Spowa

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SPOWA was the popular dialect name for sports shops or sports departments in large department stores in the GDR .

history

There were these sports shops in every major city in the GDR. Specialist departments or specialist shops were also referred to as SPOWA, even if they operated under a different name. Some sports stores have taken over the title or renamed themselves accordingly.

The origin of the name is open. The name is presumed to be an abbreviation for "sports goods" or as an acronym for "sports and hiking articles", since camping articles were sold alongside sports equipment of all kinds. In common parlance, the relevant specialist departments of the HO were also called this.

The SPOWA were affiliated with the GDR trade organization . Many SPOWA are now sports shops, in some cities they have retained their traditional names.

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