Shortly after the formation of the league, the Nazis reorganised the administrative regions in Germany, and the Gaue Westphalia-North and Westphalia-South replaced the Prussian province and the Free State.

Throughout its existence, the league was dominated by what became the golden era of the FC Schalke 04, who won it in every one of its eleven completed seasons.

It only resumed at the beginning of November, with a number of local cup competitions having been played to bridge the gap.

The imminent collapse of Nazi Germany in 1945 gravely affected all Gauligas and the leagues last season, 1944–45, was meant to be staged in three regional groups with altogether 20 teams.

With the end of the Nazi era, the Gauligas ceased to exist and the region of Westphalia found itself in the British occupation zone.