The Death Match: The Soccer Game That Defied the Nazis

A soccer game so legendary it inspired a Hollywood blockbuster… but did it really happen the way we’ve all heard? During the Nazi occupation of Ukraine, a ragtag team of former professional footballers took the field against a series of German military teams, culminating in a match that would become known as “The Death Match.” According to legend, they were ordered to lose. They refused. And they paid with their lives. But how much of that story is true? This week, Ben is joined by Badass of the Week producer Andrew Jacobs to unravel one of World War II’s most enduring legends. Together, they separate fact from propaganda, explore life under Nazi occupation, and uncover the remarkable true story behind the match that inspired the film Victory. It’s a tale of courage, resistance, and the complicated ways history becomes myth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices