HAKOAH was founded on September 26, 1909 as a result of the increased self-confidence of liberal Jews and the changed attitude towards physical culture. A second important reason was the exclusion of Jews from other sports clubs due to Aryan paragraphs. The first president was Fritz Löhner-Beda.

Since the Jewish citizens in Vienna were a large community at that time (180,000), HAKOAH quickly enjoyed a large influx of members. As a result, various sections were founded, such as fencing, football, hockey, athletics, wrestling and swimming. The swimmers Fritzi Löwy, Lucie Goldner and Hedy Bienenfeld-Wertheimer, along with their coach Zsigo Wertheimer, were very successful.

After the First World War, despite the difficult economic situation, the sports activities were expanded and other sections such as ice hockey, handball, chess, ski tourism, tennis, table tennis and water polo were added. This made HAKOAH one of the sports clubs with the most members in Austria. The HAKOAH square in the Vienna Prater even became the social center for many Viennese Jews. In 1922, the HAKOAH stadium had 3,500 seats and 25,000 standing places. An immaculate football field, running track and jumping area for the club's many athletes.

The enthusiasm of the Hakoahners in the interwar period was rewarded with numerous national and international titles (including at the Olympic Games). The successes of the football and water polo teams, the wrestlers and the swimmers are legendary. From 1933 onwards, the political situation worsened and regular sports activities were increasingly restricted. Many Hakoahners left Vienna and their beloved HAKOAH during these years. In 1938, the HAKOAH club premises were confiscated. The football and sports stadium in Krieau was leased by the Vienna municipality to SA Standarte 90. In 1941, the name HAKOAH was officially erased in Vienna, followed by the systematic extermination of the Jewish population.

But only shortly after the Second World War, a few survivors and returnees (around 6,000) breathed new life into HAKOAH. With a lot of enthusiasm and personal commitment, some sections were rebuilt - although the confiscated sports facilities were not returned. Swimming and athletics were the first sports, and over time basketball, bridge, football, judo, karate, tennis, table tennis and water polo were added. Unfortunately, not all of these sections could be maintained. Although the number of Jewish athletes in Vienna had fallen dramatically after the Holocaust, they won a number of national and international titles. Hakoah athletes were able to win several medals, especially at the Maccabi Games (the Jewish Olympic Games).