The Oberliga (, "Upper League"; plural: ''Oberligen'') is the fifth tier of the

German football league system The German football league system, or league pyramid, refers to the hierarchically interconnected league system for association football in Germany that in the 2016–17 season consisted of 2,235 leagues in up to 13 levels having 31,645 teams ...

. Before the introduction of the

3. Liga The 3. Liga is a professional association football league and the third division in Germany. In the German football league system, it is positioned between the 2. Bundesliga and the fourth-tier Regionalliga. The modern 3. Liga was formed for th ...

in 2008, it was the fourth tier. At the end of the 2011–12 season the number of Oberligas was increased from eleven to fourteen. With the exception of the

Nazi Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in ...

-era ''

Gauliga A Gauliga () was the highest level of play in German football from 1933 to 1945. The leagues were introduced in 1933, after the Nazi takeover of power by the National Socialist League of the Reich for Physical Exercise. Name The German word ...

'', the term ''Oberliga'' (equivalent to ''Premier League'' in English) was used prior to the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963 for first-division leagues in Germany. Between 1978–94 the term ''Amateuroberliga'' was used for third-tier leagues, which were then the highest level of amateur play in the country. The current usage of the designation Oberliga was introduced in 1994. In

East Germany East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...

a separate league structure was in place from 1948–1990 and the top flight division there was known as the '' DDR-Oberliga''.

Pre-Bundesliga Oberligen

From the end of the Second World War until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963 there were five regional Oberligen: * Oberliga Berlin * Oberliga Nord * Oberliga West * Oberliga Südwest *

Oberliga Süd Oberliga ( en, Premier league) may refer to: Association football * Oberliga (football), currently the fifth tier of the German football league system, formerly the first * DDR-Oberliga, the first tier of football in East Germany until 1990, re ...

Based on criteria outlined by the German association in October 1962 an evaluation system covering the last 12 seasons was established through which the sixteen clubs from these five leagues were established which were to form the new nationwide first division Bundesliga, with the others going to the new second tier Regionalligen.

Champions of Pre-Bundesliga Oberligen

2. Oberliga

Below the Oberliga the 2. Oberliga existed from 1949 to 1963 as the second tier in West Germany, except in Northern Germany and West Berlin where this level was never introduced. The 2. Oberligas were: * 2. Oberliga Süd * 2. Oberliga Südwest * 2. Oberliga West

Overview

Oberliga champions are usually promoted to Regionalliga which is directly below the

. The Oberliga Nordost has two divisions ("Süd" and "Nord"). If the champion of an Oberliga is the B-team of a club which already has a team in the Regionalliga, or which has a team which will be relegated to the Regionalliga, the B-team cannot be promoted, and the next highest qualified team will be promoted instead. There are fourteen "Oberligen", based on states and regions of

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

Promotion from the Oberligas to the 2nd Bundesliga

From 1974 to 1994, the Oberligas, originally called 1st Amateurliga, were set right below the two 2nd Bundesligas, North and South. Originally there was 15 Amateurligas which were reduced to 8 Oberligas in 1978. From 1981 the 2nd Bundesliga was reduced to one single league. Because there always were more Oberliga champions then promotion spots, these clubs had to determine the promoted teams by the way of a promotion play-off to the 2. Bundesliga, called "Aufstiegsrunde zur 2. Bundesliga".

Short history of the Oberligas

Since 2012–13 fourteen leagues exist on Oberliga level, increased from eleven the previous season:

Oberliga Baden-Württemberg

The

Oberliga Baden-Württemberg The Oberliga Baden-Württemberg is the highest association football league in the state of Baden-Württemberg and the Baden-Württemberg football league system. It is one of fourteen Oberligas in German football, the fifth tier of the German foot ...

was formed in 1978 to provide a single-division 3rd tier league for the state of Baden-Württemberg. Previously, the clubs in the state had played in four separate Amateurligas; Nordwürttemberg, Schwarzwald-Bodensee, Nordbaden and Südbaden. Two of those were merged, the Amateurligas Nordwürttemberg and Schwarzwald-Bodensee to form the Verbandsliga Württemberg. ;Feeder leagues to the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg *

Verbandsliga Nordbaden The Verbandsliga Nordbaden is a German amateur football division administered by the Baden Football Association, one of the 21 German state football associations. Being the top flight of the Baden state association, the Verbandsliga is currently a ...

Verbandsliga Südbaden The Verbandsliga Südbaden is a German amateur football division administered by the South Badenese Football Association, one of the 21 German state football associations. Being the top flight of the South Baden state association, the Verbandslig ...

Verbandsliga Württemberg The Verbandsliga Württemberg is a German amateur football division administered by the Württemberg Football Association, one of the 21 German state football associations. Being the top flight of the Württemberg state association, the Verbandsli ...

Bayernliga

The

Bayernliga The Bayernliga (English: Bavarian league) is the highest amateur football league and the second highest football league (under the Regionalliga Bayern) in the state of Bavaria (german: Bayern) and the Bavarian football league system. It is one o ...

was formed in 1945. In 1946–47, 1947–48 and from 1953–54 till 1962–63 it was split in a northern and a southern division. From 1963 to 2012 it played in the single division format. Since 2012 it again plays with a northern and a southern division. ;Feeder leagues to the Bayernliga *

Landesliga Bayern-Nordost The Landesliga Bayern-Nordost ( en, State league Bavaria-Northeast) is currently the sixth tier of the German football league system in northeastern Bavaria and the third tier of the Bavarian football league system. It is one of five Landesli ...

Landesliga Bayern-Nordwest The Landesliga Bayern-Nordwest ( en, State league Bavaria-Northwest) is currently the sixth tier of the German football league system in northwestern Bavaria and the third tier of the Bavarian football league system. It is one of five Landesli ...

Landesliga Bayern-Mitte The Landesliga Bayern-Mitte ( en, State league Bavaria-Central) was the sixth tier of the German football league system in southern Bavaria. Until the introduction of the 3. Liga in 2008, it was the fifth tier of the league system, until the intr ...

Landesliga Bayern-Südost The Landesliga Bayern-Südost ( en, State league Bavaria-Southeast) is currently the sixth tier of the German football league system in south eastern Bavaria and the third tier of the Bavarian football league system. It is one of five Landeslig ...

Landesliga Bayern-Südwest The Landesliga Bayern-Südwest ( en, State league Bavaria-Southwest) is currently the sixth tier of the German football league system in south western Bavaria and the third tier of the Bavarian football league system. It is one of five Landesli ...

Bremen-Liga

The

Bremen-Liga The Bremen-Liga, sometimes also referred to as ''Oberliga Bremen'', is a fifth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. It is one of fourteen Oberligas in German football ...

was established in 2008. ;Feeder league to the Bremen-Liga *

Landesliga Bremen The Landesliga Bremen is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second-highest league in the German state of Bremen, below the ''Bremen-Liga''. Overview The ''Landesliga Bremen'' is the second-highest level of play in Bremen ...

Oberliga Hamburg

The Oberliga Hamburg was established in 2008. ;Feeder leagues to the Oberliga Hamburg *

Landesliga Hamburg-Hammonia The Landesliga Hamburg-Hammonia is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second-highest league in the German state of Hamburg, together with the ''Landesliga Hamburg-Hansa''. It is named after the Latin word for Hamburg, Ha ...

Landesliga Hamburg-Hansa The Landesliga Hamburg-Hansa is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the second-highest league in the German state of Hamburg, together with the ''Landesliga Hamburg-Hammonia''. It is named after the Hanseatic League (''Hanse''), ...

Hessenliga

The

Hessenliga The Hessenliga (until 2008 ''Oberliga Hessen'') is the highest football league in the state of Hesse and the Hessian football league system. It is one of fourteen Oberligas in German football, the fifth tier of the German football league system. ...

was formed in 1945. In its first two seasons, 1945/46 and 1946/47 it played in two separate divisions, east and west. Since then it has been a single league and is the oldest Oberliga to operate continuously in this format. ;Feeder leagues to the Hessenliga *

Verbandsliga Hessen-Nord The Verbandsliga Hessen-Nord, until 2008 named ''Landesliga Hessen-Nord'', is currently the sixth tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3. Liga in 2008 it was the fifth tier of the league system, and until the in ...

Verbandsliga Hessen-Mitte The Verbandsliga Hessen-Mitte, until 2008 named ''Landesliga Hessen-Mitte'', is currently the sixth tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3. Liga in 2008 it was the fifth tier of the league system, until the intro ...

Verbandsliga Hessen-Süd The Verbandsliga Hessen-Süd, until 2008 named ''Landesliga Hessen-Süd'', is currently the sixth tier of the German football league system. Before the introduction of the Regionalligas in 1994, the "Verbandsliga Hessen-S" served as the fourth tie ...

Oberliga Mittelrhein

The Oberliga Mittelrhein was elevated to Oberliga status in 2012 after the disbanding of the NRW-Liga which it previously had served. ;Feeder leagues to the Oberliga Mittelrhein *

Landesliga Mittelrhein The Landesliga Mittelrhein is the second highest amateur football league in the region of Middle Rhine which is part of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and since 2012 the sixth tier of the German football league system. It operates in two group ...

Staffel 1 * Landesliga Mittelrhein Staffel 2

Oberliga Niederrhein

The

Oberliga Niederrhein The Oberliga Niederrhein ( en, Premier League of the Lower Rhine) is a German amateur football division administered by the Football Association of the Lower Rhine, one of the 21 German state football associations. Being the top flight of the Lowe ...

was elevated to Oberliga status in 2012 after the disbanding of the NRW-Liga which it previously had served. ;Feeder leagues to the Oberliga Niederrhein *

Landesliga Niederrhein The Landesliga Niederrhein is the second highest amateur football league in the Lower Rhine region which is part of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and since 2012 the sixth tier of the German football league system. It operates in two groups wh ...

Gruppe 1 * Landesliga Niederrhein Gruppe 2

Oberliga Niedersachsen

The

Oberliga Niedersachsen The Oberliga Niedersachsen ( en, Upper League Lower Saxony), sometimes referred to as ''Niedersachsenliga'' (Lower Saxony league), is the fifth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state of Lower Saxony (ge ...

was established in 2008, initially in two regional divisions, in 2010 reduced to a single division league, and reverted to two divisions in 2020 for one season only. ;Feeder leagues to the Oberliga Niedersachsen *

Landesliga Hannover The Landesliga Hannover, called the ''Bezirksoberliga Hannover'' from 1979 to 1994 and 2006 to 2010,

Landesliga Weser-Ems The Landesliga Weser-Ems, called the ''Bezirksoberliga Weser-Ems'' from 1979 to 1994 and 2006 to 2010,

Landesliga Braunschweig The Landesliga Braunschweig, called the ''Bezirksoberliga Braunschweig'' from 1979 to 1994 and 2006 to 2010,Landesliga Lüneburg

NOFV-Oberliga

The NOFV-Oberliga was established in 1991 after the German reunification. It covers former

and the city of

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...

. Originally having three divisions, in 1994 the

NOFV-Oberliga Mitte The NOFV-Oberliga Mitte was the third tier of the German football league system in the central states of former East Germany and West Berlin. The league existed from 1991 to 1994. It covered the German states of Berlin, Brandenburg and Saxony-Anha ...

ceased to continue and its clubs were split between the other two divisions,

NOFV-Oberliga Nord The NOFV-Oberliga Nord is the fifth tier of the German football league system in the northern states of the former East Germany and West Berlin. It covers the German states of Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and northern Saxony ...

and

NOFV-Oberliga Süd The NOFV-Oberliga Süd is the fifth tier of the German football league system in the southern states of the former East Germany. It covers the German states of Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Saxony and southern Brandenburg. It is one of fourteen Oberl ...

. ;Feeder Leagues to the NOFV-Oberliga *

Berlin-Liga The Berlin-Liga (VI), formerly the Verbandsliga Berlin, is the highest league for football teams exclusively in the German capital. Since German reunification in 1990, it has been the highest level of domestic football in the city, replacing the A ...

Brandenburg-Liga The Brandenburg-Liga (VI) (''formerly the Verbandsliga Brandenburg'') is the highest league for football teams exclusively in the German state of Brandenburg and at step six of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3. Li ...

Verbandsliga Mecklenburg-Vorpommern The Verbandsliga Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Until the introduction of the 3. Liga in 2008 it was the fifth tier of the ...

Landesliga Sachsen The Sachsenliga, formerly referred to as ''Landesliga Sachsen'', is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state of Saxony (German: ''Sachsen''). Until the introduction of the 3. Liga in 2008 it was ...

Verbandsliga Sachsen-Anhalt The Verbandsliga Sachsen-Anhalt is the sixth tier of the German football league system and the highest league in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt (german: Sachsen-Anhalt). Until the introduction of the 3. Liga in 2008 it was the fifth tier of the ...

* Verbandsliga Thüringen The participating teams are redistributed between the northern and the southern division based on geographical needs. If possible, teams from Berlin, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern promote to the northern division, whereas teams from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia promote to the southern division. In some seasons, the northern and southern divisions cover teams from northern Saxony-Anhalt and southern Brandenburg respectively.

Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar

The Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar, named Oberliga Südwest until 2012, was formed in 1978 to provide a single-division third tier league for the two states

Saarland The Saarland (, ; french: Sarre ) is a state of Germany in the south west of the country. With an area of and population of 990,509 in 2018, it is the smallest German state in area apart from the city-states of Berlin, Bremen, and Hamburg, and ...

and

Rheinland-Pfalz Rhineland-Palatinate ( , ; german: link=no, Rheinland-Pfalz ; lb, Rheinland-Pfalz ; pfl, Rhoilond-Palz) is a western state of Germany. It covers and has about 4.05 million residents. It is the ninth largest and sixth most populous of the ...

. Previously, the clubs that make up this Oberliga played in three separate leagues; the Amateurligas Südwest, Saarland, and Rheinland. The league split into two divisions in 2020 for one season only. ;Feeder leagues to the Oberliga Südwest *

Verbandsliga Südwest The Verbandsliga Südwest is a German amateur football division administered by the Southwest German Football Association, one of the 21 German state football associations. Being the top flight of the Southwestern state association, the Verbandslig ...

Saarlandliga The Saarlandliga (English: ''Saarland league'') is currently the sixth tier of the German football league system in the German federal state of Saarland. It was a new league, introduced at the end of the 2008-09 season. In the past, the term ''Saa ...

Verbandsliga Rheinland The Rheinlandliga is a German amateur football division administered by the Rhineland Football Association, one of the 21 German state football associations. Being the top flight of the Rhineland state association, the Verbandsliga is currently a l ...

Oberliga Schleswig-Holstein

The Oberliga Schleswig-Holstein was established in 2008 as the Schleswig-Holstein-Liga and took its present name in 2017. It also split into two divisions in 2020 for almost one year only. ;Feeder leagues to the Schleswig-Holstein-Liga until 2017 * Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Nord-West * Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Nord-Ost * Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Süd-West * Verbandsliga Schleswig-Holstein-Süd-Ost ;Feeder leagues to the Oberliga Schleswig-Holstein after 2017 * Landesliga Schleswig * Landesliga Holstein * Landesliga Mitte (since 2020)

Oberliga Westfalen

The

Oberliga Westfalen The Oberliga Westfalen is the highest level football league in the region of Westphalia, which is part of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The league existed from 1978 to 2008, but was then replaced by the NRW-Liga, a new statewide league. Wit ...

was formed in 1978 to provide a single-division for the Westphalia region. It was disestablished in 2008 with the introduction of the NRW-Liga but reestablished in 2012. ;Feeder leagues to the Oberliga Westfalen * Westfalenliga Staffel 1 * Westfalenliga Staffel 2

Defunct Oberligas

The

Amateur-Oberliga Berlin The Amateur-Oberliga Berlin was the second tier of the German football league system in the city of West Berlin in Germany from 1947 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963, operating under the name of Amateurliga Berlin. After 1963, it was ...

was established in 1974 to accommodate the majority of clubs of the

Regionalliga Berlin The Regionalliga Berlin was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the city of West-Berlin in Germany from 1963 until the formation of the 2. Bundesliga in 1974. It was by far the smallest of the five Regionalligas. Over ...

when this league ceased to exist. With the German reunification in 1991 the Oberliga Berlin ceased to exist and its clubs were spread between the

and the

. The highest level of league play in Berlin is now the

. The

existed from the German reunification in 1991 until its dissolution in 1994. Its clubs were moved to either the

or the

. The Oberliga Niedersachsen/Bremen existed from 1994 till 2004 as a replacement for the Oberliga Nord. With the reestablishment of the Oberliga Nord, the Oberliga Niedersachsen/Bremen ceased to exist. The Oberliga Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein existed from 1994 till 2004 as a replacement for the Oberliga Nord. With the reestablishment of the Oberliga Nord, the Oberliga Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein ceased to exist. The

Oberliga Nordrhein The Oberliga Nordrhein was the highest Football League in the region of Nordrhein which is part of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia from 1978 to 2008. In its last season, it was one of nine Oberligas in German football, the 4th tier of the Ge ...

was established in 1978 as a new joint amateur top flight for the best teams of the

Verbandsliga Niederrhein The Oberliga Niederrhein ( en, Premier League of the Lower Rhine) is a German amateur football division administered by the Football Association of the Lower Rhine, one of the 21 German state football associations. Being the top flight of the Lowe ...

and the Verbandsliga Mittelrhein. It was replaced by the NRW-Liga in 2008, which is a merger of the

and the

. The NRW-Liga was formed in 2008 and disbanded again in 2012 and replaced by the

, the Oberliga Mittelrhein and the

. The Oberliga Nord was formed in 1974 to form a highest playing level for the states of Niedersachsen,

Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein (; da, Slesvig-Holsten; nds, Sleswig-Holsteen; frr, Slaswik-Holstiinj) is the northernmost of the 16 states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Sc ...

Hamburg (male), (female) en, Hamburger(s), Hamburgian(s) , timezone1 = Central (CET) , utc_offset1 = +1 , timezone1_DST = Central (CEST) , utc_offset1_DST = +2 , postal ...

and Bremen. As such it was a continuation of the old

Regionalliga Nord The Regionalliga Nord ( en, Regional League North) is the fourth tier of the German football league system in the states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen and Hamburg. It is one of five leagues at this level, together with the Regional ...

which was superseded by the 2. Bundesliga Nord in 1974. It stopped operating in 1994 when the Regionalliga Nord was reformed, now as the third tier of the German football league system. It was replaced by the Oberliga Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein and the Oberliga Niedersachsen/Bremen. In 2004 the Oberliga Nord was re-established to replace these two leagues. To add to the confusion, the Oberliga Nord again ceased to exist after the 2007–08 season with the establishment of the

Oberliga Timeline

Source:

References

Sources

* ''Die Bayernliga 1945 – 1997'', published by the DSFS, 1998 * ''Deutschlands Fußball in Zahlen'', An annual publication with tables and results from the Bundesliga to Verbandsliga/Landesliga, publisher: DSFS * ''Kicker Almanach'', The yearbook on German football from Bundesliga to Oberliga, since 1937, published by the Kicker Sports Magazine * ''Süddeutschlands Fussballgeschichte in Tabellenform 1897–1988'' History of Southern German football in tables, publisher & author: Ludolf Hyll * ''Die Deutsche Liga-Chronik 1945–2005'' History of German football from 1945 to 2005 in tables, publisher: DSFS, published: 2006

External links

Das deutsche Fußball Archiv
Historic German league tables
Weltfussball.de
Round-by-round results and tables of the ''Oberligas'' from 1994 onwards {{DEFAULTSORT:Oberliga (football) 5 Ger