The league was contested by seventeen teams, two less than in the previous season, and Dynamo Dresden won the championship after winning a necessary decider against BSG Wismut Aue 3–2 after extra time.
[3][4] Harry Arlt of BSG Rotation Dresden was the league's top scorer with 26 goals.
SV Vorwärts der HVA Leipzig was first renamed SV Vorwärts der KVP Leipzig.
[6] The 1952–53 season saw two of the most successful clubs in the East German championship adopt the name and location they would later be most successful under, police club SG Dynamo Dresden with eight and army club Vorwärts Berlin with six titles, second and third only to BFC Dynamo.
SV Vorwärts der KVP Leipzig was relocated to East Berlin during the season and continued as SV Vorwärts der KVP Berlin.