The league operated in five regional divisions, Berlin, North, South, Southwest and West.
The 1971–72 season saw two new clubs in the league, OSV Hannover and Polizei SV Bremen, both promoted from the Amateurliga, while no club had been relegated from the Bundesliga to the league.
The 1971–72 season saw four new clubs in the league, Bayer Uerdingen, VfL Klafeld and Arminia Gütersloh, both promoted from the Verbandsliga, while Rot-Weiß Essen had been relegated from the Bundesliga to the league.
The 1971–72 season saw two new clubs in the league, Phönix Bellheim and SpVgg Andernach, both promoted from the Amateurliga, while no club had been relegated from the Bundesliga to the league.
The 1971–72 season saw four new clubs in the league, SV Darmstadt 98, SpVgg Bayreuth and SpVgg Ludwigsburg, all three promoted from the Amateurliga, while Kickers Offenbach had been relegated from the Bundesliga to the league.