Planica 1941
Size200px
Host cityPlanica, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
EventsSki Flying Study Week
SportsSki flying
StadiumBloudkova velikanka K120
Previous1940
Next1947

Planica 1941 was a ski flying study week, allowed only in study purposes, with main competition held on 2 March 1941 in Planica, Drava Banovina, Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Around 15,000 people gathered for the competition, which was used as a propaganda tool by the Nazi regime. Two world records were set, including a 118-metre (387-foot) jump which stood until 1948.

Schedule

DateEventRoundsLongest jump of the dayVisitors
26 February 1941  Official training 1498 metres (322 ft) by Heinz PalmeN/A
27 February 1941  Official training 25101 metres (331 ft) by Heinz Palme
103 metres (338 ft) by Heini Klopfer (fall)
101 metres (331 ft) by Paul Krauß
N/A
28 February 1941  Official training 35106 metres (348 ft) by Paul Krauß
106 metres (348 ft) by Rudi Gering
N/A
2 March 1941  Morning interns194 metres (308 ft) by Rudi Gering
98 metres (321 ft) by Gregor Höll (fall)
15,000
International event3118 metres (387 ft) by Rudi Gering (WR)

Background

An enormous ski jump was built in 1933 in Planica in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, at which a dozen world records were set in the mid-1930s. While occupying Yugoslavia during World War II, the Nazi regime enlarged the course to make it possible to set new records for propaganda purposes. A competition was held in 1941, which notably excluded the top Norwegian skiers.[1]

All jumps over 105 metres

Chronological order:

  • 106 metres (348 ft) – 28 February – Paul Krauß (4RD, Training 3)
  • 106 metres (348 ft) – 28 February – Rudi Gering (4RD, Training 3)
  • 108 metres (354 ft) – 2 March – Rudi Gering (WR, 2RD, Competition)
  • 105 metres (344 ft) – 2 March – Paul Krauß (fall, 2Rd, Competition)
  • 109 metres (358 ft) – 2 March – Heinz Palme (WR fall, 3RD, Competition)
  • 118 metres (387 ft) – 2 March – Rudi Gering (WR, 3RD, Competition)
  • 111 metres (364 ft) – 2 March – Hans Lahr (3RD, Competition)
  • 112 metres (367 ft) – 2 March – Paul Krauß (3RD, Competition)
  • 109 metres (358 ft) – 2 March – Franz Mair (fall, 3RD, Competition)

Competition

On 26 February 1941, the first official training day was held. Rudi Finžgar set the Yugoslavian record at 93 metres (305 ft) and the longest jump of the day was set by German Heinz Palme at 98 metres (322 ft).[2][3]

On 27 February 1841, at the second official training, Heini Klopfer crashed at 93 metres (305 ft), the distance of the day, and Paul Krauß set the longest standing jump at 101 metres (331 ft).[4][5]

On 28 February 1941, at the third official training, there were a total of 18 jumps which exceeded one hundred metres. Krauß and Gering both landed at 106 metres (348 ft), just under the world record.[6][7]

There were no jumps on 1 March, during which the hill was repaired and prepared for the next day's competition.

On 2 March, a large crowd had arrived for the competition. The International Ski Federation (FIS) was very reserved toward ski flying and the dangers involved in establishing world records, and endorsed the competition for study purposes only. People have seen total of 49 jumps and two world records.

Competition was scheduled in two parts: morning interns and an afternoon round for records hunting. The run experienced melting from strong sunlight and only 17 competitors were able to complete morning runs (8 Germans and 9 Yugoslavians).

By 2 pm conditions had changed, the inrun froze and the course speed increased. After two scheduled rounds and Gering's world record distance at 108 metres (354 ft), organizers wished to end the event for safety concerns, but it continued on Germany's request. The fourth and final round had a series of great jumps: Heinz Palme reached 109 metres (358 ft) but a ground touch invalidated this for a world record distance. Then Rudi Gering set the world record at 118 metres (387 ft), winning the official afternoon competition in the best jump battle. Other jumps were Hans Lahr (111 m), Paul Krauß (112 m) and Franz Mair (109 m with fall).[8][9][10]

First official training

26 February 1941 – chronological order not available

BibNameCountryRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4
Morning jumps
N/ARudi FinžgarKingdom of Yugoslavia68 m——
Gregor Klančnik72 m———
Nedog68.5 m———
Albin Novšak65 m———
Franc Pribošek70 m———
Janko Mežik58 m———
Jože Zalokar54 m———
Afternon jumps, 14:00 pm
N/ARudi FinžgarKingdom of Yugoslavia85 m93 m——
Franc Pribošek69 m———
Janko Mežik72 m77 m——
Nedog73 m———
Jože Zalokar71 m———
Franz MairNazi Germany75.5 m88 m90 m—
Heinz Palme92 m90 m98 m97 m
Hans Lahr84 m92.5 m95 m95 m
Rudi Gering73 m83 m92 m92 m
Heini Klopfer82 m95 m79.5 m—
Paul Krauß87 m93 m97 m94 m

Second official training

27 February 1941 – chronological order not available

BibNameCountryRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5
N/AAlbin NovšakKingdom of Yugoslavia50 m81 m81 m85 m86 m
Gregor Klančnik61 m69 m84 m——
Franc Pribošek60 m75 m———
Rudi Finžgar82 m————
Janko Mežik72 m80 m———
Tone Razingar52 m50 m51 m70 m—
Jože Zalokar58 m52 m71 m73 m—
Zupan62 m63 m79 m82 m—
Franz MairNazi Germany83 m81 m81 m——
Heinz Palme90 m100 m101 m——
Hans Lahr92 m99 m98 m——
Paul Schneidenbach75 m85 m93 m91 m—
Rudi Gering85 m96 m99 m97 m—
Heini Klopfer93 m100 m94 m103 m—
Paul Krauß96 m99 m99.5 m101 m—
Gregor Höll72 m82 m———

Third official training

13:00 pm – 28 February 1941 – chronological order

BibNameCountryRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5
1Gregor HöllNazi Germany102 m94 m———
2Heinz PalmeNazi Germany90 m100 m104 m——
3Heini KlopferNazi Germany92 m90 m100 m102 m101 m
4Hans LahrNazi Germany98 m103 m101 m——
5Paul KraußNazi Germany98 m104 m102 m106 m101 m
6Rudi GeringNazi Germany97 m102 m104 m106 m—
7Jože JavornikKingdom of Yugoslavia68 m72 m———
8Franc PribošekKingdom of Yugoslavia73 m————
9Tone RazingarKingdom of Yugoslavia63 m69 m———
10NedogKingdom of Yugoslavia72 m76 m———
11Franz MairNazi Germany91 m95 m100 m101 m—
12Paul SchneidenbachNazi Germany88 m98 m93 m101 m—
13Jože ZalokarKingdom of Yugoslavia69 m71 m———
14Albin NovšakKingdom of Yugoslavia83 m90 m85 m92 m—
15ZupanKingdom of Yugoslavia87 m85 m96 m——

Ski Flying Study competition

11:45 am – 2 March 1941 – One round – chronological order

BibNameCountryDist.
1Albin NovšakKingdom of Yugoslavia67 m
2Heinz PalmeNazi Germany87 m
3Heini KlopferNazi Germany87 m
4ZupanKingdom of Yugoslavia75 m
5Rudi GeringNazi Germany94 m
6Paul SchneidenbachNazi Germany84 m
7Rudi FinžgarKingdom of Yugoslavia71 m
8Hans LahrNazi Germany91 m
9Paul KraußNazi Germany94 m
10Tone RazingerKingdom of Yugoslavia63 m
11Gregor HöllNazi Germany98 m
12Franz MairNazi Germany87 m
13Janko MežikKingdom of Yugoslavia71 m
14Jože ZalokarKingdom of Yugoslavia76 m
15NedogKingdom of Yugoslavia66 m
16Franc PribošekKingdom of Yugoslavia81 m
17Jože JavornikKingdom of YugoslaviaN/A
Afternoon event; 2:00 PM, chronological
First round
1Albin NovšakKingdom of Yugoslavia86 m
2Heinz PalmeNazi Germany91 m
3Heini KlopferNazi Germany90 m
4ZupanKingdom of YugoslaviaN/A
5Rudi GeringNazi Germany98 m
6Paul SchneidenbachNazi Germany85 m
7Rudi FinžgarKingdom of Yugoslavia81 m
8Hans LahrNazi Germany95 m
9Paul KraußNazi Germany101 m
10Tone RazingerKingdom of Yugoslavia72 m
11Franz MairNazi Germany100 m
12Janko MežikKingdom of Yugoslavia87 m
13Jože ZalokarKingdom of YugoslaviaN/A
14NedogKingdom of Yugoslavia80 m
15Franc PribošekKingdom of Yugoslavia81 m
Second round
16Albin NovšakKingdom of Yugoslavia93 m
17Heinz PalmeNazi Germany103 m
18Heini KlopferNazi Germany101 m
19Rudi GeringNazi Germany108 m
20Paul SchneidenbachNazi Germany100 m
21Rudi FinžgarKingdom of Yugoslavia101 m
22Hans LahrNazi Germany107 m
23Paul KraußNazi Germany105 m
24Franz MairNazi Germany99 m
Third round
25Albin NovšakKingdom of Yugoslavia103 m
26Heinz PalmeNazi Germany109 m
27Heini KlopferNazi Germany103 m
28Rudi GeringNazi Germany118 m
29Paul SchneidenbachNazi Germany101 m
30Hans LahrNazi Germany111 m
31Paul KraußNazi Germany112 m
32Franz MairNazi Germany109 m

Not recognized. Crash at WR!
Yugoslavian national record!
World record!
Fall or touch!

Official results

2 March 1941 – 2:00 pm – best jump[11]

RankNameDist.
1Rudi Gering118 m
2Paul Krauß112 m
3Hans Lahr111 m

Ski flying world records

DateNameCountryMetresFeet
2 March 1941  Rudi GeringNazi Germany108354
2 March 1941  Heinz PalmeNazi Germany109358
2 March 1941  Rudi GeringNazi Germany118387

Not recognized! Touch ground at world record distance.

References

  1. ^ MacArthur, Paul J. (March–April 2011). Skiing Heritage Journal, pp. 20–25, at Google Books. International Skiing History Association. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Prvi dan treninga v Planici: Finžgar Rudi, član Fantovskega odseka Kropa..., p.8" (in Slovene). Slovenec. 27 February 1941.
  3. ^ "Sport: V Planici so začeli..., p.7" (in Slovene). Jutro. 27 February 1941.
  4. ^ "V Planici šlo že čez 100 metrov, p.8" (in Slovene). Slovenec. 28 February 1941.
  5. ^ "Planica v znamenju smuških poletov, p.8" (in Slovene). Jutro. 28 February 1941.
  6. ^ "Šport: Veliki dan smuških poletov v Planici, p.4" (in Slovene). Slovenec. 2 March 1941.
  7. ^ "I3 skokov nad 100 metrov, od njih dva nad 100 metrov, p.8" (in Slovene). Jutro. 1 March 1941.
  8. ^ "Novi svetovni rekordi v Planici, p.1" (in Slovene). Jutro. 3 March 1941.
  9. ^ "Novi svetovni in nov jugoslovenski rekord v Planici, p.4 — Chapter: Rezultati" (in Slovene). Slovenski narod. 3 March 1941.
  10. ^ "Šport: Veliki dan v Planici, p.8" (in Slovene). Slovenec. 4 March 1941.
  11. ^ "Planica 1934 – 2011: Podiums and top distances for each international competition". Jože Šlibar. 3 June 2020. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.