The league was formed in a move to improve the organisation of football in Southern Germany in the early 1900s.

Within the structure of the Southern German football championship, four regional leagues were gradually established from 1908, these being: Until then, regional leagues had existed which send their champions to the Kreis finals and, from there, the winners went on to the Southern and German championships.

[2] In the last pre-First World War season, 1913–14, things remained unchanged and champions Frankfurter FV finished runners-up in Southern Germany once more.

[3] The war starting in August 1914 meant an end to the league, no championship was played in 1914-15 at all.

A Nordkreis championship as well as a Southern German one was played, but no national title games were held.