Robert Bernard

Internationally, Robert Bernard only participated in Germany’s two official games in Berlin, even though he was fielded in several test matches. He played many games with the Bavarian squad, winning the so-called “Reichsbund” cup in 1940 and being runner-up in 1941, when he captained the team. Before World War II, he only played for VfR 1907 Schweinfurt. The club was not promoted to the Gauliga, Germany’s first division at the time, before 1938-39. During the war he was a member of the Army side in Paris and, afterwards, he switched to the local rival FC Schweinfurt 05. From 1946 until 1950 he formed one of Germany’s best midfields in the Premier League South, with Albin Kitzinger and Andreas Kupfer. He played his last game on 22 October 1950 against 1. FC Nuremberg.

Bernard worked as a toolmaker for the “Vereinigte Kugellagerfabriken”. The company sponsored his home club and made him a work-sport instructor. After the war he worked for the local municipal utility and coached amateur football teams in the region. His son Günter had five international appearances for West Germany as a goalkeeper and was a member of the 1966 FIFA World Cup squad. He played more than 500 games for his club Werder Bremen between 1963 and 1973, winning the German National Championship in 1965