1973–74 Regionalliga

The league operated in five regional divisions, Berlin, North, South, Southwest and West.

The five league champions and runners-up then entered a promotion play-off to determine the two clubs to move up to the Bundesliga for the next season.

It was the last season of the Regionalliga as a tier two league, being replaced by two regional divisions of the 2.

Bundesliga while the remaining 43 dropped down to the third division Verbandsligas, Amateurligas and Oberligas.

Bundesliga took the previous five Regionalliga season into account to determine the qualified teams, rather than just the final tables of 1973–74.