Rather than in the traditional autumn-spring format the Oberliga played for six seasons from 1955 to 1960 in the calendar year format, modelled on the system used in the Soviet Union.
From 1961–62 onwards the league returned to its traditional format.
SC Wismut Karl-Marx-Stadt, incidentally based at Aue and not Karl-Marx-Stadt, won the championship, the club's second consecutive one, having won the 1956 championship as well.
[3][4] On the strength of the 1957 title Wismut qualified for the 1958–59 European Cup where the club was knocked out by Young Boys Bern in the quarter-finals.
[5] Heinz Kaulmann of ASK Vorwärts Berlin was the league's top scorer with 15 goals.