FC Köln were crowned champions for the first time after a group stage and a final, having previously reached the final in 1960, where they lost to Hamburger SV.
[1] On the strength of this title, the club participated in the 1962–63 European Cup, where Köln lost to Dundee F.C.
FC Nürnberg made its twelfth and last appearance in the national title game, having won the previous year's championship.
The format used to determine the German champion was similar to the one used in the 1961 season.
In previous years, a home-and-away round had been played in the group stages but because of the 1962 FIFA World Cup, where Germany participated in, the schedule was reduced, as had been the case in previous world cup years.