| Final | time | | | 1. Adolf Metzner |  GER | 47.9s | CR | | 2. Pierre Skawinski |  FRA | 48.0s | | | 3. Bertil von Wachenfeldt |  SWE | 48.0s | NR | | 4. Ettore Tavernari |  ITA | 48.6s | NR | | 5. Raymond Boisset | FRA | 48.9s | | | -. Mario Rabaglino | ITA | DNF | |
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| | | First 2 progress to Final. |
| Heat 1 | time | | | 1. Adolf Metzner | GER | 48.3s | CR Q | | 2. Mario Rabaglino | ITA | 49.0s | Q | | 3. Karel Knenický |  TCH | 49.1s | NR | | 4. Sven Strömberg | SWE | 49.4s | |
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| Heat 2 | time | | | 1. Raymond Boisset | FRA | 48.9s | Q | | 2. Ettore Tavernari | ITA | 49.0s | Q | | 3. László Barsi |  HUN | 49.3s | | | 4. Miroslav Hruska | TCH | 50.4s | | | 5. Vladas Bakunas |  LTU | No time | |
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| Heat 3 | time | | | 1. Pierre Skawinski | FRA | 48.5s | Q | | 2. Bertil von Wachenfeldt | SWE | 49.1s | Q | | 3. Börje Strandvall |  FIN | 49.2s | | | 4. Jean Krombach |  LUX | 50.2s | |
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