General Government chess championships (Schachmeisterschaft des Generalgouvernements) were Nazi tournaments held during World War II in occupied central Poland. Hans Frank, the Governor-General of General Government, was the patron of those tournaments because he was an avid chess player. The competition began when he organized a chess congress in Kraków on 3 November 1940. Six months later Frank announced the establishment of a chess school under Chess grandmasters, Yefim Bogolyubov and Alexander Alekhine.

Historical context

A number of Polish chess players were arrested in January 1940. Jewish players were killed by Germans, e.g. Dawid Przepiórka. Ethnic Poles didn't participate in the tournaments.

Participants

and other German players /Germany. Regedziński played as Theodore Reger, and Tuhan-Baranowski as Lisse.

Kraków / Krynica / Warsaw 1940

The first General Government Championship was held in Kraków, Krynica and Warsaw in 3–17 November 1940.

Kraków / Warsaw 1941

The second General Government Championship was held in Kraków and Warsaw in 5–19 October 1941.

Warsaw / Lublin / Kraków 1942

The third General Government Championship was held in Warsaw, Lublin and Kraków in 11–24 October 1942.

Krynica 1943

The fourth General Government Championship was held in Krynica in 25 November–5 December 1943.

Radom 1944

The fifth General Government Championship was held in Radom in February 1944.