc-0002-0001-0000-000014024038 |language=de |volume=1983 |issue=14 |newspaper=Der Spiegel |publisher=Der Spiegel GmbH & Co. KG |location=Hamburg |access-date=12 March 2023 }} SED Politburo member Verner would be a very strong sympathizer of the club.{{cite web |url=https://www.kulturkaufhaus.de/annot/554D7C7C393738333836323635353038337C7C504446.pdf?sq=95 |title=111 Gründe, Unioner zu sein: Eine Liebeserklärung an die wundervollsten Fans der Welt |last=Nüssbauer |first=Frank |date=n.d. |website=kulturkaufhaus.de |location=Berlin |publisher=Dussmann das KulturKaufhaus GmbH |language=de |page=22 |access-date=30 November 2024 |quote=Verner übrigens war ein ausgesprochener Sympathisant unseres Vereins und Union, im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen Vertretern seiner Zunft, sehr wohlgesinnt. }}

1. FC Union Berlin was the only football club not playing in the DDR-Oberliga at the time of its founding. As a dedicated football club, it was elevated into the upper tier of privileged elite clubs.{{cite book |last1=Dennis |last2=LaPorte |first1=Mike |first2=Norman |date=2011 |title=State and Minorities in Communist East Germany |location=New York |edition=1st |publisher=Berghahn Books |page=131 |isbn=978-0-85745-195-8 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.bpb.de/geschichte/zeitgeschichte/deutschlandarchiv/301246/vom-mauerbluemchen-zum-fussball-leuchtturm |title=Vom Mauerblümchen zum Fußball-Leuchtturm |last=Koch |first=Matthias |date=28 November 2019 |website=bpb.de |location=Bonn |publisher=Federal Agency for Civic Education |language=de |access-date=5 April 2021 }} The official sponsor of 1. FC Union Berlin was the state-owned combine VVB Hochspannungsgeräte und Kabel, which implemented its support through VEB Kabelwerk Oberspree, VEB Transformatorenwerk Oberschöneweide and other local state-owned enterprises.{{cite web |url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/de/verein/vereinsgeschichte/ |title=Vereinsgeschichte: Gründung Des 1. FC Union Berlin |author= |date=n.d. |website=fc-union-berlin.de |location=Berlin |publisher=1. FC Union Berlin e.V. |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122205739/https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/de/verein/vereinsgeschichte/ |archive-date=22 November 2021 |access-date=2 November 2021 }} The first club president was the general director of VVB Hochspannungsgeräte und Kabel, Werner Otto, and his deputy was the SED Second Secretary in East Berlin, Hans Wagner.{{cite thesis |degree=Bachelor |last=Japke |first=Josephine |year=2017 |title=Die gesellschaftspolitische Stellung des 1. FC Union Berlin zu Zeiten der DDR |trans-title=The socio-political position of the German football club 1. FC Union Berlin during the GDR |url=https://monami.hs-mittweida.de/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/8807/file/BA+UNION.pdf |language=de |location=Königs Wusterhafen |publisher=Hochschule Mittweida |page=35 |access-date=2 March 2021 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesstiftung-aufarbeitung.de/de/recherche/kataloge-datenbanken/biographische-datenbanken/hans-wagner |title=Wagner, Hans |author= |date=n.d. |website=bundesstiftung-aufarbeitung.de |location=Berlin |publisher=Federal Foundation for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship |language=de |access-date=2 March 2021 }} Even as a "civilian club", 1. FC Union Berlin was part of the state sports political system.{{cite thesis |degree=Bachelor |last=Dost |first=Robert |date=17 January 2011 |title=Der zivile Club – Die gesellschaftliche Stellung des 1.FC Union Berlin und seiner Anhänger in der DDR |url=https://monami.hs-mittweida.de/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/940/file/BA.Arbeit.Robert.Dost.pdf |language=de |location=Berlin |publication-place=Mittweida |publisher=Hochschule Mittweida |page=53}}{{refn|group=nb|Being a "civilian club" did not mean that the club was independent from the state sports political system. A "civilian club" was simply a club that was not affiliated to the sports associations (SV) of the armed organs: SV Dynamo or ASV Vorwärts. The civilian clubs were instead clubs of the DTSB. All clubs in the 1966-67 DDR-Oberliga, except FC Vorwärts Berlin, BFC Dynamo and SG Dynamo Dresden, were civilian clubs.}} The most important positions on the board of 1. FC Union Berlin would exclusively be held by directors of state-owned factories or SED representatives. 1. FC Union Berlin was state-funded and all club decisions had to be reported to the all-powerful central sports agency DTSB. In turn, the DTSB stood under direct control of the SED Central Committee.{{cite thesis |degree=Bachelor |last=Dost |first=Robert |date=17 January 2011 |title=Der zivile Club – Die gesellschaftliche Stellung des 1.FC Union Berlin und seiner Anhänger in der DDR |url=https://monami.hs-mittweida.de/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/940/file/BA.Arbeit.Robert.Dost.pdf |language=de |location=Berlin |publication-place=Mittweida |publisher=Hochschule Mittweida |page=16}}

The support from the FDGB ended when Herbert Warnke was replaced by Harry Tisch as the chairman of the FDGB in 1975. Tisch had begun his political career in Rostock and instead gave his support to FC Hansa Rostock. This event was remarkable, as it revealed the large influence that high-ranking politicians exerted on football in East Germany. 1. FC Union Berlin would then have to rely on support from the regional district management ({{langx|de|Bezirksleitung}}) of the ruling SED party in East Berlin and local state-owned enterprises.{{cite news |last=Bartz |first=Dietmar |date=8 December 2003 |title=Die Stasi war nichts Spezielles |url=https://taz.de/!669107/ |language=de |newspaper=Die Tageszeitung |publisher=taz Verlags u. Vertriebs GmbH |location=Berlin |access-date=30 October 2021 }}{{cite news |last=Willmann |first=Frank |date=18 August 2005 |title=Aus den Unterklassen: Ostberlin im Derbyfieber |url=http://home.snafu.de/erich.mielke/HTMLPresse/2005_08_18.html |work=Junge Welt|language=de |location=Berlin |publisher=Verlag 8. Mai GmbH |access-date=30 October 2021 }} The main sponsors would be VEB Kabelwerk Oberspree (KWO), VEB Transformatorenwerk Oberschöneweide (TRO) and VEB Werk für Fernsehelektronik (WF).{{cite thesis |degree=Bachelor |last=Dost |first=Robert |date=31 August 2010 |title=Der zivile Club – Die gesellschaftliche Stellung des 1.FC Union Berlin und seiner Anhänger in der DDR |url=https://monami.hs-mittweida.de/frontdoor/deliver/index/docId/940/file/BA.Arbeit.Robert.Dost.pdf |language=de |location=Berlin |publication-place=Mittweida |publisher=Hochschule Mittweida |page=39 |access-date=7 September 2020 }}{{cite news |author= |date=26 May 2001 |title=Und niemals den Ursprung vergessen: Eisern Union |url=https://www.welt.de/print-welt/article453191/Und-niemals-den-Ursprung-vergessen-Eisern-Union.html |language=de |newspaper=Die Welt |location=Berlin |publisher=WeltN24 GmbH |access-date=22 November 2020 }} 1. FC Union Berlin developed a bitter rivalry with BFC Dynamo, which was supported by the Stasi. While their arch rivals won 10 titles in a row, Union yo-yoed between the DDR-Oberliga and the DDR-Liga with very little success. Union managed to win the East German Cup in 1968 when they defeated FC Carl Zeiss Jena 2–1 although they lost in their second cup appearance in 1986 to 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig by a score of 1–5.

The East German state-owned film studio DEFA produced a documentary about the supporters of 1. FC Union Berlin in 1989. The documentary is called And Fridays at the Green Hell and follows a group of supporters of 1. FC Union Berlin to both home and away matches during the 1987–88 season.{{Cite web |title=And Fridays at the Green Hell {{!}} DEFA Film Library |url=https://ecommerce.umass.edu/defa/film/21572 |access-date=5 October 2022 |website=ecommerce.umass.edu}}

File:Union-Fans-Choreographie.jpg

After German reunification in 1990, the team continued to perform well on the field,{{according to whom|date=January 2024}} but almost collapsed financially. They managed to hang on and find sponsorship, but only after winning their division in both 1993 and 1994 and each time being denied a license to play in the 2. Bundesliga due to their financial problems. The club had another close brush{{tone inline|date=January 2024}} with financial failure in 1997.

Union again came close to advancing to the 2. Bundesliga in 1998–99 and 1999–2000, but were disappointed.{{vague|date=January 2024|reason=does this mean that the club did not advance?}}{{according to whom|date=January 2024}} They were finally successful in 2000–01, under Bulgarian manager Georgi Vasilev, easily winning the Regionalliga Nord (III) and moving up a division to become the city's second most popular side.{{vague|date=January 2024|reason=moving up a division affected their... popularity? according to whom?}} That same{{vague|date=January 2024|reason=not 'that different year'?}} year they appeared in the final of the German Cup where they lost 0–2 to FC Schalke 04, and advanced as far as the second round in UEFA Cup before being put out by Bulgarian side PFC Litex Lovech. The club slipped to the Regionalliga Nord (III) in 2004–05 and then to the NOFV-Oberliga Nord (IV) in 2005–06, but returned to third division play after capturing{{tone inline|date=January 2024}} the Oberliga title. In 2008–09, Union became one of the founding clubs of the new 3. Liga, and its inaugural champion, securing first place and promotion to the 2. Bundesliga on 10 May.

A controversy erupted{{tone inline|date=January 2024}} in 2011 when it became publicly known{{how|date=January 2024}} that club president Dirk Zingler had been a member of the Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment for three years during his military service.{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/berlins-fc-union-wrestles-with-its-east-german-past-again/a-15273229 |title=Berlin's FC Union wrestles with its East German past – again |last=Knight |first=Ben |date=29 July 2011 |location=Bonn |publisher=Deutsche Welle |access-date=30 May 2021 }} Only two years before, Zingler had cancelled a sponsorship deal with the company International Sport Promotion (ISP) because the head of the board at the company had been a Stasi officer.{{cite news |last=Kruse |first=Jürn |date=19 July 2011 |title=Union vertraut Zingler trotz Stasi-Vergangenheit |url=https://www.welt.de/debatte/kolumnen/auszeit/article13495750/Union-vertraut-Zingler-trotz-Stasi-Vergangenheit.html |language=de |newspaper=Die Welt |location=Berlin |publisher=WeltN24 GmbH |access-date=22 November 2020 }} The Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment was the paramilitary wing of the Stasi.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/new-berlin-state-secretary-haunted-by-stasi-past/a-36865583|title=New Berlin state secretary haunted by Stasi past | DW | 21.12.2016|website=Deutsche Welle }} Zingler explained that he had sought to spend his military service in Berlin and that he was unaware beforehand that the regiment belonged to the Stasi.{{cite news |author= |date=19 July 2011 |title=Union-Boss Zingler war Stasi-Soldat |url=https://www.bz-berlin.de/artikel-archiv/union-boss-zingler-war-stasi-soldat |language=de |newspaper=B.Z. |location=Berlin |publisher=B.Z. Ullstein GmbH |access-date=22 November 2020 }} However, the Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment was an elite formation; it was not possible to simply apply for the regiment. The Stasi selected who it thought were best fit to serve with the regiment, only accepting recruits who were "loyal to the line". Zingler had also been a member of the Socialist Unity Party (SED) and leader in the Free German Youth (FDJ) at the time.{{cite news |last=Wolf |first=Mathias |date=19 July 2011 |title=Wenn die Vergangenheit die Gegenwart unmöglich macht: Dirk Zingler, Präsident des 1. FC Union, war Mitglied im Stasi-Wachregiment: Der schwarze Fleck |url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/wenn-die-vergangenheit-die-gegenwart-unmoeglich-macht-dirk-zingler-praesident-des-1-fc-union-war-mitglied-im-stasi-wachregiment-der-schwarze-fleck-li.68951 |language=de |work=Berliner Zeitung |publisher=Berliner Verlag GmbH |location=Berlin |access-date=1 February 2023 }} Speaking about the reports on Zingler in 2011, Union Press spokesman Christian Arbeit said: "We do have a very unique history, compared to other clubs. But it wasn't us that always claimed we were this big anti-Stasi club. These are stories that get simplified in the media."{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/berlins-fc-union-wrestles-with-its-east-german-past-again/a-15273229 |title=Stasi skeletons |last=Knight |first=Ben |date=29 July 2011 |website=dw.com |location=Bonn |publisher=Deutsche Welle |access-date=1 February 2023 }}

On 1 June 2018, Swiss coach Urs Fischer was announced as new head coach of the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/en/union-live/latest-news/club/Union-Berlin-appoint-Urs-Fischer-as-head-coach-21V/|title=Union Berlin appoint Urs Fischer as head coach|website=1. FC Union Berlin|language=en|access-date=2 June 2018}} The team remained in the second tier until the 2018–19 season, when they secured a first promotion to the Bundesliga after defeating VfB Stuttgart in the relegation play-offs. The club's supporters invaded the pitch after the victory, but no one was harmed.{{cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/en/union-berlin-secure-first-ever-bundesliga-promotion/a-48908229|title=Union Berlin secure first-ever Bundesliga promotion|work=DW|date=27 May 2019}}

Union Berlin became the first Bundesliga club from the former East Berlin and the sixth from the former East Germany, after Dynamo Dresden, Hansa Rostock, VfB Leipzig, Energie Cottbus, and RB Leipzig. The team is the sixth to win promotion from the 2. Bundesliga by beating the 16th-placed Bundesliga team in the playoff – since it began in the 1981–82 season, the others being Bayer Uerdingen, 1. FC Saarbrücken, Stuttgarter Kickers, 1. FC Nürnberg and Fortuna Düsseldorf. Ahead of Union Berlin's debut season in the Bundesliga, the club signed Neven Subotić,{{cite web|title=1. FC Union Berlin sign defender Neven Subotic|url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/en/union-live/latest-news/professional/1-FC-Union-Berlin-sign-defender-Neven-Subotic-298L/|publisher=1. FC Union Berlin|date=4 July 2019|access-date=8 August 2019}} Anthony Ujah{{cite web|title=Union Berlin sign Anthony Ujah from Mainz|url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/en/union-live/latest-news/professional/Union-Berlin-sign-Anthony-Ujah-from-Mainz-285y/|publisher=1. FC Union Berlin|date=20 June 2019|access-date=8 August 2019}} and Christian Gentner,{{cite web|title=Christian Gentner becomes latest Union addition|url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/en/union-live/latest-news/professional/Union-Berlin-sign-Anthony-Ujah-from-Mainz-285y/|publisher=1. FC Union Berlin|date=5 July 2019|access-date=8 August 2019}} as well as re-signing Marvin Friedrich, who had scored a decisive goal against Stuttgart in the play-offs in the previous season to secure promotion for the club.{{vague|date=January 2024|reason=are there 2 seasons with promotion play-offs against Stuttgart? or 1 season with a promotion play-off against Stuttgart?}}{{cite web|title=Friedrich completes transfer from Augsburg|url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/en/union-live/latest-news/professional/Friedrich-completes-transfer-from-Augsburg-299Y/|publisher=1. FC Union Berlin|date=5 July 2019|access-date=8 August 2019}} Their first ever Bundesliga goal was scored by Sebastian Andersson in a 1–1 draw against Augsburg.{{vague|date=January 2024|reason='The first ever Bundesliga goal'? ever? really?}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/augsburg-union-berlin-live-line-ups-stats-max-subotic-gruezo-finnbogason-6428|title=Sebastian Andersson the hero as Union Berlin record first ever Bundesliga point in Augsburg|website=Bundesliga|date=24 August 2019}} On 31 August 2019, the club beat Borussia Dortmund 3–1 in a home game, a result that secured its first win in a Bundesliga game.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49537174|title=Union 3–1 Borussia Dortmund: Union stun Dortmund for first Bundesliga win|publisher=BBC|date=22 September 2019}} The team finished the season in 11th place, with Sebastian Andersson scoring 12 goals.

On 22 May 2021, in Union Berlin's second Bundesliga season, the club qualified for the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League after finishing seventh, following a 2–1 home win against RB Leipzig, with Max Kruse confirming Union Berlin's first European campaign in twenty years, with a 92nd-minute winner.{{vague|date=January 2024|reason='after... following... with... with'... 2 withs... a lot happening.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/union-berlin-rb-leipzig-live-line-ups-stats-nagelsmann-konate-upamecano-adams-15943|title=Max Kruse fires Union Berlin into Europe to spoil Julian Nagelsmann's RB Leipzig farewell|publisher=Bundesliga|date=22 May 2021}} In the following season, the club finished fifth in the league to qualify to the Europa League, where they reached the round of 16.{{cite web |url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/de/fussball/profis/spielplan/detail/Union-Saint-Gilloise-1-FC-Union-Berlin--17141f/ |title=Union verliert 0:3 Gegen Saint-Gilles |publisher=Union Berlin |language=de |date=16 March 2023 }} In the 2022–23 season, Union Berlin qualified for the Champions League group stage for the first time in its history, after a 1–0 home win against Werder Bremen on the final matchday.{{cite web |url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/de/union-live/news/profis/Union-qualifiziert-sich-fuer-die-Champions-League-20829H/ |title=Union qualifiziert sich für die Champions League |publisher=Union Berlin |language=de |date=27 May 2023 }}

In the 2023–24 season, the club experienced a bad start including 14 winless competitive matches in a row, hence they decided to separate with coach Urs Fischer by "mutual agreement".{{cite news|url=https://www.kicker.de/gemeinsame-entscheidung-fischer-nicht-mehr-trainer-von-union-berlin-977427/artikel|title="Gemeinsame Entscheidung": Fischer nicht mehr Trainer von Union Berlin|trans-title=“Joint decision”: Fischer no longer coaches Union Berlin|language=de|publisher=Kicker|date=15 November 2023|access-date=15 November 2023}} Following two consecutive defeats against relegation rivals Bochum and 1. FC Köln in the late stages of the season, Union dropped to the 16th place.{{cite web |url=https://www.sportschau.de/fussball/bundesliga/abstieg-vorerst-abgewendet-fussball-wunder-laesst-koeln-hoffen,bundesliga-spielbericht-koeln-union-berlin-100.html |title=Abstieg vorerst abgewendet - Fußball-Wunder lässt Köln hoffen |publisher=Sportschau |language=de |date=13 May 2024 }} On the final matchday, they clinched a 2–1 win over Freiburg in the stoppage-time, securing their continued presence in the Bundesliga.{{cite web |url=https://www.sportschau.de/fussball/bundesliga/haberer-schiesst-union-zur-direkten-rettung-,bundesliga-spielbericht-berlin-freiburg-100.html |title=Wahnsinns-Finale in Berlin - Haberer schießt Union zur direkten Rettung |publisher=Sportschau |language=de |date=18 May 2024 }}

{{main|Stadion An der Alten Försterei}}

File:Stadion an der Alten Försterei.png

In 1920, SC Union Oberschöneweide (forerunner of today's 1. FC Union Berlin) had to find a new home ground as its former pitch had been built over by developers with residential buildings.The club moved a little further away from the city to the north-western part of the borough of Köpenick. The new stadium was officially opened in August 1920 with a match between Oberschöneweide and the then German champions 1. FC Nürnberg (1–2). The inaugural match in at the Alte Försterei had already been played on 17 March, when Union challenged Viktoria 89 Berlin.

When Union won promotion to the DDR-Oberliga (the top flight in East Germany) in 1966, the stadium soon needed to be expanded. The ground was first expanded in 1970 when the Gegengerade terrace was raised, whilst further extensions to the terracing at both ends in the late 1970s and early 1980s increased the capacity furthermore to 22,500. However, the somewhat{{vague|date=January 2024|reason=how spartan is 'somewhat spartan'?}} spartan facilities at Alte Försterei had quickly begun to show their age and went into a serious decline.

File:Clp 20090708 Alte Försterei Eröffnungsspiel 3.jpg is the largest single-purpose football stadium in Berlin.]]

After German reunification, when Union were assigned by the German Football Association to play in the third league, the outdated stadium proved only one of a number of factors{{vague|date=January 2024|reason='proved only one of a number of factors'? what are the other factors?}} that hampered{{tone inline|date=January 2024}} the club's push for promotion to higher leagues.

In the middle of 2008, the club decided to finally modernise the stadium, the Stadion An der Alten Försterei (Old Forester's House). Money was still tight,{{tone inline|date=January 2024}} and so the fans simply built the ground themselves. More than 2,000 Union supporters invested 140,000 working hours to create what is now regarded{{by whom|date=January 2024}} as the largest football-specific stadium in Berlin.[http://www.sportbusiness.com/sportbusiness-international/twelfth-man The Twelfth Man]. Retrieved 5 March 2016. During the redevelopment, Union played at the Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark. Inside the stadium an array of outside beer kiosks and open air grills serving bratwurst and pork steaks at the back of the stand provide the culinary staples.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} The official opening on 12 July 2013, was celebrated with a friendly against Scottish Champions Celtic.{{cite web |url=http://www.altefoersterei.berlin/geschichte/ |title=Geschichte des Stadions An der Alten Försterei |trans-title=History of the stadium An der Alten Försterei |website=AlteFoersterei.berlin |publisher=Alte Försterei |access-date=2 June 2024 |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209110620/http://www.altefoersterei.berlin/geschichte/ |archive-date=9 December 2014}} It holds 22,012 people with 3,617 seats. The rest is terracing.

In 2014, the club came up with the idea of inviting their fans to take their own sofas to the ground for the whole of the World Cup, to enjoy the televised matches in the company of fellow supporters.{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/berlin-stadium-living-room-world-cup-2014-6?IR=T|title=A Tiny Berlin Soccer Stadium Is The Best Place in the World To Watch The World Cup |work=Business Insider |access-date=5 March 2016}} More than 800 sofas were placed on the pitch in rows in front of a big screen.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28254298 |title=The secret police with its own football team |work=BBC News |date=12 July 2014 |access-date=5 March 2016}} The event was later recognized with the Fan Experience Award at The Stadium Business Summit 2015 in Barcelona.[http://www.stadiumbusinesssummit.com/public_downloads/SBA15-WinnersBrochure.pdf THE STADIUM BUSINESS AWARDS 2015]. Retrieved 5 March 2016.

In 2017, plans were announced{{by whom|date=January 2024}} to expand the Försterei from 22,012 to 37,000 with the installation of a new tier across the 3 stands that oppose the main stand. It was announced{{by whom|date=January 2024}} that the plans should start at the end of the 2023/24 season. The President of Union, Dirk Zingler stated that for the 2024/25 Season, Union Berlin will play at the Olympiastadion in the former West Berlin.

In 2021/22, Union Berlin played their UEFA Europa Conference League Games at the Olympiastadion due to UEFA's ban of Terracing, which was lifted in the 2022/23 season in favour of Safe Standing. Union was able to play at the Försterei for the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League campaign. Then, in the Wake of their Qualification to the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League, Dirk Zingler confirmed that Union will be again playing at the Olympiastadion, as well as confirming that the Försterei will be used in the UEFA Youth League. This was not done in guidance of UEFA instead was done willingly. This is because of the demand of ticket sale being too much for the Försterei to handle, which was proven to be the case as in the UCL Season ticket sales, they sold out a total 120,000 tickets for all 3 Home Games (40,000 in each game) in one day

File:Alte Försterei Köpenick1.jpg

1. FC Union Berlin is led mostly by fans. Dirk Zingler has served as the club's president since 2004.[http://www.be.berlin.de/25stories/top25/dirk-zingler Dirk Zingler]. Retrieved 5 March 2016. The club had 41,088 registered members in 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/de/verein/mitgliedschaft/ | title=1. FC Union Berlin }}

{{More citations needed section|date=January 2024}}

• Oliver Ruhnert, since 5 May 2018{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

1. FC Union Berlin is sponsored by around 300 private and corporate partners.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

File:Union Berlin Fan.JPG

{{More citations needed section|date=January 2024}}

{{More citations needed section|date=January 2024}}

The organizational history of 1. FC Union Berlin includes several different clubs and names.

File:1. FC Union Berlin grafische Historie.png).]]

{{See also|List of 1. FC Union Berlin players}}

{{updated|28 May 2025|{{cite web|url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/profis/team/|title=Kader|access-date=6 July 2023|language=de|publisher=1. FC Union Berlin}}}}

{{Fs start}}

{{Fs player|no= 1|pos=GK|nat=DEN|name=Frederik Rønnow}}

{{Fs player|no= 2|pos=DF|nat=GER|name=Kevin Vogt}}

{{Fs player|no= 4|pos=DF|nat=POR|name=Diogo Leite}}

{{Fs player|no= 5|pos=DF|nat=SUR|name=Danilho Doekhi|other=}}

{{Fs player|no= 8|pos=MF|nat=GER|name=Rani Khedira|other=vice-captain}}

{{Fs player|no=11|pos=MF|nat=KOR|name=Jeong Woo-yeong}}

{{Fs player|no=12|pos=GK|nat=GER|name=Carl Klaus}}

{{Fs player|no=13|pos=MF|nat=HUN|name=András Schäfer}}

{{Fs player|no=14|pos=DF|nat=AUT|name=Leopold Querfeld}}

{{Fs player|no=15|pos=DF|nat=GER|name=Tom Rothe}}

{{Fs player|no=17|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=Oliver Burke}}

{{Fs player|no=18|pos=DF|nat=CRO|name=Josip Juranović}}

{{Fs player|no=19|pos=MF|nat=GER|name=Janik Haberer}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player|no=20|pos=MF|nat=SVK|name=László Bénes}}

{{Fs player|no=21|pos=FW|nat=GER|name=Tim Skarke}}

{{Fs player|no=23|pos=FW|nat=SER|name=Andrej Ilić}}

{{Fs player|no=24|pos=MF|nat=DEN|name=Robert Skov}}

{{Fs player|no=26|pos=DF|nat=GLP|name=Jérôme Roussillon}}

{{Fs player|no=27|pos=FW|nat=CRO|name=Marin Ljubičić}}

{{Fs player|no=28|pos=DF|nat=AUT|name=Christopher Trimmel |other=captain}}

{{Fs player|no=29|pos=MF|nat=FRA|name=Lucas Tousart}}

{{Fs player|no=36|pos=MF|nat=GER|name=Aljoscha Kemlein}}

{{Fs player|no=37|pos=GK|nat=GER|name=Alexander Schwolow}}

{{Fs player|no=41|pos=DF|nat=GER|name=Oluwaseun Ogbemudia}}

{{fs player|no=45|pos=FW|nat=GER|name=David Preu}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=GER |pos=FW |name=Ilyas Ansah}}

{{Fs end}}

{{Fs start}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=GK|nat=GER|name=Lennart Grill|other={{small|at Greuther Fürth until 30 June 2025}}}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=GK|nat=GER|name=Yannic Stein|other={{small|at SV Babelsberg until 30 June 2026}}}}

{{Fs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=GER|name=Robin Gosens|other={{small|at Fiorentina until 30 June 2025}}}}

{{Fs player|no=|pos=DF|nat=GER|name=Paul Jaeckel|other={{small|at Eintracht Braunschweig until 30 June 2025}}}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player|no=|pos=MF|nat=CZE|name=Alex Král|other={{small|at Espanyol until 30 June 2025}}}}

{{Fs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=CIV|name=Chris Bedia|other={{small|at Young Boys until 30 June 2026}}}}

{{fs player|no=|pos=FW|nat=TUR|name=Livan Burcu|other={{small|at 1. FC Magdeburg until 30 June 2025}}}}

{{Fs end}}

{{List missing criteria|date=January 2024}}

File:RobertHuth.jpg left the club's youth system in 2001, joining Chelsea.]]

• {{Flagicon|GER}} Jörg Heinrich{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• {{Flagicon|GER}} Robert Huth{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• {{Flagicon|GER}} Torsten Mattuschka{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• {{Flagicon|GER}} Marko Rehmer{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• {{Flagicon|ALG}} Karim Benyamina{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• {{Flagicon|BIH}} Sergej Barbarez{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• {{Flagicon|BRA}} Daniel Teixeira{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• {{Flagicon|GER}} Sebastian Polter{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• {{Flagicon|USA}} Bobby Wood{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• {{Flagicon|GER}} Max Kruse{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• {{Flagicon|GER}} Christian Gentner{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• {{Flagicon|NGA}} Taiwo Awoniyi{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• {{Flagicon|SWE}} Sebastian Andersson{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• {{Flagicon|NOR}} Julian Ryerson{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• {{Flagicon|SUR}} Sheraldo Becker{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

{{Flagicon|ALG}} Karim Benyamina (87){{cite web |title=Karim Benyamina: Union's record goalscorer |url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/en/union-live/latest-news/club/Karim-Benyamina-Union-s-record-goalscorer-126u/ |website=www.fc-union-berlin.de |language=en |date=2 May 2019}}

The number 22 will not be{{clarify|date=January 2024|reason=how is this known for certain?}} worn on the back of a Union shirt until someone breaks the all-time Union scoring record of Karim Benyamina, who scored 87 goals in 213 appearances for the club. "This is a great gesture by president Dirk Zingler. That is the reward for six successful years," he said in 2016. Over 14,000 fans turned out to give Benyamina his career send-off alongside another legend,{{tone inline|date=January 2024}} Torsten Mattuschka, who is often seen{{by whom|date=January 2024}} as the face of that particular era for Union.

The club's reserve team, 1. FC Union Berlin II, most recently played in the tier four Regionalliga Nordost, having won promotion to the league in 2012. Previous to this, it spent two seasons in the NOFV-Oberliga Nord. At the end of the 2014–15 season, the club withdrew the team from competition.[http://www.f-archiv.de/ Das deutsche Fußball-Archiv] {{in lang|de}} Historical German domestic league tables. Retrieved 5 March 2016.[http://www.fussball.de/mannschaft/1fc-union-berlin-ii-1fc-union-berlin-berlin/-/saison/1415/team-id/011MIE2AUC000000VTVG0001VTR8C1K7#!/section/stage 1. FC Union Berlin II at Fussball.de] {{in lang|de}} Tables and results of all German football leagues. Retrieved 5 March 2016.

Union Berlin's women's team was formed in September 1969, becoming the first women's team in Berlin and one of the first in East Germany. The women's team initially competed against Union Berlin's youth teams due to a lack of opponents, playing their first game on 17 January 1970, losing 7–1. In 1971, the team were amalgamated into KWO Berlin's women's team, before KWO merged with Union Berlin in June 1990 following German reunification.{{cite news|url=https://taz.de/Interview-zur-Frauenfussball-WM/!5600306/|title=We were smiled at back then|work=die Tageszeitung|date=16 June 2019|access-date=3 March 2020|last1=Schwermer|first1=Alina}}

{{Updated|27 December 2024}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2024}}

|}

{{More citations needed section|date=January 2024}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2024}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2024}}

:Union Berlin score listed first.

As of 18 September 2023
Source:{{Cite web |title=UEFA rankings |url=https://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/club |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320224158/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/club/index.html |archive-date=20 March 2017 |access-date=9 September 2015 |website=UEFA}}

{{More citations needed section|date=January 2024}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2024}}

Competitive, professional matches only.

Up to date as of 24 September 2024 {{citation needed|reason=Questionable statistics|date=January 2023}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2024}}

Competitive, professional matches only.

Up to date as of 24 September 2024 {{citation needed|reason=Questionable statistics|date=January 2023}}

{{Main|Culture in Berlin}}

1. FC Union Berlin is recognized as one of Europe's "cult" clubs, based on many unique fan and club initiatives over the last two decades.[http://www.espnfc.com/blog/the-toe-poke/65/post/2790472/union-berlin-fans-celebrate-club-50th-birthday-in-style Union Berlin fans celebrate club's 50th birthday in style], ESPN. Retrieved 5 March 2016.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZVpxh0Jb0U Six Clubs You Have To Visit Before You Die], Copa90 Channel. Retrieved 8 March 2016.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd9UDyu8E98 Sausages and Caviar Football Magazine – 1.FC Union Berlin], Sausage and Caviar. Retrieved 24 March 2016.

The nicknames of the club are Eiserne (the Iron Ones) or Eisern Union (Iron Union). These nicknames evolved from the earlier sobriquet Schlosserjungs (metalworker boys), a reference to the blue kit the Union played in, as it was reminiscent of the overalls worn by local workers.[https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2015/june/7-things-you-need-to-know-about-union-berlin/ 7 Things You Need To Know About Union Berlin]. Retrieved 5 March 2016.

In May 2004, the supporters raised enough money to secure the club's license for fourth-division football through a campaign called 'Bleed for Union'.

[http://www.ironcurtainproject.eu/en/i-have-given-my-blood-for-union "I've given my blood for Union"]. Retrieved 5 March 2016. This catchphrase was not meant metaphorically. One element of the campaign was that fans donated blood to Berlin hospitals and then gave the money they received from the blood bank to their club.

After 2010, Union Berlin became increasingly attractive for new Berliners, even internationals, who were drawn to the atmosphere at the club.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXI6oWjlV8M The Fans Who Literally Built Their Club – Union Berlin], Copa90 Channel. Retrieved 24 March 2016.

In 2023, Rootz Ltd entertainment brand Wildz became a premier sponsor of the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.kongebonus.com/nyheter/bundesligaklubben-1-union-berlin-fc-gar-wildz/ |title=Bundesligaklubben 1. Union Berlin FC går Wildz |last=Raknes |first=Eskil |date=5 March 2024 |website=Kongebonus |access-date=16 May 2024}} Wildz is the sister brand to Wheelz, a platform that features The Hoff, an entertainment figure who also enjoys cult status in Germany.

File:Nina Hagen 2003aa zmf ubt.jpeg|Punk musician Nina Hagen

File:Clp 20101223 Alte Försterei Weihnachtssingen.jpg| Weihnachtssingen (Christmas carols singing) in 2010

File:MS Viktoria Eddyline 141.JPG| Union Berlin boat on the river Spree

File:Eisern union.jpg|Union Berlin Bus

{{Further|Berlin derby}}

During the East German era, 1. FC Union Berlin was known for a rivalry with BFC Dynamo, which was reputedly affiliated with the powerful state security service of East Germany (Stasi). Union, on the other hand, was supported by the regional district management of the ruling SED party and sponsored by local state-owned enterprises. The club played some identificatory role in the unofficial opposition against the authorities of the communist system.K. Farin/H. Hauswald: Die dritte Halbzeit, 1993, pp. 5–14. Between 1979 and 1988, BFC Dynamo won ten consecutive East German league titles, with popular allegations of sporting misconduct helping to fuel the rivalry, and clashes between both sets of fans occurred.{{cite web|title=The story of FC Union Berlin, the cult club you all wish you supported|url=https://www.planetfootball.com/in-depth/story-fc-union-berlin-cult-club-wish-supported/|publisher=Planet Football|date=14 September 2017|access-date=8 August 2019}} BFC Dynamo was seen as the supreme representative of the security agencies, with advantages in the recruitment of players and financial support, as well as the political clout of Erich Mielke. An expression among the supporters of Union Berlin was: "Better to be a loser than a stupid Stasi pig".{{cite news |last=Stier |first=Sebastian |date=22 July 2011 |title=Stasi-Affäre: Wie eisern ist Union? |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/zweite-liga-stasi-affaere-wie-eisern-ist-union/4423884.html |language=de |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel |location=Berlin |publisher=Verlag Der Tagesspiegel GmbH |access-date=5 April 2021}} Supporters of Union cultivated the image of their club as the eternal underdog that was firmly rooted in the working class.{{cite book |last1=Tomilson |last2=Young |first1=Alan |first2=Christopher |date=2006 |title=German Football: History, Culture, Society |location=Abingdon-on-Thames |edition=1st |publisher=Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group |page=54 |isbn=0-415-35195-2 }} Union became the most popular club in East Berlin.{{cite journal |last=Wyschek |first=Helmut |year=1999 |title=Erich Mielke, soll unser Führer sein |url=https://telegraph.cc/archiv/telegraph-3-1999/erich-mielke-soll-unser-fuehrer-sein/ |journal=Telegraph (De) |language=de |location=Berlin |publisher=Prenzlberg Dokumentation e.V. |issue=3 |volume=1999 |access-date=27 December 2019 }}

It is said that fans of 1. FC Union Berlin often chanted "The wall must go!", with a reference to the Berlin Wall, when the opponents formed a wall during free kicks in 1980s. However, some sources suggest that this is partly a myth and exaggerated.{{cite book |last=Glaser |first=Joakim |date=2015 |title=Fotboll från Mielke till Merkel – Kontinuitet, brott och förändring i supporterkultur i östra Tyskland |trans-title=Football from Mielke to Merkel |edition=1st |language=sv |location=Malmö |publisher=Arx Förlag AB |pages=167–168 |isbn=978-91-87043-61-1 }}{{cite news |last=Grimm |first=Christian |date=8 November 2014 |title="Wir waren keine Revolutionäre" – die Wende und der Ostfußball |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/wir-waren-keine-revolutionare-die-wende-und-der-ostfuball-1415445589 |language=de |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |location=New York City |access-date=22 November 2020 }}{{refn|group=nb|A former Stasi employee, who was one of two employees responsible for monitoring the supporter scene of Union Berlin, claims that he never heard such chants himself, and that they would not have intervened with such chants anyway. Chants were only noted in their reports and classified among themselves: if they came from someone they had to worry about or if it was just someone venting their frustration.{{cite news |last=Leue |first=Gunnar |date=22 January 2015 |title=Was macht die Staatsmacht jetzt?" – Ein ehemaliger Stasi-Mann über Berliner "Fußballrowdys |url=https://11freunde.de/artikel/was-macht-die-staatsmacht-jetzt/587020 |language=de |newspaper=11 Freunde |location=Berlin |publisher=11FREUNDE Verlag GmbH & Co. KG |quote=Wenn im Stadion Sprechchöre kamen wie „Die Mauer muss weg“? Die habe ich selbst nie gehört. Aber bei solchen Sprechchören wurde noch nicht eingegriffen. Das wurde in unseren Berichten notiert und unter uns eingeordnet: Kommt das von einer Person, um die wir uns Sorgen machen müssen oder hat da nur einer seinen Frust abgelassen.}} The Stasi also had two employees responsible for monitoring the supporter scene of BFC Dynamo in the same way.}} Supporters of Union saw themselves as stubborn and non-conformist. But this image should not be confused with actual resistance.{{cite web |url=https://www.bstu.de/informationen-zur-stasi/themen/beitrag/schild-und-schwert-des-bfc-dynamo/#c14789 |title="Schild und Schwert" des BFC Dynamo |author= |date=n.d. |website=bstu.de |location=Berlin |publisher=Federal Commissioner for the Records of the State Security Service of the former German Democratic Republic |language=de |access-date=12 December 2020 }} For some supporters of Union, the dissident reputation is a legend that was created after Die Wende.{{cite book |last=MacDougall |first=Alan |date=2014 |title=The People's Game: Football, State and Society in East Germany |location=Cambridge |edition=1st |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=242 |isbn=978-1-107-05203-1 }} Honorary president of Union Günter Mielis has said: "Union was not a club of resistance fighters, but we had to fight against a lot of political and economic resistance over and over again. We got strength from our fans".{{cite web |url=https://www.bpb.de/geschichte/zeitgeschichte/deutschlandarchiv/301246/vom-mauerbluemchen-zum-fussball-leuchtturm |title=Vom Mauerblümchen zum Fußball-Leuchtturm |last=Koch |first=Matthuas |date=28 November 2019 |website=bpb.de |location=Bonn |publisher=Federal Agency for Civic Education |language=de |access-date=5 April 2021 |quote='Union war kein Club von Widerstandskämpfern, aber wir mussten immer wieder gegen viele politische und ökonomische Widerstände ankämpfen. Kraft holten wir uns von unseren Fans', sagt Unions Ehrenpräsident Günter Mielis.}} Politics was not in the foreground. Most supporters of Union were just normal football supporters.{{cite book |last=Willmann |first=Frank |date=2013 |title=Stadionpartisanen nachgeladen. Fans und Hooligans in der DDR. |edition=1st |location=Berlin |publisher=nofb-shop.de, Sole trader: Stephan Trosien |pages=382–383 |isbn=978-3-00-039788-2 |quote=Die Masse der Unioner war normale Fans ... Unioner waren schon pfiffig. Aber man sollte keine Widerstandskämpfer daraus machen. Provokationen gehörten in Fußball dazu. Und es wurde eben auch das gerufe, wofür man ncht gleich mitgenommen werden konnte.}} There were no political groups at Union. A supporter of Union from the East German era has said: "With the best of intentions, Union fans did not contribute to the overthrow of the GDR. No way, we were interested in football. There is the cliché about the club for the enemies of the state, but that wasn't us".{{cite book |last=Willmann |first=Frank |date=2013 |title=Stadionpartisanen nachgeladen. Fans und Hooligans in der DDR. |edition=1st |location=Berlin |publisher=nofb-shop.de, Sole trader: Stephan Trosien |page=147 |isbn=978-3-00-039788-2 |quote=Unionfans haben beim besten Willen keinen Beitrag zum Sturz der DDR geleistet. Auf keinen Fall, wir warn am Fußball interessiert. Es gibt das Klischee vom Club der Staatsfeinde, aber das waren wir nicht. }} Another supporter said: "I think it's a myth that all Unioners were in the opposition. I think it was a basic attitude of the East German football youth in the 1970s and 1980s, that they were critical of the system."{{cite book |last=Willmann |first=Frank |date=2013 |title=Stadionpartisanen nachgeladen. Fans und Hooligans in der DDR. |edition=1st |location=Berlin |publisher=nofb-shop.de, Sole trader: Stephan Trosien |page=92 |isbn=978-3-00-039788-2 |quote=Ich halte es für eine Mär, dass nur alle Unioner Opposition waren. Ich glaube, es war eine Grundeinstellung der DDR-Fußballjugend in der 70ern und 80ern, dass sie kritisch zum System stand.}}

Supporters of Union from the East German era have testified that the club was the most important thing, and the identification with Union had primarily to do with Köpenick.{{cite book |last=Glaser |first=Joakim |date=2015 |title=Fotboll från Mielke till Merkel – Kontinuitet, brott och förändring i supporterkultur i östra Tyskland |trans-title=Football from Mielke to Merkel |edition=1st |language=sv |location=Malmö |publisher=Arx Förlag AB |pages=131–132, 171–172|isbn=978-91-87043-61-1 }}

Despite 1. FC Union Berlin and Hertha BSC making up the two biggest clubs in Berlin, a rivalry between the two has been much less pronounced. Sympathies between supporters of the two clubs developed in divided Berlin. The first personal contacts between supporters of the two clubs occurred in the 1970s.{{cite web |url=https://www.bpb.de/geschichte/zeitgeschichte/deutschlandarchiv/199829/fussball-verbindet-hertha-bsc-und-der-1-fc-union-vor-und-nach-1990 |title=Fußball verbindet? Hertha BSC (West-Berlin) und der 1. FC Union (Ost-Berlin) vor und nach 1990 |last=Wojtaszyn |first=Dariusz |date=27 January 2016 |website=bpb.de |location=Bonn |publisher=Federal Agency for Civic Education |language=de |access-date=12 December 2020 }} Supporters of Hertha visited the Stadion An der Alten Försterei and supporters of Union accompanied the supporters of Hertha when Hertha played in the Eastern Bloc countries, such as the quarter finals in the 1978–79 UEFA Cup against Dukla Prague.{{cite news |last1=Braun |last2=Wiese |first1=Jutta |first2=René |date=7 June 2019 |title=Hertha und Union – eine Nation |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/freundschaft-ueber-die-mauer-hinweg-hertha-und-union-eine-nation/7083912.html |language=de |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel |location=Berlin |publisher=Verlag Der Tagesspiegel GmbH |access-date=30 May 2021 }} Chants and slogans such as "Ha-Ho-He, there are only two teams on the Spree – Union and Hertha BSC" ({{langx|de|Ha-Ho-He, es gibt nur zwei Mannschaften an der Spree – Union und Hertha BSC}}) and "Hertha and Union – one nation" ({{langx|de|Hertha und Union – eine Nation}}) became popular among the two sets of supporters. The two sets of supporters came together for the first time after the opening of the Berlin wall during the first edition of the indoor tournament "Internationales Berliner Hallenfußballturnier" in the Werner-Seelenbinder-Halle on 18–20 January 1990.{{cite web |url=https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/berliner-derby-als-union-zum-ersten-mal-gegen-hertha-spielte.966.de.html?dram:article_id=461939 |title=Berliner Derby: Als Union zum ersten Mal gegen Hertha spielte |last=Wheeler |first=Thomas |date=27 October 2019 |website=deutschlandfunkkultur.de |location=Cologne |publisher=Deutschlandradio |language=de |access-date=21 February 2021 }} Supporters of Union and Hertha now also sang xenophobic and nationalist chants.{{cite news |last=Lieske |first=Matti |date=22 January 1990 |title=Hurra, hurra, die Stasi, die ist da |url=https://taz.de/!1783873/ |language=de |newspaper=Die Tageszeitung |publisher=taz Verlags u. Vertriebs GmbH |location=Berlin |access-date=4 January 2020 }} The teams of Hertha BSC and 1. FC Union Berlin also met in the tournament on 19 January 1990. It was the first ever meeting between the two sides. Hertha BSC won the match 3–2 in front of 4,000 spectators in Werner-Seelenbinder-Halle.{{cite news |last=Schlichting |first=Sebastian |date=4 December 2020 |title=Das erste Derby zwischen Hertha und Union ist kaum bekannt: Große Emotionen in der Werner-Seelenbinder-Halle |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/das-erste-derby-zwischen-hertha-und-union-ist-kaum-bekannt-grosse-emotionen-in-der-werner-seelenbinder-halle/26684886.html |language=de |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel |location=Berlin |publisher=Verlag Der Tagesspiegel GmbH |access-date=21 February 2021 }}

On 27 January 1990, 79 days after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Hertha hosted Union Berlin at the Olympiastadion in a friendly in front of 52,000 spectators. Fans of both clubs paid for admission in East and West Germany's respective currencies, and sang songs of German reunification, as Hertha won 2–1. Over twenty years later, on 17 September 2010, the duo faced each other for the first time in a competitive meeting, at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, drawing 1–1 in the 2. Bundesliga.{{cite web|title=A Tale of One City: Berlin|url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/02/20/a-tale-of-one-city-berlin/|work=These Football Times|date=20 February 2018|access-date=8 August 2019}} On 2 November 2019, Union Berlin faced Hertha at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei, in the first meeting between the clubs in German football's top flight. An 87th minute Sebastian Polter penalty secured a 1–0 win for Union, in a game temporarily suspended by referee Deniz Aytekin, following fireworks thrown by Hertha fans, which landed amongst Union Berlin fans, as well as on the playing surface. 1,100 police officers were on duty for the game, with Hertha fans burning Union Berlin shirts, flags and scarves during the game.{{cite news|url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/gdpr-consent/?destination=%2fsports%2fdcunited%2funion-berlin-fans-celebrate-goalkeeper-for-stopping-ultras%2f2019%2f11%2f04%2f462cb3f8-ff23-11e9-8341-cc3dce52e7de_story.html%3f|title= Union Berlin fans celebrate goalkeeper for stopping ultras|date=4 November 2019|access-date=7 November 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post}} Hertha supporters had also been joined by 20–25 supporters of BFC Dynamo in the guest block.{{cite news |author= |date=9 November 2019 |title=Kampfsportler in der Kurve |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/die-fanszene-von-hertha-bsc-kampfsportler-in-der-kurve/25207626.html |language=de |newspaper=Der Tagesspiegel |location=Berlin |publisher=Verlag Der Tagesspiegel GmbH |access-date=5 December 2020 }} Following full time, Union Berlin goalkeeper Rafał Gikiewicz won praise from fans and media alike after ushering Union Berlin ultras from the field of play, following a minor pitch invasion devised to attack Hertha supporters.

Union Berlin also holds rivalries with Hansa Rostock,{{cite web|url=http://www.spiegel.de/video/union-berlin-gegen-hansa-rostock-ost-derby-in-der-2-bundesliga-video-1017862.html|title=Union Berlin gegen Hansa Rostock Ost-Derby in der 2. Bundesliga|date=21 August 2009|work=Der Spiegel|language=de}} Dynamo Dresden,{{cite web|title=Dynamo Dresden host former GDR rivals Union Berlin|url=http://fussballstadt.com/dresden-vs-union-berlin-bundesliga-2-1819/|publisher=Fussballstadt|date=5 April 2019|access-date=8 August 2019}} and Magdeburg, dating to when the teams competed in the DDR-Oberliga.{{cite web|title=Union Berlin fans savouring Bundesliga promotion bid|url=https://www.apnews.com/58891a61429b48cfb2901036269a47cc|work=Associated Press News|date=13 May 2019|access-date=8 August 2019}}

More recently, the club has developed a rivalry with RB Leipzig, following the takeover of license and teams from fifth division side SSV Markranstädt financed by Red Bull GmbH and the ascension by Leipzig to the Bundesliga system. In 2011, Union Berlin ran adverts against the investment of the club whilst also cancelling a pre-season friendly with the club. On 21 September 2014, Union Berlin fans staged a silent protest for the first 15 minutes of a 2. Bundesliga home game against RB Leipzig, labelling RB Leipzig a "marketing product pushed by financial interests" with "brainwashed consumers in the stands". Union Berlin won the game 2–1.{{cite web|title=RB Leipzig met with 15 minutes' silence from 20,000 Union Berlin fans|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/sep/22/rb-leipzig-germany-red-bull-fans|work=The Guardian|date=22 September 2014|access-date=8 August 2019}} On 18 August 2019, during Union Berlin's first ever Bundesliga game, at home against RB Leipzig, the club's oldest ultras group, the Wuhlesyndikat, successfully called for a 15-minute silent protest at the start of the club's 2019–20 opener.{{cite web|title=Bundesliga club Union Berlin: Between idealism and reality|url=https://www.dw.com/en/bundesliga-club-union-berlin-between-idealism-and-reality/a-50026731|publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=16 August 2019|access-date=18 August 2019}}

The official Union Berlin song is "Eisern Union" by German punk singer Nina Hagen[https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/n/nina_hagen/eisern_union_crd.htm Eisern Union Chords by Nina Hagen], Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved 5 March 2016. The composition was recorded in 1998,{{cite web |url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/en/union-live/latest-news/club/Union-song-celebrates-landmark-birthday-77P/ |title=Union song celebrates landmark birthday |date=14 November 2018 |website=FC-Union-Berlin.de |publisher=1. FC Union Berlin |access-date=2 June 2024}} with an intro added in 2006 using the opening of Rammstein's song Rammstein.{{cite web |title=Die Klubhymne 'Eisern Union!' Wird Vorgestellt |trans-title=The Club Anthem 'Eisern Union!' is Presented |website=1. FC Union Berlin |language=de |date=14 November 2023 |url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/de/union-live/news/verein/Die-Klubhymne-Eisern-Union-wird-vorgestellt-3272P/ |access-date=June 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607205431if_/https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/de/union-live/news/verein/Die-Klubhymne-Eisern-Union-wird-vorgestellt-3272P/ |archive-date=Jun 7, 2024 |url-status=live}} Four versions were issued on a CD single by G.I.B Music and Distribution GmbH.

The famous{{according to whom|date=January 2024}} supporters' chant 'Eisern Union' (Iron Union) bounces back and forth between the terraces named Waldseite and the Gegengerade, and is followed by mutual acknowledging applause.[https://www.copa90.com/en/all/2015/4/1-fc-union-berlin-our-love-our-team-our-pride-our-club 1.FC Union Berlin: Our love, our team, our pride, our club]. Retrieved 5 March 2016.

Union Berlin is also well known for its Christmas traditions celebrated in their home stadium.[https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/dec/20/union-berlin-christmas-tradition FC Union Berlin: a remarkable club with their very own Christmas tradition]. Retrieved 5 March 2016. In 2003, the yearly Union Weihnachtssingen started as an unofficial gathering to which just 89 fans showed up. In 2013, 27,500 people attended, including players and supporters of other teams from around Germany and Europe. Fans drink Glühwein (mulled wine), wave candles around, light flares and sing a combination of Christmas carols and football chants.[https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/watch-27000-union-berlin-football-4876372 Watch 27,000 Union Berlin football fans gather in stadium to sing Christmas carols], Mirror. Retrieved 24 March 2016.

Ritter Keule (literally: Cudgel the Knight) is the mascot of Union Berlin.[http://www.gettyimages.de/detail/nachrichtenfoto/collin-quaner-and-mascot-ritter-keule-of-1-fc-union-nachrichtenfoto/477996966 Union Berlin Training]. Retrieved 16 March 2016. He was first introduced in 2000.[https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/fans/ritter-keule/steckbrief/ Ritter Keule Steckbrief]. Retrieved 16 March 2016.

Union fürs Leben (Union for life) is a 2014 documentary film that showcases the supporters passion for 1. FC Union Berlin.[http://www.unionfuersleben.de/#home Union fürs Leben]. Retrieved 16 March 2016.

File:Clp 20070521 Union Empfang Rathaus Köpenick.jpg

• German Football Championship
• Runners-up: 1923{{efn|name=fn1}}
• DDR-Liga Nord (II)
• Winners: 1965–66, 1969–70
• Runners-up: 1963–64{{efn|name=fn2}}
• DDR-Liga B (II)
• Winners: 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1980–81, 1981–82
• DDR-Liga A (II)
• Winners: 1984–85, 1990–91
• Runners-up: 1989–90
• 3. Liga (III)
• Winners 2008–09
• II. DDR-Liga I (III)
• Winners: 1961–62{{efn|name=fn3}}
• DFB-Pokal
• Runners-up: 2000–01
• FDGB-Pokal:
• Winners: 1967–68
• Runners-up: 1985–86

{{notelist|refs=

{{efn|name=fn1|Won by SC Union Oberschöneweide.}}

{{efn|name=fn2|Won by TSC Berlin.}}

{{efn|name=fn3|Won by TSC Oberschöneweide.}}

}}

• Berlin/Brandenburg Champions (−1933)
• Winners: 1920,{{efn|name=fn1}}{{efn|name=fn2|VBB-Verbandsliga, organized by football association Verband Brandenburgischer Ballspielvereine (VBB).}}{{cite web |url=http://www.fussball-historie.de/Berlin/VBB1920.html |title=Verband Brandenburgischer Ballspielvereine Berlin-Brandenburg 1920 |trans-title=Association of Brandenburg Ball Game Clubs Berlin-Brandenburg 1920 |website=Fussball-Historie.de |publisher=Hirshen's Fussballseiten |access-date=2 June 2024 |language=de}} 1923{{efn|name=fn1}}{{efn|name=fn3|VBB-Oberliga, organized by football association Verband Brandenburgischer Ballspielvereine (VBB).}}{{cite web |url=http://www.f-archiv.de/ |title=Verbandsliga Berlin-Brandenburg 1922/23 |website=F-Archiv.de |publisher=Das Deutsche Fussball Archiv |access-date=2 June 2024 |language=de}}
• Runners-up: 1917,{{efn|name=fn1}}{{efn|name=fn2}} 1925{{efn|name=fn1}}{{efn|name=fn3}}{{cite web |url=http://www.f-archiv.de/ |title=Verbandsliga Berlin-Brandenburg 1924/25 |website=F-Archiv.de |publisher=Das Deutsche Fussball Archiv |access-date=2 June 2024 |language=de}}
• Gauliga Berlin-Brandenburg:
• Winners: 1940{{efn|name=fn1}}
• Oberliga Berlin (1945–63):
• Winners: 1947–48{{efn|name=fn4|Won by SG Oberschöneweide.}}
• Runners-up: 1949–50{{efn|name=fn4}}{{cite web |url=http://www.f-archiv.de/ |title=Oberliga Berlin 1949/50 |website=F-Archiv.de |publisher=Das Deutsche Fussball Archiv |access-date=2 June 2024 |language=de}}
• NOFV-Oberliga Mitte (III)
• Winners: 1991–92,{{cite web |url=http://www.f-archiv.de/ |title=Oberliga Nordost Staffel Mitte 1991/92 |website=F-Archiv.de |publisher=Das Deutsche Fussball Archiv |access-date=2 June 2024 |language=de}} 1992–93, 1993–94
• Regionalliga Nordost (III)
• Winners: 1999–2000
• Runners-up: 1995–96
• Regionalliga Nord (III)
• Winners: 2000–01{{cite web |url=https://www.dfb.de/maenner-regionalliga/regionalliga-nord/spieltagtabelle/?no_cache=1&spieledb_path=%2Fdatencenter%2Fregionalliga-nord%2F2000-2001%2Fcurrent |title=Regionalliga Nord |website=DFB.de |date=18 March 2014 |publisher=Deutscher Fussball-Bund |access-date=2 June 2024 |language=de}}
• NOFV-Oberliga Nord (IV)
• Winner: 2005–06{{cite web |url=http://www.f-archiv.de/ |title=Oberliga Nordost, Staffel Nord 2005/06 |website=F-Archiv.de |publisher=Das Deutsche Fussball Archiv |access-date=2 June 2024 |language=de}}
• Berlin Cup (Tiers III–VII)
• Winners: 1947,{{efn|name=fn4}} 1948,{{efn|name=fn4}} 1994, 2007, 2009{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• Runners-up: 1926,{{efn|name=fn1}} 1997{{cite web |url=http://www.die-fans.de/no_statistik/index_historie.php?d=berlinpokal |title=Berliner Pokalendspiele |trans-title=Berlin Cup finals |website=Die-Fans.de |publisher=Die Fans |access-date=2 June 2024 |language=de}}

{{notelist|refs=

{{efn|name=fn1|Won by SC Union Oberschöneweide.}}

}}

• East German Youth Championship (de){{efn|name=fn1}}
• Runners-up: 1985,{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} 1988{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
• East German Junior Cup (Junge Welt-Pokal) (de){{efn|name=fn2}}
• Winners: 1960{{efn|name=fn3}}{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

{{notelist|refs=

{{efn|name=fn1|Corresponds to U17 level.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}}}

{{efn|name=fn2|Corresponds to U19 level.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}}}

{{efn|name=fn3|Won by TSC Oberschöneweide.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}}}

}}

{{Main|List of 1. FC Union Berlin seasons}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2024}}

{{Clear}}

• Böttcher, Jan; Willmann, Frank. (2017). Alles auf Rot: Der 1. FC Union Berlin (in German), Berlin: Blumenbar. {{ISBN|978-3-351-05046-7 }}.
• Holden, Kit. (2022). Scheisse! We're Going Up!: The Unexpected Rise of Berlin's Rebel Football Club. London: Duckworth. {{ISBN|978-0715654439 }}.
• Koch, Matthias. (2013). "Immer weiter – ganz nach vorn": Die Geschichte des 1. FC Union Berlin (in German). Göttingen: Die Werkstatt. {{ISBN|978-3730700495 }}.
• Luther, Jörn; Willmann, Frank. (2001). Und niemals vergessen – Eisern Union! (in German). Berlin: BasisDruck. {{ISBN|978-3861631262 }}.

• Football in Germany
• Football in Berlin
• Sport in Berlin

{{reflist|group=nb}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://www.bpb.de/gesellschaft/medien-und-sport/bundesliga/179443/doku-und-freitags-in-die-gruene-hoelle/ Documentary "Friday's at the 'Green Hell'" (1989)] at the Federal Agency for Civic Education {{in lang|de}}

{{1. FC Union Berlin}}

{{Bundesliga}}

{{2. Bundesliga}}

{{3. Liga}}

{{U19 Bundesliga North Northeast}}

{{U17 Bundesliga North Northeast}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berlin Union 1. FC}}

Category:Football clubs in Germany

Category:Football clubs in East Germany

Union 1. FC

Category:Association football clubs established in 1966

Category:1966 establishments in East Germany

Category:Bundesliga clubs

Category:2. Bundesliga clubs

Category:3. Liga clubs