Shortly before the end of World War I, the family fled to Beuel, since 1969 a part of the city of Bonn.

When the boys were promoted to the first XI, after a few years, in 1935-36, the club rose to the Gauliga level, Germany’s first division at the time.

Three of the brothers were included in the team representing the Central Rhineland by the later national coach Sepp Herberger.

Until 1937 he wore the German colors eight times, scoring two goals, before a broken shinbone suffered in a club game terminated his international career.

After the war he continued to play for his home club for many years, contesting his last official game in 1955 at the age of 45.