Austria’s oldest football club enjoyed a glorious period of success in the lead up to, and during, World War II. In 1924, First Vienna enjoyed the title of runners-up for the first time, finishing just behind Vienna Amateur SV in the league. The following year, professionalism was introduced to Austria and in their first season in the new professional league, First Vienna ended up in third. They also reached the final of the OFB Cup where they were defeated by Vienna Amateur again. The clubs met again in the cup the following year, unfortunately for First Vienna, with the same result. However, things looked up in the following season and First finally attained cup success with a 3-2 win over Rapid Vienna, one of Austria’s best clubs. This victory, in front of 35,000 spectators, was First Viennas finest moment since they claimed the Challenge Cup in 1900, and cemented their position as one of the top clubs in Austria.

 

They finished in third place a year later, just 2 points behind Rapid and Admira, but more importantly they claimed the OFB Cup silverware again by defeating Austria Vienna following a 4-0 win over Rapid in the semi. The clubs highlights carried on in 1931, when First Vienna defeated Austria Vienna 4-1, who were the serious title contenders for that season, thus winning the Austrian championship title for the first time. As champions, First Vienna then qualified to play in the Mitropa Cup along with fellow Austrians Vienna AC. Both clubs did their nation proud by reaching the final, which was Austria’s greatest success in international competition. First Vienna did so by beating Hungarian side Bocskai FC Debrecen 7-0 on aggregate, and Italian giants AS Roma with an aggregate score of 6-3 (over two games, played home and away). The first leg of the final was held in Zurich, First emerging 3-2 winners, then taking out the second leg at the Hohen Warte 3-1. This was their first and last Mitropa Cup title.

 

Following another runners-up finish in the league in 1932, First became champions again in 1933 thanks to their incredibly strong defence. Their first, and to date last, domestic cup victory was celebrated with a 2-0 win over Vienna Sports Club in 1937. When Austria was annexed into the German Reich, First Vienna found themselves playing in the Ostmark, which they won three times in a row from 1942 to 1944. This title enabled them to participate in the final round of the German championship. They reached the final in 1942, but were defeated by Schalke 04. This was followed by a deep runs into the German championship in 1943 and 1944, but their greatest success in the period was winning the German Cup in 1943 against Luftwaffen SV Hamburg. First Vienna entered the German Tschammerpokal in 1943 with wins over Vienna AC, Floridsdorfer FC, Wroclaw and Nurnberg to reach the final, again playing LSV Hamburg. First Vienna’s winning goal came in extra time. The scorer, Rudolf Noack, who was a guest player for First Vienna stationed in Hamburg, was later executed. In the last German war championship, held in 1944, First were eliminated by Dresdner SC in the quarter finals.

Achievements: Austrian Football Championship – Champions x5
                        Austrian Cup – Winners x3
                        German Cup – Winners x1
                      Mitropa Cup – Winners x1