Learn how fans in London protested the Swastika in 1935, to analyze the place of politics in football today.
Connecting football and anti-Semitism
In this learning activity, students will learn about the fan protest of 1935 where the Swastika was waving over the White Hart Lane in a match between England and Nazi Germany. The students will learn more about this incident and the history of the interwar period after the Nazi takeover. They will also get to think about links between politics, ideology, and sport – and maybe they can even find examples in contemporary society themselves.
The learning activity brings together primary source material, as well as a special Q&A with a historian: Dr Emma Poulton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Durham University, England. Her research expertise centres around football supporter cultures and antisemitism within the context of football. Students engage in group work, as well as quiz and analysis.
When do fans protest?
“Should fans protest if they feel their club’s values are compromised?”, “Have you ever been part of a protest?” The lesson asks students to examine how football, fan culture, politics, and social movements are connected. They start by asking about students’ experiences with football and being a fan, then look at how politics and sports are linked today. They also ask why the 1935 game between England and Germany was controversial, and what historical events and ideologies, especially involving Tottenham Hotspur FC and anti-Semitism, make it important to understand this controversy. There’s a focus on what happened during that match, and what students might have done if they were there. Finally, they ask about the impact of fan protests on history and whether individuals or larger groups drive historical changes.
Another way to work on antisemitism
The lesson plan identifies several learning outcomes, and is meant to help students:
- Learn about links between politics and ideology in sport
- Learn about the interwar period
- Gain experience with understanding the source material
- Consider what impact fan protests as a social movement can have on historical change
Get the resource!
You can find the activity “The fan protest of 1935” on Historiana. Read more about the 1935 fan protest on The Guardian. You can watch an in-depth interview with Dr Emma Poulton on YouTube. On the same issue, there is also a longer television discussion produced by Sky Sports on Tackling Racism. You can also listen to a podcast conversation on the topic on Outside Write. The original newsreel item by British Pathe is also online. Also, an original report from the 1935 newspaper The Observer is online. Finally, Germany’s coach in 1935 Otto Nerz is also featured in our Football Lives collection.
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