 The form could not be retained and Turbine finished in 1953 on the 13th spot.Worse, after this season some of the most important players like Otto Knefler and coach Alfred "Fred" Schulz, who led the team to both championships, made off to West Germany in the context of the uprising of 1953 in East Germany.Nevertheless, in the 1953–54 DDR-Oberliga Turbine could improve to 8th position.