1945–46 Oberliga

[3] In the French occupation zone the Oberliga Südwest operated only in the north with the southern division established in the following season.

[6] In post-Second World War Germany many clubs were forced to change their names or merge.

This policy was particularly strongly enforced in the Soviet and French occupation zones but much more relaxed in the British and US one.

In most cases clubs eventually reverted to their original names, especially after the formation of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949.

In the 1945–46 season regional leagues were played with a final to determine which club would play the northern division winner in the French occupation zone championship:[7] The French occupation zone championship was decided in a set of finals between the northern and southern champions:[7] The 1945–46 season was the inaugural season of the league.