Division West as successor to the defunct Gauliga Westfalen.

The first season started in February 1946 in an eastern and a western division separated due to geographical considerations.

[2] Upon its introduction in 1946, the Landesliga was one of the many top level divisions in Germany.

During the years, it has become a level seven division in the German football league system.

The 2012–13 season was the first after six decades, when the Landesliga format was changed from five to four divisions.