1912–1950

1912

Founding of a "Swimming Department Water Friends" in the Turn- and Sports Club Jahn Munich under the leadership of ophthalmologist Dr. August Bauer.
Sporting success: 3rd place in the 4 x 50 meter freestyle relay at the German Turnfest in Leipzig.
Under swimming coach Reichel, young Wasserfreunde met to swim in the Hofbad, also known as Maxlbad. In November, the 1st public swimming festival took place in the Luisenbad.

1913

At that time, men and women swam separately, Georg Roth became the men's swimming coach. At that time, men and women swam separately, Georg Roth became the men's swimming coach, Holzapfel became the women's swimming coach.

1914

Outbreak of World War I.
Begin of the sporting rise of the breaststroke swimmers: The 3 x 60 meter junior relay team won the National Swimming Festival of SV 1899.

1919

250 members
After the end of World War I, a small group of swimmers reformed. Under the initiative of founding member Angelo Bennati, the training sessions could take place in the Schloßmühl- and Dantebad during the summer. The Luisenbad was shut down due to a lack of coal. The entrance fee for the bath night cost 90 Pfennigs.
Begin of the systematic building of a competition team under the leadership of Angelo Bennati in cooperation with the other founding members Berger, Roth, Ikenmeyer and Kronburger.

1921

250 members.
Finally, the water friends, through the insistence of chairman Angelo Bennati with the Munich City Council, could train again in the Volksbad.
For the first time, a club newspaper was launched, it appeared monthly. The idealists Angelo Bennati, Berger, Georg Roth, Engelbert Ikenmeyer and Kranburger began building a competition team. The tradition of the 4x 50-m breaststroke relay began. Tombosi, Fritz Sorg, Meile and Löhr started at 14 degrees C water temperature at the 1st German Donaumeisterschaft. At that time, breaststroke swimmers were disqualified for 'Stippens' (short diving).
The waterball team of the club was successful in the southern Bavarian region. The board was elected into a new term of 2 years. The membership fee was 2.50 Marks, the monthly fee was 5 Marks, the gala fee was 3 Marks and the swimming lesson fee cost 2 Marks. A small comparison: A good lunch cost eight to ten Marks at that time.
The water friends founded their own band under Engelbert Ikenmeyer.

1922

The 1st International Swimming Festival of the Water Friends was introduced in the Volksbad. The 10 x 50-m breaststroke relay formed the core of the Water Friends team.
A swimsuit cost 25,000 Marks at that time, a waterball 40,000 Marks.

1924

Separation of the Swimming Section Wasserfreunde: The swimming section, after an excited meeting at the Turnverein Jahn, due to a severe financial crisis, adopted the name Schwimmclub Wasserfreunde e.V. Interest Community with the Turn- and Sportverein Jahn München. The club symbol „J“ was replaced by „W“, and the club colors were chosen as white-red. Sport Director became Georg Roth.
The 1st club newspaper appears.

1926

First successes of the ladies. Victory of Friedl Helldobler at the South German Championship with 1:29,1 minutes over 100 meters freestyle under the name Wasserfreunde Jahn München e.V. from 1912.
Construction of the club house at Wörthsee with the consequence of extreme cost-cutting measures at the expense of the successful swimmers.

1927

Miss Friedl Helldobler won again at the South German Championships in 100-m freestyle underMiss Friedl Helldobler won again at the South German Championships in 10,0-m freestyle underthe name Wasserfreunde Jahn München e.V. from 1912.
On 1.1.1927, the lease agreement with the Gutsverwaltung Graf-von-Törring for the swimming pool at Wörthsee began. On 15.8.1927, the club house was opened in a festive inauguration. To support the new building, building stones could be purchased, the cost estimate for the house was 6.300 Marks. Additionally, a boat dock was built and a lifeboat was purchased. The swimming pool fee was 0,50 Marks monthly.The focus on the new swimming pool at Wörthsee and the resulting higher membership fee led to internal conflict and ultimately to the departure of the sport director Georg Roth, along with the competition team. They switched to the Männerschwimmverein München.

1928

Freestyle swimming was named an Olympic discipline.

1929

On 01.07.1929 a new registration was made in the register court, the swimming section finally separated from the Turnverein Jahn. The Schwimmclub Wasserfreunde München 1912 e.V. was founded and an office was established. In December, the young club counted 329 members. Unfortunately, the long-time board member and founding member Angelo Bennati declared his withdrawal.

1930

Intensive efforts to build competition teams in swimming, springboard diving, and water polo under Josef (Brause) Braumüller, a former football player.
Outstanding successes of the Water Friends, including the first mention in the swimming magazine "Der Schwimmer" of the German Swimming Association.

1932

In July, the swimming pool, Moorland plot in the deepest forest, was bought by the club for 6000 Reichsmarks. Since the association did not have enough money, the member Edmund Hörbuger granted a loan. After eight years, the plot was paid off.
Sudden death of the chairman Fritz Sorg.

1933

The first issue of the „Nachrichten des Schwimmclubs Wasserfreunde 1912 e.V. appeared and the 1st Lake Crossing Swim to the small painter's island in Wörthsee was held.

Picture left: Hermann Münzing 1st Chairman / Picture right: Trainer Brause_ Josef Braunmiller

1934

Franz Erlacher was the best young breaststroke swimmer in Munich. The SCW youth won 1st place in the Reichswater Week at the Munich Dantebad in front of 3000 spectators.

1935

The annual Wörthsee-Lake Crossing Swim is renamed after the death of the swimmer and mountaineer Rudi Haringer to "Rudi-Haringer-Gedächtnisschwimmen".
On 2.8.1934, the talented swimmer had an accident during the first ascent of the Grand Jourasse Nordwand (Monte Rosagruppe).
1st club record in Wörthsee swimming by Edi Binegger in 39:24 minutes, simultaneously 1st candidate of SCW at the Olympic Games.

1936

Karlheinz Sievert, Werner Heiser, H. Pfnür, Hermann Münzing became Munich Student Champions.

1937

Gerhart Hoost, Werner Jost, M. Schacht became Munich Student Champions.

1938

Paul Ganslmeier was considered a promising talent and became multiple Bavarian Champion in freestyle swimming, especially in middle- and long-distance events. He was among the best in the German team selection. Unfortunately, he died on 19.10.1938.

1939

The 2nd World War began and only youth and women's teams swam at certain events. Bombs hit the newly opened Nordbad, as well as the Volksbad multiple times. Regular training was no longer possible and the club faced dissolution.

1940

The mortgage was paid off and the bathing area at Wörthsee was finally the property of the SCW.

1945

After the end of the 2nd World War and after the lifting of the ban on all sports clubs by the occupying forces, Georg Pohl rode from house to house and motivated Max Eder, Karl Kronburger, Max Reitberger and the Lang family to restart the SCW. Thanks to the tireless work of these Waterfriends, it was the first Munich swimming club to resume its club activities by the end of 1945.

1946

On 29.01.1946, swimmers met in the women's hall of the Volksbad for the first post-war training evening. After an intensive marketing campaign, the membership increased to 183.
In October, the southern Bavarian indoor championships and the large relay day of Munich clubs took place. On 1 December, a club newspaper appeared again, written by Karl Berger and Helmut Eberl.

1947

In the summer the club house at Wörthsee, which had served as a refugee shelter, could be used again. Helmut Eberl organized the first post-war swimming festival of the Wasserfreunde: club competition against the Regensburger Turnerschaft, Schwimmclub Augsburg and Sportverein Ansbach. Schmieding swam a club best time over 50-m breaststroke in 35 sec, Kolmhuber achieved 4th place at the South German Championships over 100-m breaststroke in 1:18 minutes. On Wörthsee the tradition of the Lake Crossing Swim was revived.
Increase in membership to 350 members.

1948

Erich Mildenberg achieved third place at the South German Championships in Ulm over 100-m breaststroke in 1:17,7 minutes. He also won the club championships.

1949

Turbulences within the club: dismissal of Gantschnigg, departure of Sticker, but re-election as candidate, there was no financial report, expenses exceeded income, therefore no financial audit was possible, no relief for the board. Unrest spread within the club, followed by accusations and many disputes also over the Wörthsee property. There was a board change, Ernst Lehnert took over the board. Horst Heinke became the sports director and trainer.