The Kromfohrländer breed was created in the Siegerland region of North Rhine-Westphalia by Ilsa Schleifenbaum, a former concert pianist, in the years after the end of the Second World War.

[2]: 212  In 1945, during the Allied invasion of Germany, a young dog brought from France by American troops was lost or abandoned in the area of Hilchenbach, near Siegen.

[2]: 212  A vet from Siegen named Tollmächer advised the owners of the two dogs to repeat the mating, and a further six litters were whelped.

[2]: 214 In 1955 the Kromfohrländer was recognised by the Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen and was also definitively accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.

[3]: 508 The Schleifenbaums had a summer residence in an area of the Ginsberger Heide called the Krumme Furche ('crooked farrow'); in Siegerländisch this became 'Krom Fohr', and from this the name of the breed derived.