Germany as a Chess Nation

In the second half of the 19th century, Germany developed into the epicenter of international chess. The tradition reached back to Adolf Anderssen, the "Old Master" from Breslau, who gained worldwide fame with his brilliant combinations like the "Immortal Game" (1851) and the "Evergreen Game" (1852).

What followed was an unprecedented golden age: Wilhelm Steinitz (born in Prague, then Austria-Hungary, later active in Germany) became the first official World Chess Champion in 1886. Emanuel Lasker from Brandenburg held the world title from 1894 to 1921 – still the longest period in chess history. And although Siegbert Tarrasch never became world champion, he was considered the "Praeceptor Germaniae" (Teacher of Germany) around 1900 and shaped generations of chess players with his theoretical works.

Jacques Mieses: Protagonist of an Era

In this glorious epoch, Jacques Mieses (1865-1954) was a central figure. Born in Leipzig, he embodied the romantic chess school of the 19th century with its attacking spirit and combinative brilliance. His career from 1888 to 1948 – 60 years of active tournament chess – spanned virtually the entire period of German chess glory.

Mieses played against all the great names of his time: Steinitz, Lasker, Tarrasch, Capablanca, Alekhine. His greatest tournament success was winning the first Trebitsch Memorial 1907 in Vienna. As an author, he maintained the "Textbook of Chess" for over 50 years and wrote chess columns for leading newspapers like the Berliner Tageblatt.

The Great Tournaments

Hastings 1895

The Hastings Tournament 1895 marked a turning point in chess history. The young Emanuel Lasker, world champion for just one year, won ahead of Steinitz, Tarrasch, and Pillsbury. Jacques Mieses also participated and demonstrated his skill with spectacular attacking games. The tournament demonstrated the dominance of the German chess school.

Vienna and Berlin

Vienna, alongside Berlin, was a center of chess life. The Café Central became a legendary meeting place for chess masters. Here Mieses, Tarrasch, Schlechter, and many others met for games and discussions. The Viennese chess tournaments, especially the Trebitsch Memorial from 1907 onwards, attracted the elite of the chess world.

Berlin also hosted significant tournaments. The city was home to the German Chess Federation and headquarters of the influential Deutsche Schachzeitung (German Chess Magazine). Mieses won the city championship here in 1882 at the age of 17.

The Break of 1933

The Nazi seizure of power in 1933 meant the abrupt end of the golden age. Jewish chess masters were excluded from clubs and tournament play. Many had to emigrate:

• Emanuel Lasker fled in 1933, first to England, later to the USA and Soviet Union
• Jacques Mieses emigrated to England in 1938 after Kristallnacht
• Siegbert Tarrasch died in Munich in 1934 before persecution reached its peak
• Numerous other masters like Ludwig Engels, Erich Cohn, and Paul Saladin Leonhardt had to leave Germany

Jacques Mieses left Germany at age 73 with only 15 Reichsmarks in his pocket. In England, he continued his career and was appointed FIDE Grandmaster in 1950 as the oldest player – technically the first British Grandmaster.

The Legacy

German chess history from 1880 to 1950 is a story of brilliance and tragedy. The theoretical foundations laid by Lasker, Tarrasch, and others still shape chess today. The openings developed during this period – from the Mieses Opening to Tarrasch variations – remain part of the modern repertoire.

At the same time, this epoch serves as a warning of how political persecution can destroy a flourishing culture. The emigration of Jewish chess masters meant not only a loss for Germany but a break in the continuity of a great tradition.