Dynamo (Berlin) was not taken for what it was yet – they won the titles, but not the cups. Nothing alarming or suggestive: they lost the Cup final in 1978-79 and did not reach it at all in 1979-80. It will be later, when it became clear that Dynamo were made dominant by every mean available to their omnipotent owner, the Stazi, the Cup became a sign of the corruption: Dynamo (Berlin) was unbeatable in the league, but the Cup format was not so easily organized: direct elimination was not so easily manipulated. Perhaps the Cup was not all that important, perhaps it was left to hide the ‘organized’ championships by pretended fairness. But all this belongs to future speculations. In 1979-80 Carl Zeiss and Rot-Weiss (Erfurt) reached the Cup final. Rot-weiss scored in the first half, Carl Zeiss managed to equalize 10 minutes before the end of the match, and finally prevailed with 2 more goals scored in the extra-time. 3-1 and the Cup went to Jena.
Rot-Weiss fought bravely, but inevitably lost. No strong players in their team, they were the underdog. By far. There were long gone years when Erfurt – under the name Turbine – was strong, the national title. The great years finished in 1955. Under the new name – Rot-Weiss – the club was small potato: constantly in the lower half of the table and relegated a few times. This year was no different – Rot-Weiss finished 12th, escaping relegation by 2 points. Nobody expected them to win the Cup final – objectively, they were too weak. Too bad they lost, though – it was rare success for the club: their first since they were champions in 1955. Their first under this name. And it was their second final – the first they lost in 1950, when they were called BSG KWU Erfurt. They lost their second final too…
Carl Zeiss were stronger – way stronger with their about 10 former, current, and future national team players – and won their 4th Cup and their first trophy since 1974. It was not an easy victory, but class prevailed in overtime. Traditionally, one of the strongest East German clubs, but something was not known yet – that this very team will be the strongest internationally squad of Carl Zeiss, achieving the biggest European success of the club.
One other thing was also unknown… that this cup will be the last trophy won by the club. So, let us take one more look at the boys.