| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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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