| | | Final |  | time |  |  | 1. Karel Kolář |  Czechoslovakia | 46.21s | CR |  | 2. Stefano Malinverni |  Italy | 46.59s | PB |  | 3. Horia Toboc |  Romania | 46.86s | PB |  | 4. Michael Düsing |  West Germany | 46.95s | PB | 
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 |  |  | First 1 from each Semi and next Best 1 advanced to Final. | 
 | | Semi 1 |  | time |  |  | 1. Karel Kolář |  Czechoslovakia | 46.87s | Q |  | 2. Michael Düsing |  West Germany | 47.03s | q |  | 7. Željko Knapić |  Yugoslavia | 47.72s | SB | 
 |  | | Semi 2 |  | time |  |  | 3. Stefano Malinverni |  Italy | 47.04s | Q |  | 4. Josip Alebić |  Yugoslavia | 47.15s | PB |  | 9. Alex Fortelny |  Austria | 48.63s |  | 
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 | | Semi 3 |  | time |  |  | 5. Horia Toboc |  Romania | 47.63s | Q |  | 6. Peter Haas |  Switzerland | 47.67s | SB |  | 8. Isidoro Hornillos |  Spain | 47.84s | PB | 
 | | 3 heats after 9 athletes advanced to Semi-Finals. | 
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 | Heats - Saturday, 24th February |  | First 2 from each Heat and next Best 2 advanced to Semi-Finals. 8th place was shared, so 9 athletes advanced. | 
 | | Heat 1 |  | time |  |  | 1. Karel Kolář |  Czechoslovakia | 47.45s | Q |  | 3. Horia Toboc |  Romania | 47.74s | Q |  | 8. Alex Fortelny |  Austria | 48.00s | q, PB |  | 12.Urs Kamber |  Switzerland | 48.09s | PB | 
 |  | | Heat 2 |  | time |  |  | 2. Stefano Malinverni |  Italy | 47.51s | Q |  | 4. Peter Haas |  Switzerland | 47.87s | Q |  | 6. Željko Knapić |  Yugoslavia | 47.94s | q |  | 11.Frank Richter |  East Germany | 48.08s | PB | 
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 | | Heat 3 |  | time |  |  | 5. Josip Alebić |  Yugoslavia | 47.90s | Q |  | 7. Michael Düsing |  West Germany | 47.96s | Q |  | 8. Isidoro Hornillos |  Spain | 48.00s | q |  | 10.Christer Gullstrand |  Sweden | 48.03s | SB | 
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