The nominally weaker players were allocated to BSG Chemie Leipzig which had its Oberliga place returned it had lost to SC Lokomotive in 1954.
The fact that the nominally weaker Chemie squad won the league while SC Leipzig only came third is considered to be one of the greatest upsets in the history of East German football.
[7] For the second time the title East German Footballer of the year was awarded, going to Klaus Urbanczyk of SC Chemie Halle.
[8] On the strength of the 1963–64 title Chemie Leipzig qualified for the 1964–65 European Cup where the club was knocked out by Vasas ETO Győr in the preliminary round.
Third-placed SC Leipzig qualified for the 1964–65 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup where it was knocked out in the first round by Wiener Sportclub.