First, a note about the “Crusader OR’S Club” photo above. It’s a still taken from a British Army recruitment film for Northern Ireland and Eire, entitled “Irishmen in Austria”, that was filmed in Carinthia in 1946, showing “service and recreational activities enjoyed by men of 38th Infantry Brigade”. It’s a wonderful film and it can be seen on the Imperial War Museum website here. As far as we know from British military sources, there was only one Crusader Club in Austria at the time and it was located in the Sandwirth Hotel in Klagenfurt.
The Crusader Club served as one of the principal welfare and recreation centres for British troops stationed in Carinthia during the post‑war occupation. When British forces entered the city in May 1945, accommodation was urgently needed for officers and men, and the Hotel Sandwirth at Pernhartgasse 9 was requisitioned for NAAFI use. It initially became the 5th Corps Officers’ Club, known as the “Viking Arms”, providing a temporary social base during the uncertain early months of the occupation.
As it became clear that British Troops Austria would remain in Carinthia for an extended period, more permanent arrangements were made for the welfare of both officers and Other Ranks. The Officers’ Club relocated to Maria‑Wörth on the Wörthersee, freeing the Sandwirth building for a broader welfare role. The Royal Engineers undertook renovation work, and on 11 October 1945 the premises reopened as the Crusader Club, operated jointly by NAAFI, EFI, and the WVS.
The origin of the club’s name is not definitively recorded, but two plausible explanations exist. One links it to the Crusader Cross used in the formation badge of the Eighth Army and later Headquarters British Troops Austria. The more likely source, however, is the major Eighth Army offensive in North Africa in late 1941 — Operation Crusader — which marked the first significant British land victory over German forces. Naming military establishments after notable battles was common practice, and there is clear precedent in the region: 316 Transit Camp in Villach, for example, was named “El Alamein”. The choice of “Crusader” would therefore have resonated strongly with many of the soldiers who passed through the club.
Facilities were extensive for a provincial garrison town. The club included a restaurant and snack bar, a sundries shop, hairdressing and manicure services, a U.K. telephone point, an information desk, and a photographer. Lounges, writing rooms, and a small library offered quieter spaces, while games rooms provided darts, table tennis, and billiards. Music rooms catered for both listening and practice, with regular lessons in classical, swing, and piano. Dancing classes — elementary and advanced — were held twice weekly, and German lessons were offered daily to help troops navigate life in the city. A weekly programme of events was displayed in the entrance hall, giving the club a steady rhythm that many soldiers came to rely on.
Although contemporary British sources consistently list the address as Pernhartgasse 9, some documentation refers more generally to Stauderplatz, the adjoining street. Surviving wartime imagery suggests there may have been an additional entrance or access point from the Stauderplatz side of the property, possibly serving an outdoor canteen or beer‑garden area. The building’s central location made it an easy landmark for troops moving between billets, headquarters, and the wider amenities of Klagenfurt.
The Carinthian of 26 October, 1946
For many who served in Carinthia, the Crusader Club became one of the most familiar and reassuring spaces in the city — a place to eat, write letters, learn a skill, meet friends, or simply pass an evening in relative comfort. Its blend of practical services and social life reflects the broader role NAAFI, EFI, and the WVS played across British Troops Austria: supporting morale, providing structure, and helping maintain a sense of community during a long and often uncertain occupation.
Literature
Lt-Col. Howard N Cole. NAAFI in Uniform. The Forces Press (NAAFI), 1982
Abbreviations
- EFI — Expeditionary Force Institutes
- NAAFI — Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes
- WVS — Women’s Voluntary Service