Sportgemeinschaft Dynamo Dresden e.V., commonly known as SG Dynamo Dresden or Dynamo Dresden, is a German association football club based in Dresden, Saxony. They were founded on 12 April 1953 as a club affiliated with the East German police and became one of the most popular and successful clubs in East German football, winning eight league titles. The club is known for its dedicated fan culture of Dynamo Ultras, and elaborate choreographs.
After the reunification of Germany, Dynamo played four seasons in the top division, Bundesliga, from 1991 to 1995, but have since drifted between the second and fourth tiers. The club competes in the 2. Bundesliga, the second division of German Football following promotion in the 2024–25 season.
The club's traditional kit colours are gold and black, derived from the official city flag and the coat of arms of the city of Dresden.
History
Early years (1950–1954)
260px|thumb|Historical chart of Dynamo Dresden league performance
The city of Dresden played a significant part in German football before and during World War II. Local football team Dresdner SC won the national championships in 1943 and 1944. The occupying Allied authorities dissolved organizations across Germany, including sports clubs like Dresdner SC, after the war as part of the process of denazification. Dresdner SC was reestablished in 1946 as SG Friedrichstadt. However, the eastern part of Germany, including Dresden, was under Soviet control, and the sports club was considered too bourgeois by authorities.
SG Friedrichstadt met ZSG Horst Zwickau at the Heinz-Steyer-Stadion in Dresden on 16 April 1950. The match would practically decide which of the two teams that would win the East German championship in the 1949–50 season. The match was attended by 60,000 spectators at the Heinz-Steyer-Stadion. The SED First Secretary Walter Ulbricht and his entourage were also present. ZSG Horch Zwickau had been founded only one year earlier and embodied the form of organization that the SED and the state leadership wanted to promote for the sports movement they propagated. East German sports authorities took these events as a pretext to dissolve SG Friedrichstadt and delegate the players to BSG VVB Tabak Dresden. SV Deutsche Volkspolizei Dresden was thus able to enter DDR-Oberliga without having to progress through divisions. SG Volkspolizei Dresden was thus incorporated into the new sports association and renamed SV Deutsche Volkspolizei Dresden. SV Deutsche Volkspolizei Potsdam lost its five top performers to Dresden, including Herbert Schoen, Johannes Matzen and Günter Schröter, and was severely weakened. SV Deutsche Volkspolizei Dresden quickly established itself as a force in East German football, finishing in fourth place in its first season of the DDR-Oberliga. The team then won its first title in the 1951–52 FDGB-Pokal. SV Deutsche Volkspolizei was incorporated into SV Dynamo and reformed as Dynamo Dresden on 12 April 1953. The official founding date of Dynamo Dresden has since been 12 April 1953. Shortly after this, the club claimed its first league title. The remainder of Dynamo Dresden was left to regroup in the second-tier DDR-Liga, taking over the place in the DDR-Liga, as well as points and goals, from dissolved SC DHFK Leipzig. and by 1962 they were back in the DDR-Oberliga, Dynamo Dresden was then declared a regional district center of excellence () in Bezirk Dresden by the regional district board () of the DTSB on 5 August 1968. Without this support, the club's future success would have been hard to achieve.
Glory years (1969–1978)
thumb|left|Dynamo face [[Bayern Munich in the 1973–74 European Cup]] thumb|right|The championship-winning squad of [[1975–76 DDR-Oberliga|1975–76]]
During the 1970s, Dynamo established themselves as one of the top teams in East Germany, under the management of Walter Fritzsch. They won five league titles (1971, 1973, 1976, 1977 and 1978), and Benfica on their way to four quarter-final finishes. During this time Dynamo came up against West German opposition for the first time, losing against Bayern Munich 7–6 on aggregate in the last 16 of the 1973–74 European Cup. On three occasions they were eliminated by English side Liverpool, twice in the UEFA Cup and once in the European Cup, Kreische was the league's leading goalscorer on four occasions, and was named in East Germany's squad for the 1974 World Cup, along with teammate Siegmar Wätzlich.
Capital dominance (1978–1991)
thumb|left|150px|[[Matthias Sammer lifts the FDGB-Pokal trophy in 1990]] BFC Dynamo stood out among other clubs within SV Dynamo. The club was located at the frontline of the Cold War and was a representative of the capital of East Germany. This meant that the club had to be well-equipped. BFC Dynamo was considered the favorite club of the president of SV Dynamo and the head of the Stasi Erich Mielke. Under the patronage of Erich Mielke and the Stasi, BFC Dynamo would get access to the best training facilities, equipment, coaching staff and talents. BFC Dynamo would have the best material conditions in the league and the best team by far. BFC Dynamo won ten consecutive titles, from 1979 to 1988. Of all clubs, Dynamo Dresden was the most affected by their success, finishing runners-up on six occasions. Another one was , the head of the District Council in Bezirk Dresden. Scheler was a devoted fan, who was active in using his connections to provide players with shortage goods and services, such as a car, an apartment or a plumber. Böhm took involvement in the appointment and dismissal of trainers and the contracts of players. According to Hans-Jürgen Dörner, Horst Böhm put local patriotism first in the rivalry with BFC Dynamo. The rivalry between fans of the two Dynamo clubs also spread to units within the Stasi Guards Regiment "Felix E. Dzerzhinsky". The Stasi somehow got wind of this plan, and, in January 1981, the three players were arrested at Schönefeld Airport, from where the national team was about depart for Argentina, and banned for life from the DDR-Oberliga. Weber was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. Kotte and Müller, who had decided to stay in Dresden, were nonetheless punished for their knowledge of Weber's plans. Former SED First Secretary in Bezirk Dresden Hans Modrow believes the measures against the three were "probably cautious overall", given the completely different consequences for other East German citizens in similar contexts. After all, the three were also members of the armed organs () with ranks. Weber's escape helpers from Dresden – a technologist, a civil engineer and a waitress – received even harsher punishments. In addition to this, striker Frank Lippmann took the opportunity of the match in Krefeld to escape to the west. Dynamo recorded their best ever European performance in the 1988–89 UEFA Cup, beating AS Roma on the way to a semi-final defeat against VfB Stuttgart. The official sponsor () of Dynamo Dresden was the Volkspolizei. Players of Dynamo Dresden were formal employees of the Volkspolizei. Many players then underwent their military service with the Stasi Guards Regiment "Felix E. Dzerzhinsky" and became formal employees of the Stasi. 18 of the 72 players who had played at least once for Dynamo Dresden between 1978 and 1989 had been listed as unofficial collaborators (IM) of the Stasi. Dynamo Dresden ended the ten-year long dominance of BFC Dynamo and captured the league title in the 1988–89 season. The title was celebrated after a 5–0 win against 1. FC Union Berlin in front of 27,000 spectators at the Dynamo-Stadion in the last match day on 3 June 1989. Dynamo Dresden won the league title also in the 1989–90 season, adding a cup win, to complete a double. Cor Pot, a Dutchman, was brought in to replace him, Loose ended the season unbeaten and secured third place, and a playoff against VfL Osnabrück which Dynamo won 4–2 on aggregate to earn promotion to the 2. Bundesliga.
Dynamo Dresden performed well in their first season back in the league. Consistently holding a position in the middle of the standings, the team was never in danger of being relegated. After securing a highly memorable 4–3 victory after being down three goals against Bayer Leverkusen in the first round of the 2011–12 DFB-Pokal season, Dynamo was excluded from the 2012/2013 DFB-Pokal due to fan excesses and abuse of fireworks during the second round match against Borussia Dortmund (0–2) in a first trial. The sentence was later turned into one Game behind closed doors and one away game without own fan support. Virtual tickets were offered to reduce the financial loss, leading to what was purported to be the first sold-out ghost game in history. The 2012–13 season started poorly for Dynamo and Ralf Loose was sacked in December 2012 after a 3–0 defeat to VfL Bochum with the team in 15th place. He was replaced by Peter Pacult, returning to the club after more than six years. Dynamo's form improved after Pacult's arrival, but the team still finished the league as 16th. Due to this, Dynamo had to enter relegation play-offs again after just two seasons, incidentally meeting VfL Osnabrück once more, with their roles now reversed. Dynamo emerged victorious with 2–1 on aggregate and remained in the second tier for the 2013–14 season. Pacult was sacked in August 2013 after a poor start and replaced with Olaf Janßen. Jansen was unable to save the club from the drop to the 3. Liga after they lost 3–2 at home to relegation rivals Arminia Bielefeld to drop into 17th place, a result which ultimately cost Jansen his job. Dynamo had drawn half of their matches, winning just five all season.
Under their new coach Stefan Böger, the club completely overhauled the squad with the intent of returning to the 2. Bundesliga as soon as possible. In August 2014, the team knocked Bundesliga giants FC Schalke 04 out of the first round of the DFB-Pokal, beating them with 2–1. The team advanced to the third round after beating VfL Bochum 2–1, but were ultimately knocked out by Borussia Dortmund. Böger was sacked in February 2015, with assistant coach Peter Németh taking over for the remainder for the season. The team finished 6th in the 2014–15 season. Under new manager Uwe Neuhaus, Dynamo went on to have a hugely successful season, and officially returned to second-level competition after a 2–2 draw at an away match against FC Magdeburg on 16 April 2016.
Season-by-season record
thumb|Exterior stadium view
SV Dynamo
When they were founded as SG Volkspolizei, the club was sponsored by the East German police force, and in 1953, when they became Dynamo Dresden which were part of the SV Dynamo, the sport organization of security agencies. While many former security service clubs have struggled to shed their negative image due to prior history as an East German football club, particularly BFC Dynamo, Dynamo Dresden remain popular and well-supported by their fans, having come to represent their home city of Dresden
Stadium
thumb|Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion
Dynamo plays at the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, which was opened in 1923, and also originally named the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion after local track and field athlete Rudolf Harbig. The stadium was renamed Dynamo-Stadion by the East German authorities in 1971, but reverted to its former name after the reunification. With an original capacity of 24,000 spectators, the stadium was rebuilt in the beginning of the 1990s, in line with DFB and FIFA regulations, and was thoroughly modernised between June 2007 and December 2009. The modernized stadium opened on 15 September 2009 with a friendly match against Schalke 04 and has a capacity of 32,066 spectators.
Supporters
thumb|right|The K-Block terrace of the Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion
Dynamo were one of East Germany's best-supported clubs, regularly drawing crowds of around 25,000 during their most successful period. Since reunification attendance levels have fluctuated along with the team's fortunes, while they were still one of the most well-supported teams in the lower leagues, drawing an average of around 10–15,000 fans in the 3. Liga. Following their 2011 advance to the 2nd League, they were again drawing crowds of 25,000. The 2013–14 season average attendance reached 27,004. Dynamo's supporters have very close relations with FK Sarajevo fans, Horde zla. In December 2020, Dynamo fans bought 72,000 tickets for the cup match at home to Darmstadt, even though it was played in an empty stadium – to show support for the struggling club.
Relationships with other clubs
thumb|left|The two Dynamos meet in 1988: [[Andreas Thom of Berlin (left) and Andreas Trautmann of Dresden (right).]]
Dynamo Dresden have a particularly fractious relationship with BFC Dynamo, who took over the first team and the place in the DDR-Oberliga from Dynamo Dresden in 1954, then as a football section of SC Dynamo Berlin. BFC Dynamo were their main obstacle to success in the 1980s,
Dynamo's most noteworthy rival in their home city are Dresdner SC, although they are perpetually ill-matched, as Dresdner SC are mired in local football leagues. Another club, SC Borea Dresden were formed out of SG Dynamo Dresden-Heide, a former feeder club for Dynamo, but there is no longer an official connection.
Colours and crest
thumb|103x103px|Crest of Dynamo Dresden from 1990 – 2002
When they were formed as SG Volkspolizei Dresden, the club wore green and white, the colours of the former province of Saxony.
Out on loan
Dynamo Dresden II
The club's reserve team, Dynamo Dresden II, played until 2015 in the tier five NOFV-Oberliga Süd. It has played at this level since 2009 with a fourth place in 2012 as its best result. In March 2015, the club announced that it would withdraw the reserve team from league competition and instead enter it in a friendlies competition with the reserve teams of Chemnitzer FC, Hallescher FC, Sparta Prague, FC Slovan Liberec and FK Teplice. However, though the competition's name Future League would suggest a more organized and concrete structure, this has so far led to little more than an incoherent series of friendly matches between amateur teams, with the idea appearing to have been largely abandoned by the participating clubs, despite some declarations of intent.
The team also made a losing appearance in the 1995 Saxony Cup final and won the competition in 2009. including the country's second most-capped player, Hans-Jürgen Dörner, and its joint second top scorer, Hans-Jürgen Kreische. Twelve Dynamo players won Olympic medals, including six gold medallists in 1976. After German reunification a number of Dynamo players went on to represent the Germany national team, including Jens Jeremies, Ulf Kirsten, Olaf Marschall and Alexander Zickler.
Five Dynamo Dresden players were named East German Footballer of the Year: Hans-Jürgen Dörner, Hans-Jürgen Kreische, Andreas Trautmann, Ulf Kirsten and Torsten Gütschow. Dörner won the award three times, and the latter three players were its last three winners.