The league adopted a single group format starting from 1952: The top two teams of the 2.

Some years, however, exceptions applied and the number of promoted and relegated teams altered.

Oberliga West ranked the Amateurliga's, varying in numbers (and names) but split into three zones, Niederrhein, Mittelrhein, and Westfalen : The 2.

Schwarz-Weiß Essen became the first second-division side to win the German Cup when they did so in 1959, an achievement later repeated by Kickers Offenbach and Hannover 96 in the history of German football.

The following teams were relegated to the Amateurligas: The league placings from 1949 to 1963:[2] Source: "2nd Oberliga West".