Honorary prize in the form of a silver cigar box. On the lid with the coat of arms of München with national eagle (Hoheitsadler), below with fine dedication engraving “HONORARY PRIZE of the Lord Mayor of the Capital of the Movement - International Cycling Match Germany-Italy - 3rd Stage Innsbruck-München 9.7.39”. Dimensions 11 x 17 x 5 cm, hallmarked “800” silver on the underside. Interior lined with wood, compartment dividers missing. Light signs of use and age, with beautiful patina, condition 2.
Accompanied by a signed portrait photograph “Ludwig Hörmann, German Road Racing Champion 1939”.

Also included from the year 1952 another honorary prize of the same size, also in the form of a cigar box, on the lid with dedication engraving “Dedicated to the German Champion of Professional Road Cyclists 1952 in Recognition - Zweirad-Gesellschaft m.b.H. Frankfurt a.M.”, hallmarked “835” silver on the underside.

Ludwig Hörmann (born September 6, 1918 in München; died June 19, 2001) was a German racing cyclist.

Ludwig Hörmann, called “Wiggerl”, was considered the most successful and popular München racing cyclist of the post-war period. As an amateur he was first a member of the club RV Express, later of the club RC Amor München. In 1940 he won the race Rund um die Hainleite.

He won the German championship title nine times on track and road; with his younger brother Hans he was victorious in the two-man team race in 1951 (he also won his first road title in 1951). Both had already won the championship in team pursuit in 1942. Hörmann was also considered the favorite in the first championship after World War II. However, he was denied the start by the responsible officials of German professional cycling, as Hörmann insisted on receiving a premium for using the prescribed equipment. Of the professional races held in Germany in the 1950s, he won the Grand Prix der Weinstraße in 1951.

He gained international recognition at the Professional Road World Championship in 1952 in Luxembourg, when he finished third behind Heinz Müller from Schwenningen and the Swiss Gottfried Weilenmann. In addition, he won five six-day races. He ended his successful career in 1954.

470828

€ 2.700,00

Third Reich Cycling Sport: Grand Honorary Prize of the Lord Mayor of München for the International Cycling Match Germany-Italy, July 9, 1939, from the Estate of Ludwig Hörmann, German Road Racing Champion 1939

This silver cigar case represents a fascinating chapter in German sports history during the Third Reich era. As an honorary prize from the Lord Mayor of Munich for the Germany-Italy cycling nations match of July 9, 1939, this object documents the close intertwining of sports, politics, and propaganda in the National Socialist period.

Cycling held a significant position in the NS regime, serving as an instrument to demonstrate German superiority and promote public health. Munich, self-proclaimed as the “Capital of the Movement,” played a central role in Nazi propaganda and hosted numerous sporting events of national importance. The engraving of this designation on the trophy underscores the ideological significance attached to such sporting events.

The Germany-Italy cycling nations match of 1939 took place in a particular historical context. The Axis powers Germany and Italy maintained intensive sporting relationships that reflected the political alliance between the two fascist regimes. Such sporting events served not only for entertainment but primarily to demonstrate the strength and superiority of the two allied nations. The third stage from Innsbruck to Munich was part of a multi-day race symbolizing the sporting cooperation between both countries.

The use of a silver cigar case as an honorary prize was typical for the period. Such prizes made of precious metal (in this case 800 silver) were not only valuable awards but also practical everyday items. The elaborate design featuring the Munich coat of arms and the Reich Eagle of the Third Reich demonstrates the importance attributed to such honors. The Reich Eagle as a symbol of Nazi rule was omnipresent at official events and awards.

Ludwig Hörmann, the recipient of this trophy, was one of the most successful German cyclists of his generation. His career began in the late 1930s and extended into the 1950s. As German Road Racing Champion in 1939, he was a central figure in German cycling. His nine German championship titles on track and road, as well as his third place at the 1952 Road World Championship in Luxembourg, demonstrate his extraordinary athletic performance across two epochs.

Particularly noteworthy is the fact that Hörmann's career spanned both the Nazi era and the post-war period. This sheds light on the continuities and ruptures in German sports after 1945. While many athletes with Nazi pasts were able to continue their careers after the war, they often had to confront their role during the regime. The second trophy from 1952, also a silver cigar case, documents Hörmann's successful integration into post-war sports.

The provenance of these objects from the personal possession of a significant athlete gives them special historical value. They are not only testimonies of athletic achievement but also documents of 20th-century German history. The preservation of such objects enables the study of the complex relationship between sports, politics, and society in different historical epochs.

The condition of the cigar case with its “beautiful patina” and slight signs of use testifies to its authentic utilization. The missing compartment divider inside suggests that the object was actually used in daily life, which underscores its historical significance as the athlete's personal possession.

Today, such objects are important sources for sports history and the history of National Socialism. They document how the Nazi regime instrumentalized sports and simultaneously how athletes operated within this system. The scholarly examination of such artifacts requires a differentiated perspective that both acknowledges athletic achievements and critically reflects on the historical context.

The 1939 cycling nations match between Germany and Italy represented more than just a sporting competition; it was a carefully orchestrated propaganda event designed to showcase the vitality and unity of the Axis powers. The route from Innsbruck through the Alps to Munich was chosen to demonstrate both athletic prowess and the geographic connection between the two allied nations. Such events were extensively covered in the press and used to promote the ideals of strength, discipline, and international fascist solidarity.