The club was founded in 1900 by players from the football club SV Germania. The name Borussia is the Latin form of Prussia. Mönchengladbach was at this time part of Prussia. In 1914 the club bought an area where later the Böckelbergstadion was built. The first success was the Westdeutsche Meisterschaft in 1920. During the time of the Third Reich Heinz Ditgens became the first Borussia player who played for Germany. He was part of the 1936 Olympic team. Till the beginning of the 1960s the club had many up and downs.