Four Eastern European teams were invited to participate but Czechoslovakia did not arrive and the hosts offered their reserves to replace the absentees. The Hungarians opposed but not the Poles and GDR "B" entered a mini-tournament along with GDR "A" and Poland.

All the teams sent strongest line-ups to Görlitz, a small city near the border with Poland. Hungary were by far the best team on paper. Poland created huge sensation, arguably achieving all-time best result in a team event, comparable to pre-war Olympic medals. Not only they wiped out firm German team by 8½-1½, but first of all they defeated Hungary 6-4. The Hungarians were poor shaped as they only managed to tie vs East Germany. Results of an unofficial "sub-tournament" with exclusion of Hungarian team's results were as follows: Poland 14½, GDR 10, GDR "B" 5½.