National People's Army club ASK Vorwärts Berlin won the championship, the club's second consecutive one and third overall, eventually winning six national East German championships overall.
[3][4] On the strength of the 1961–62 title Vorwärts qualified for the 1962–63 European Cup where the club was knocked out by Dukla Prague in the preliminary round.
Eleventh-placed club SC Chemie Halle qualified for the 1962–63 European Cup Winners' Cup as the seasons FDGB-Pokal winner and was knocked out by OFK Beograd in the preliminary round as well.
[5] Arthur Bialas of SC Empor Rostock was the league's top scorer with 23 goals.
[2] The 1961–62 season saw two newly promoted clubs, SC Turbine Erfurt and BSG Lokomotive Stendal.