Southern German football championship
Encyclopedia
| Southern German football championship |
|---|
| Founded |
| 1898 / 1945 |
| Disbanded |
| 1933 / 1963 |
| Nation |
 German Empire The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German... |
.svg.png) Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
 |
| Region Region Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity... |
| Southern Germany Southern Germany The term Southern Germany is used to describe a region in the south of Germany. There is no specific boundary to the region, but it usually includes all of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, and the southern part of Hesse... |
| Number of Seasons |
| 52 |
| Replaced by |
| Competition disbanded |
| Level on Pyramid |
| Level 1 German football league system The German football league system, or league pyramid, refers to a series of hierarchically interconnected leagues for association football clubs in Germany that consists of over 2,300 men's divisions, in which all leagues are bound together by the principle of promotion and relegation... |
| Last Champions 1932-33 |
| FSV Frankfurt FSV Frankfurt FSV Frankfurt is a German association football club based in the Bornheim district of Frankfurt am Main, Hesse and founded in 1899. The club plays in the shadow of larger and much more successful Eintracht Frankfurt, which has recently returned to 2nd tier football... |
| Last Champions 1962-63 |
| TSV 1860 München TSV 1860 München Turn- und Sportverein München von 1860, commonly known as TSV 1860 München or 1860 Munich, is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. The club's football team plays in the Second Bundesliga, after relegation from the Bundesliga following the 2003–04 season... |
The Southern German football championship (German: Süddeutsche Meisterschaft) was the highest association football competition in the South of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, established in 1898. The competition was disbanded in 1933 with the rise of the Nazis to power.
While no senior Southern German championship exists nowadays, the under 15 juniors still play an annual competition for the title, often involving the junior teams of clubs who had once been involved in the senior edition.
Overview
German football was, from its beginnings, divided into regional associations which carried out their own championship, which often pre-dated the national German championshipGerman football champions
The German football champions are the annual winners of the highest association football competition in Germany. The history of the German football championship is complex and reflects the turbulent history of the country through the course of the 20th century.Brought to the country by English...
. With the interception of the later in 1903, the former became qualifying tournaments for it but these regional championships still held a high value for the local clubs. These regional championships were:
- Southern German football championship - formed in 1898
- Brandenburg football championshipBrandenburg football championshipThe Brandenburg football championship was the highest association football competition in the Prussian Province of Brandenburg, including Berlin, established in 1898...
- formed in 1898 - Central German football championshipCentral German football championshipThe Central German football championship was the highest association football competition in Central Germany, in what is now the federal states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, established in 1902...
- formed in 1902 - Western German football championshipWestern German football championshipThe Western German football championship was the highest association football competition in Western Germany, in the Prussian Province of Westphalia, the Rhine Province, the northern parts of the province of Hesse-Nassau as well as the Principality of Lippe, later to become the Free State of Lippe...
- formed in 1903 - March football championship - existed from 1903 to 1911
- Northern German football championshipNorthern German football championshipThe Northern German football championship , operated by Norddeutscher Fußball-Verband , was the highest association football competition in Northern Germany, in the Prussian provinces of Schleswig-Holstein and Hanover and the German states of Hamburg, Lübeck, Mecklenburg-Schwerin,...
- formed in 1906 - South Eastern German football championshipSouth Eastern German football championshipThe South Eastern German football championship was the highest association football competition in the Prussian provinces of Silesia, which was divided into the Province of Lower Silesia and the Province of Upper Silesia after 1919, and Posen, which mostly became part of Poland in 1919...
- formed in 1906 - Baltic football championshipBaltic football championshipThe Baltic football championship was the highest association football competition in the Prussian provinces of East Prussia, Pomerania and West Prussia. The competition was disbanded in 1933....
- formed in 1908
All this regional championships were suspended with the rise of the Nazis to power in 1933. At the end of the Second World War, some resumed, now in league format. Others completely disappeared, like the Baltic championship, as the territories they were held in were not part of Germany any more. With the South West German football championship, a new regional competition also appeared in 1945. Ultimately, with the formation of the Fußball-Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
, all this regional championships ceased altogether.
From 1897 to 1919
The Süddeutsche Fußball-Verband (SFV), the Southern German Football Association was formed in KarlsruheKarlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
on 17 October 1897, three years before the German Football Association
German Football Association
The German Football Association is the governing body of football in Germany. A founding member of both FIFA and UEFA, the DFB organises the German football leagues, including the national league, the Bundesliga, and the men's and women's national teams. The DFB is based in Frankfurt and is...
(DFB) was formed. It originally was named Verband Süddeutscher Fußball-Vereine (English: Association of Southern German football clubs). One of the leading figures and driving force in the Southern German football was Walther Bensemann
Walther Bensemann
Walther Bensemann was a German pioneer of football and founder of the country's major sports publication, Kicker....
, founder of the kicker sportmagazin
Kicker (sports magazine)
kicker Sportmagazin is Germany's leading sports magazine and is focused primarily on football. The magazine was founded in 1920 by German football pioneer Walther Bensemann and is published twice a week, usually Monday and Thursday, in Nuremberg...
, a position he retained until the Nazis rise to power. The other driving force behind football in the south of Germany was Friedrich William Nohe, chairman of the Karlsruher FV. The association was formed by eight clubs, those being:
- Karlsruher FVKarlsruher FVKarlsruher FV is a German association football club that plays in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg. Established on 17 November 1891, KFV was a founding member of the German Football Association in 1900. The team went on to capture the national championship in 1910 with a 1–0 victory over Holstein Kiel...
- Phönix Karlsruhe
- Fidelitas Karlsruhe
- 1. FC Pforzheim1. FC Pforzheim1. FC Pforzheim was a German association football club playing in Pforzheim, Baden-Württemberg. The club was established on 5 May 1896 and was a founding member of the German Football Association in Leipzig in 1900. In 2010 it merged with VfR Pforzheim to 1. CfR Pforzheim.-Early success:The club...
- FC HeilbronnFC HeilbronnFC Heilbronn is a German association football club based in Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg formed in 2003 out of a merger between VfR Heilbronn and Heilbronner SpVgg.-History:...
- FG 96 Mannheim
- FC Hanau 93FC Hanau 93FC Hanau 93 is a German association football club based in Hanau, Hesse.-Early history:Founded in 1893, the club is Hesse's oldest. In its first year, the club was winless in a half dozen matches, but the next season emerged as south German champion and earned an appearance in a national...
- Germania 94 Frankfurt
The SFV originally covered a much larger area. Upon its formation in 1897, the following German states and regions were part of it:
- Kingdom of BavariaKingdom of BavariaThe Kingdom of Bavaria was a German state that existed from 1806 to 1918. The Bavarian Elector Maximilian IV Joseph of the House of Wittelsbach became the first King of Bavaria in 1806 as Maximilian I Joseph. The monarchy would remain held by the Wittelsbachs until the kingdom's dissolution in 1918...
- Kingdom of WürttembergKingdom of WürttembergThe Kingdom of Württemberg was a state that existed from 1806 to 1918, located in present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was a continuation of the Duchy of Württemberg, which came into existence in 1495...
- Grand Duchy of BadenGrand Duchy of BadenThe Grand Duchy of Baden was a historical state in the southwest of Germany, on the east bank of the Rhine. It existed between 1806 and 1918.-History:...
- Grand Duchy of HesseGrand Duchy of HesseThe Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine , or, between 1806 and 1816, Grand Duchy of Hesse —as it was also known after 1816—was a member state of the German Confederation from 1806, when the Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt was elevated to a Grand Duchy, until 1918, when all the German...
- Alsace-LorraineAlsace-LorraineThe Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine was a territory created by the German Empire in 1871 after it annexed most of Alsace and the Moselle region of Lorraine following its victory in the Franco-Prussian War. The Alsatian part lay in the Rhine Valley on the west bank of the Rhine River and east...
- PrussiaPrussiaPrussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n Province of HohenzollernProvince of HohenzollernHohenzollern was a de facto province of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was created in 1850 by joining the principalities of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and Hohenzollern-Hechingen after both formerly independently ruling Catholic princely lines of the House of Hohenzollern had handed over their... - Prussian Province of Hesse-NassauProvince of Hesse-NassauHesse-Nassau Province was a province of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1868-1918, then a province of the Free State of Prussia until 1944.Hesse-Nassau was created as a consequence of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 by combining the previously independent Hesse-Kassel , the Duchy of Nassau, the Free...
(southern parts only) - Prussian Rhine ProvinceRhine ProvinceThe Rhine Province , also known as Rhenish Prussia or synonymous to the Rhineland , was the westernmost province of the Kingdom of Prussia and the Free State of Prussia, within the German Reich, from 1822-1946. It was created from the provinces of the Lower Rhine and Jülich-Cleves-Berg...
(southern parts only)
From 1898, the SFV started to organise an annual Southern German football championship. With the interception of the German football champions
German football champions
The German football champions are the annual winners of the highest association football competition in Germany. The history of the German football championship is complex and reflects the turbulent history of the country through the course of the 20th century.Brought to the country by English...
hip in 1903, the Southern German championship functioned as a qualifying tournament for it. Nevertheless, it still enjoyed a high value of status. The competition went through a number of changes throughout its live time. From this season onwards, the competition also grew in size. Previously, only a few selected clubs from cities like Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
and Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
had taken part, now clubs from Bavaria also entered the competition.
In its early years, competition was very localised and patchy, with a handful of clubs dominating play. From 1907, football became more organised with Southern Germany being split in four local districts (German: Kreis), from 1910 each had their own top-league:
- Nordkreis-LigaNordkreis-LigaThe Nordkreis-Liga was the highest association football league in the German Grand Duchy of Hesse and the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau from 1909 to 1918...
, covering Hesse - Ostkreis-Liga, covering Bavaria
- Südkreis-LigaSüdkreis-LigaThe Südkreis-Liga was the highest association football league in the German Kingdom of Württemberg, Grand Duchy of Baden, the Province of Hohenzollern and Alsace-Lorraine from 1908 to 1918...
, covering Württemberg, Baden and Alsace - Westkreis-LigaWestkreis-LigaThe Westkreis-Liga was the highest association football league in the Bavarian region of Palatinate, the northern parts of the Grand Duchy of Baden, the southern parts of the Prussian Rhine Province and parts of Lorraine from 1908 to 1918...
, covering the Palatinate, Lorraine and the southern Rhine Province
This step, away from localised competition and torwards a more centralised system of leagues with strong competition was a vital factor in the rise of the Southern German clubs to dominance in Germany in the 1920s.
1919 to 1933
After the end of the First World War, the region of Alsace-Lorraine once more became part of FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and its clubs did not compete in the SFV-championship any more.
From the 1919-20 season, Southern Germany was sub-divided into ten regional leagues, those being:
- Kreisliga HessenKreisliga HessenThe Kreisliga Hessen was the highest association football league in parts of the German state of Hesse and parts of the Bavarian region of Palatinate as well as the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau from 1919 to 1923...
- Kreisliga Nordbayern
- Kreisliga NordmainKreisliga NordmainThe Kreisliga Nordmain was the highest association football league in parts of the German state of Hesse and the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau from 1919 to 1923...
- Kreisliga OdenwaldKreisliga OdenwaldThe Kreisliga Odenwald was the highest association football league in the northern part of the German state of Baden and the southern part of the state of Hesse from 1919 to 1923...
- Kreisliga PfalzKreisliga PfalzThe Kreisliga Pfalz was the highest association football league in the Bavarian region of Palatinate from 1919 to 1923...
- Kreisliga SaarKreisliga SaarThe Kreisliga Saar was the highest association football league in the German state of Saarland and parts of the Bavarian region of Palatinate and the Prussian Rhine Province from 1919 to 1923...
- Kreisliga Südbayern
- Kreisliga SüdmainKreisliga SüdmainThe Kreisliga Südmain was the highest association football league in parts of the German state of Hesse from 1919 to 1923. The league was disbanded with the introduction of the Bezirksliga Main in 1923....
- Kreisliga SüdwestKreisliga SüdwestThe Kreisliga Südwest was the highest association football league in the German state of Baden from 1919 to 1923...
- Kreisliga WürttembergKreisliga WürttembergThe Kreisliga Württemberg was the highest association football league in the German state of Württemberg from 1919 to 1923...
The ten league champions then played in two groups of three and one group of four to determined four clubs to enter the semi-finals, the group winners and the second placed team in the group of four qualifying for it. The semi-final winners then entered the Southern German final.
The number of leagues remained the same for the 1922 edition but now league winner and runners-up both qualified for a knock-out round to determined the champion.
In 1923, the league winners again were the only once qualified and the ten teams played a knock-out round first, the remaining five then played a home-and-away tournament for the championship.
After the 1923 season, the German league system was reorganised and streamlined. In the region of the SFV, new Bezirksligas were established as the highest level of play:
- Bezirksliga BayernBezirksliga BayernThe Bezirksliga Bayern was the highest association football league in the German state of Bavaria from 1923 to 1933. The league was disbanded with the rise of the Nazis to power in 1933.-Overview:...
- Bezirksliga MainBezirksliga MainThe Bezirksliga Main-Hessen was the highest association football league in the German state of Hesse and the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau from 1923 to 1927, when the league was replaced by the Bezirksliga Main-Hessen.- Overview :...
- Bezirksliga RheinBezirksliga RheinThe Bezirksliga Rhein was the highest association football league in the northern part of the German state of Baden and the Bavarian region of Palatinate from 1923 to 1927, when the league was replaced by the Bezirksliga Rhein-Saar.- Overview :...
- Bezirksliga Rheinhessen-SaarBezirksliga Rheinhessen-SaarThe Bezirksliga Rheinhessen-Saar was the highest association football league in the German state of Saarland, the Rheinhessen part of the state of Hesse and parts of the Bavarian region of Palatinate and the Prussian Rhine Province from 1923 to 1927, when the league was replaced by the Bezirksliga...
- Bezirksliga Württemberg-BadenBezirksliga Württemberg-BadenThe Bezirksliga Württemberg-Baden was the highest association football league in the German states of Württemberg and Baden and the Prussian Province of Hohenzollern from 1923 to 1933. The league was disbanded with the rise of the Nazis to power in 1933....
For the 1924 championship, this meant, the five league champions and the 1923 champion were qualified to compete in a home-and-away round for the title. Only the champion would then move on to the German championship. In the following season, only the five league winners would compete for the southern title but the best three teams from this competition would then qualify for the German title tournament. For the 1926 edition, the modus remained unchanged apart from the Southern German cup winner also entering the finals tournament.
In 1927, the modus again remained unchanged. However, an additional tournament for the five Bezirksliga runners-up was introduced. The winner of this competition then took up the third Southern German spot in the German Finals, alongside the winner and runners-up of the championship tournament.
After this season, the Bezirksligas were partly reorganised and reduced to four in numbers. However, each Bezirksliga in turn was sub-divided into two regional groups:
- Bezirksliga BayernBezirksliga BayernThe Bezirksliga Bayern was the highest association football league in the German state of Bavaria from 1923 to 1933. The league was disbanded with the rise of the Nazis to power in 1933.-Overview:...
, divided into northern and southern Bavaria - Bezirksliga Main-HessenBezirksliga Main-HessenThe Bezirksliga Main-Hessen was the highest association football league in the German state of Hesse and the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau from 1927 to 1933...
, divided into Main and Hessen - Bezirksliga Rhein-SaarBezirksliga Rhein-SaarThe Bezirksliga Rhein-Saar was the highest association football league in the German state of Saarland, the Bavarian region of Palatinate and the northern-most part of Baden from 1927 to 1933...
, divided into Rhein and Saar - Bezirksliga Württemberg-BadenBezirksliga Württemberg-BadenThe Bezirksliga Württemberg-Baden was the highest association football league in the German states of Württemberg and Baden and the Prussian Province of Hohenzollern from 1923 to 1933. The league was disbanded with the rise of the Nazis to power in 1933....
, divided into Württemberg and Baden
From the 1928 season, the best team from each of the eight divisions qualified for southern tournament, still played in a home-and-away modus. Additionally, the second and third placed team from each league went to a consolidation tournament. These sixteen clubs were split into two divisions of eight, regionally subdivided. The two division winners then played an on-off final to determined the third southern team to go to the German finals.
This modus was in place for the 1928, 1929, 1930 and 1931 season.
For its last two seasons, 1932 and 1933, the modus was changed once more for the Southern German championship. The league winners and runners-up now qualified both for the finals tournament, which was played in two groups of eight teams, again regionally sub-divided. The two division winners then played out the Southern championship, with both teams still being qualified for the German finals. The two division runners-up played for the third and last spot at the German finals from the south. The 1932 and 1933 season only differed as far as the regional make up being changed in 1933, away from the system were Württemberg-Baden-Bayern played in one group and Main-Hessen-Rhein-Saar in the other, as it traditionally had been.
The 1932 Southern German final ended in something of a scandal, when the game between Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt is a German sports club, based in Frankfurt, Hesse that is best known for its association football club.- Club origins :...
and the FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
had to be stopped at a 2–0 lead for Eintracht, seven minutes before the end. Bayern supporters had stormed the field and Eintracht Frankfurt was declared the winner. Incidentally, the German final became a rematch which the FC Bayern won 2–0.
1933 to 1945
With the Nazis rise to power in 1933, the Southern German championship was disbanded. The new Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
did not wish for regional identities to be preserved. Instead of the Bezirksligas, the Gauliga
Gauliga
A Gauliga was the highest level of play in German football from 1934-45. The leagues were introduced in 1933, after the Nazi takeover of power by the Sports office of the Third Reich.-Name:...
s were established:
- Gauliga BayernGauliga BayernThe Gauliga Bayern was the highest football league in the German state of Bavaria from 1933 to 1945. Shortly after the formation of the league, the Nazis reorganised the administrative regions in Germany, and the five Gaue Bayreuth, Munich-Upper Bavaria, Swabia, Main Franconia and Franconia de...
- Gauliga WürttembergGauliga WürttembergThe Gauliga Württemberg was the highest football league in the German state of Württemberg and the Prussian province of Hohenzollern from 1933 to 1945...
- Gauliga BadenGauliga BadenThe Gauliga Baden was the highest football league in the German state of Baden from 1933 to 1945. Shortly after the formation of the league, the Nazis reorganised the administrative regions in Germany, and the Gau Baden replaced the state Baden....
- Gauliga Südwest/MainhessenGauliga Südwest/MainhessenThe Gauliga Südwest/Mainhessen was the highest football league in the German state of Hesse,the Bavarian province of Palatinate, the Saarland and some parts of the Prussian province of Hesse-Nassau from 1933 to 1941. From 1941, it also included parts of the occupied French region of Lorraine...
A Southern championship was not played anymore.
After 1945
Oberliga Süd (1945-63)
The Oberliga Süd was the highest level of the German football league system in the south of Germany from 1945 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963.It covered the three states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hessen.-Overview:...
was established and the South of Germany had a united highest football league for the first time. The region it covered in 1945 originally was:
- BavariaBavariaBavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
- WürttembergWürttembergWürttemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
- HesseHesseHesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
- BadenBadenBaden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
, northern half only
From 1950, the southern half of the state of Baden also became part of the Oberliga Süd region. The area west of the river Rhine however remained separate from the SFV and formed the Oberliga Südwest
Oberliga Südwest (1945-63)
The Oberliga Südwest was the highest level of the German football league system in the southwest of Germany from 1945 until the formation of the Bundesliga in 1963. It covered the two states of Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland.-Overview:...
.
Up until 1963, the winner of the Oberliga Süd was still referred to as Southern German champions. After 1963, a competition which would have determined a true Southern German champion was not played anymore.
The Oberliga system was disbanded in 1963 in favor of the Fußball-Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
and the Regionalliga Süd
Regionalliga Süd (1963-74)
The Regionalliga Süd was the second-highest level of the German football league system. It existed in the south of Germany from 1963 until the formation of the 2nd Bundesliga in 1974. It covered the three states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hessen....
, a tier-two league became the highest regional league. With its disbanding in 1974 in favor of the 2nd Bundesliga Süd
2nd Bundesliga Süd (1974-81)
The 2. Fußball-Bundesliga Süd was the second-highest level of the German football league system in the south of Germany from 1974 until the formation of the single-division 2. Fußball-Bundesliga in 1981...
, the region which was once covered the by the Southern German football championship briefly had a united league again, even so it was only on the second tier. This league in turn was disbanded in 1981 for the 2nd Bundesliga
2. Fußball-Bundesliga
- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
, which ended the days of a Southern German league.
Regionalliga Süd
The Regionalliga Süd is currently the fourth tier of the German football league system. Until the introduction of the 3rd Liga in 2008, it was the third tier. It currently is the highest regional league for the southern part of Germany...
was re-established, now as a tier-three league, covering the three states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
and Hesse. From 2000 to 2008, the south western clubs also formed part of this league once more. From 2008, with the establishment of the 3rd Liga
3rd Liga
The 3rd Liga is the third division of football in Germany. The league started with the beginning of the 2008–09 season, when it replaced the Regionalliga as the third tier football league in Germany. In the German football league system, it is positioned between the 2...
, the three southern states are once more the only once covered by this league, now on the fourth tier of the German league system.
As of 2008, the Southern German Football Association is made up of the following five federations:
- Bavarian Football Federation (BFV)
- Württemberg Football Federation (WFV)
- (North-) Baden Football Federation (BFV)
- Südbaden Football Federation (SBFV)
- Hesse Football Federation (HFV)
1899 to 1933: Southern German championship
|
|
- The SpVgg Fürth won the German championship in 1929, qualifying as the third Southern German team.
1945 to 1963: Oberliga Süd
| Season | Winner | Runner-Up |
| 1945-46 | VfB Stuttgart VfB Stuttgart Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons... |
1. FC Nuremberg |
| 1946-47 | 1. FC Nuremberg | Waldhof Mannheim |
| 1947-48 | 1. FC Nuremberg | TSV 1860 München |
| 1948-49 | Kickers Offenbach Kickers Offenbach Kickers Offenbach is a German association football club in Offenbach am Main, Hesse. The club was founded on 27 May 1901 in the Rheinischer Hof restaurant by footballers who had left established local clubs including Melitia, Teutonia, Viktoria, Germania and Neptun... |
VfR Mannheim |
| 1949-50 | SpVgg Fürth | VfB Stuttgart |
| 1950-51 | 1. FC Nuremberg | SpVgg Fürth |
| 1951-52 | VfB Stuttgart | 1. FC Nuremberg |
| 1952-53 | Eintracht Frankfurt | VfB Stuttgart |
| 1953-54 | VfB Stuttgart | Eintracht Frankfurt |
| 1954-55 | Kickers Offenbach | SSV Reutlingen SSV Reutlingen SSV Reutlingen 05 is a German association football club from Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg.- History :The club was founded as FC Arminia Reutlingen and was re-named SV Reutlingen 1905 in 1910. The club fused with 1... |
| 1955-56 | Karlsruher SC | VfB Stuttgart |
| 1956-57 | 1. FC Nuremberg | Kickers Offenbach |
| 1957-58 | Karlsruher SC | 1. FC Nuremberg |
| 1958-59 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Kickers Offenbach |
| 1959-60 | Karlsruher SC Karlsruher SC Karlsruher SC is a German association football club, based in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg. KSC rose out of the consolidation of a number of predecessor clubs. They currently play in the 2... |
Kickers Offenbach |
| 1960-61 | 1. FC Nuremberg | Eintracht Frankfurt |
| 1961-62 | 1. FC Nuremberg | Eintracht Frankfurt |
| 1962-63 | TSV 1860 München | 1. FC Nuremberg |
- Bold denotes club went on to win German championship.
Finals
The Southern German championship was not always decided by a one-off final. Before 1908, the championship was carried out with a final. From 1908, the championship was determined through a home-and-away round with the first placed team automatically winning the championship. In the 1916, 1918, 1920, 1921, 1932 and 1933 season, a final was played again.| Year | Champion | Runner-Up | Result | Date | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1898 | Freiburger FC | Karlsruher FV | 2-0 | |||
| 1899 | Straßburger FV | Karlsruher FV | 4-3 | |||
| 1900 | Straßburger FV | Karlsruher FV | ||||
| 1901 | Karlsruher FV | Germania Frankfurt | ||||
| 1902 | Karlsruher FV | FC Hanau 93 | 4-0 | |||
| 1903 | Karlsruher FV | FC Hanau 93 | 5-2 | |||
| 1904 | Karlsruher FV | Germania Frankfurt | 5-0 | |||
| 1905 | Karlsruher FV | FC Hanau 93 | not played | |||
| 1906 | 1. FC Pforzheim | FC Hanau 93 | 5-3 | |||
| 1907 | Freiburger FC | 1. FC Nuremberg | 1-1 / 3-1 | |||
| 1916 | 1. FC Nuremberg | Ludwigshafener FC Pfalz | 4-1 | Stuttgart | ||
| 1918 | 1. FC Nuremberg | Union Stuttgart | 6-2 / 3-2 | |||
| 1920 | 1. FC Nuremberg | Ludwigshafener FC Pfalz | 3-0 | Stuttgart | ||
| 1921 | 1. FC Nuremberg | Phönix Ludwigshafen | 2-1 aet | 30 April 1921 | Stuttgart | |
| 1922 | Wacker München | Borussia Neunkirchen | 2-1 aet | 14 May 1922 | Frankfurt | |
| 1932 | Eintracht Frankfurt | FC Bayern Munich | 2-01 | 1 May 1932 | Stuttgart Stuttgart Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million .... |
50,000 |
| 1933 | FSV Frankfurt | TSV 1860 München | 1-0 | 30 April 1933 | Frankfurt Frankfurt Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010... |
- 1 Game stopped in 83rd minute due to pitch invasion, Eintracht Frankfurt declared the winner.
Cup competition
From 1918 to 1927, the SFV also carried out a cup competition, the Süddeutscher Pokal (English: Southern German Cup), long before a national competition was introduced in Germany in 1935. At times, this cup winner also gained entry to the Southern German championship. The record winner of this competition is the SpVgg Fürth with five titles.| Year | Champion | Runner-Up | Result | Date | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | SpVgg Fürth | Stuttgarter Kickers | 2-1 | 21 April 1918 | Stuttgart | 5,000 |
| 1919 | 1. FC Nuremberg | Stuttgarter SC | 5-2 | |||
| 1920 | Stuttgarter SC | Waldhof Mannheim | 5-3 | |||
| 1921 | Borussia Neunkirchen Borussia Neunkirchen Borussia VfB Neunkirchen is a German association football club based in Neunkirchen, Saarland. The club SC Borussia Neunkirchen was founded out of the 1907 merger of FC 1905 Borussia and SC Neunkirchen.-History:... |
Nürnberger FV | 3-2 | |||
| 1922 | TV 1847 Augsburg | Freiburger FC | 3-1 | |||
| 1923 | SpVgg Fürth | FC Bayern Munich | 4-3 | 17 June 1923 | Munich | 10,000 |
| 1924 | 1. FC Nuremberg | Stuttgarter Kickers | 1-0 | |||
| 1925 | SpVgg Fürth | Stuttgarter Kickers | 2-0 | 23 August 1925 | München | 7,000 |
| 1926 | SpVgg Fürth | VfB Stuttgart | 3-2 aet | 1 August 1926 | Frankfurt | 20,000 |
| 1927 | SpVgg Fürth | FSV Frankfurt | 3-0 | 14 August 1927 | Stuttgart | 8,000 |
After the Second World War, the Southern German Cup was revitalised in 1952 and functioned as a qualifying tournament for the German Cup. The cup competition was last played in 1974.
1907 to 1919
| Year | Nordkreis | Ostkreis | Südkreis | Westkreis |
| 1907 | FC Hanau 93 | 1. FC Nuremberg | Freiburger FC | |
| 1908 | FC Hanau 93 | 1. FC Nuremberg | Stuttgarter Kickers | Ludwigshafener FC Pfalz |
| 1909 | FC Hanau 93 | 1. FC Nuremberg | Phönix Karlsruhe | FV Kaiserslautern |
| 1910 | Victoria Hanau | FC Bayern Munich | Karlsruher FV | Mannheimer FG |
| 1911 | SV Wiesbaden | FC Bayern Munich | Karlsruher FV | Mannheimer FG |
| 1912 | Frankfurter FV | SpVgg Fürth | Karlsruher FV | Phönix Mannheim |
| 1913 | Frankfurter FV | SpVgg Fürth | Stuttgarter Kickers | VfR Mannheim |
| 1914 | Frankfurter FV | SpVgg Fürth | Stuttgarter Kickers | VfR Mannheim |
| 1915 | not held | not held | not held | not held |
| 1916 | FC Hanau 93 | 1. FC Nuremberg | Freiburger FC | Ludwigshafener FC Pfalz |
| 1917 | FSV Frankfurt | SpVgg Fürth | Stuttgarter Kickers | Ludwigshafener FC Pfalz |
| 1918 | Amicitia Frankfurt | 1. FC Nuremberg | Union Stuttgart | Phönix Mannheim |
| 1919 | Frankfurter FV | not held | not held | not held |
1920 to 1923
| Year | Nordbayern | Südbayern | Württemberg | Südwest | Odenwald |
| 1920 | 1. FC Nuremberg | FC Bayern Munich | Stuttgarter SC | Freiburger FC | Waldhof Mannheim |
| 1921 | 1. FC Nuremberg | Wacker München | Stuttgarter Kickers | 1. FC Pforzheim | Waldhof Mannheim |
| 1922 | SpVgg Fürth | Wacker München | Sportfreunde Stuttgart | Karlsruher FV | VfR Mannheim |
| 1923 | SpVgg Fürth | FC Bayern Munich | Stuttgarter Kickers | 1. FC Pforzheim | Phönix Mannheim |
| Year | Hessen | Nordmain | Südmain | Pfalz | Saar |
| 1920 | Germania Wiesbaden | Frankfurter FV | Kickers Offenbach | Ludwigshafener FC Pfalz | Saar 05 Saarbrücken |
| 1921 | FSV Mainz 05 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Kickers Offenbach | Phönix Ludwigshafen | Borussia Neunkirchen |
| 1922 | SV Wiesbaden | Germania Frankfurt | VfL Neu-Isenburg | Phönix Ludwigshafen | Borussia Neunkirchen |
| 1923 | SV Wiesbaden | FSV Frankfurt | Kickers Offenbach | Phönix Ludwigshafen | Borussia Neunkirchen |
1924 to 1927
| Year | Bayern | Mainzbezirk | Rheinbezirk | Rheinhessen-Saar | Württemberg-Baden |
| 1924 | 1. FC Nuremberg | FSV Frankfurt | Waldhof Mannheim | Borussia Neunkirchen | Stuttgarter Kickers |
| 1925 | 1. FC Nuremberg | FSV Frankfurt | VfR Mannheim | SV Wiesbaden | Stuttgarter Kickers |
| 1926 | FC Bayern Munich | FSV Frankfurt | VfR Mannheim | FV Saarbrücken | Karlsruher FV |
| 1927 | 1. FC Nuremberg | FSV Frankfurt | VfL Neckarau | FSV Mainz 05 | VfB Stuttgart |
1928 to 1933
| Year | Baden | Württemberg | Nordbayern | Südbayern |
| 1928 | Karlsruher FV | Stuttgarter Kickers | SpVgg Fürth | FC Bayern Munich |
| 1929 | Karlsruher FV | Germania Brötzingen | 1. FC Nuremberg | FC Bayern Munich |
| 1930 | Freiburger FC | VfB Stuttgart | SpVgg Fürth | FC Bayern Munich |
| 1931 | Karlsruher FV | Union Böckingen | SpVgg Fürth | FC Bayern Munich |
| 1932 | Karlsruher FV | 1. FC Pforzheim | 1. FC Nuremberg | FC Bayern Munich |
| 1933 | Phönix Karlsruhe | Stuttgarter Kickers | 1. FC Nuremberg | FC Bayern Munich |
| Year | Main | Hessen | Rhein | Saar |
| 1928 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Wormatia Worms | Waldhof Mannheim | FV Saarbrücken |
| 1929 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Wormatia Worms | VfL Neckarau | Borussia Neunkirchen |
| 1930 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Wormatia Worms | Waldhof Mannheim | FK Pirmasens |
| 1931 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Wormatia Worms | Waldhof Mannheim | FK Pirmasens |
| 1932 | Eintracht Frankfurt | FSV Mainz 05 | Waldhof Mannheim | FK Pirmasens |
| 1933 | FSV Frankfurt | FSV Mainz 05 | Waldhof Mannheim | FK Pirmasens |
Source:
- Bold indicates Southern German champion.
Under 19 championship
From 1946, an under 19 championship for Southern Germany existed, having been played annually. A German Under 19 championship was only established in 1969 and shortly after this, in 1973, the Southern German edition was disbanded.
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Under 15 championship
In 1979, a Southern German under 15 championship was established, being played annually between the five regional champions. It is now the only level of men's football that still plays out a true Southern championship. The end-of-season tournament is held at a neutral location.
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External links
Further reading
- Stürmen für Deutschland: Die Geschichte des deutschen Fussballs von 1933, publisher: Campus Verlag
Sources
- Fussball-Jahrbuch Deutschland (8 vol.), Tables and results of the German tier-one leagues 1919-33, publisher: DSFS
- Kicker Almanach, The yearbook on German football from Bundesliga to Oberliga, since 1937, published by the Kicker Sports MagazineKicker (sports magazine)kicker Sportmagazin is Germany's leading sports magazine and is focused primarily on football. The magazine was founded in 1920 by German football pioneer Walther Bensemann and is published twice a week, usually Monday and Thursday, in Nuremberg...
- Süddeutschlands Fussballgeschichte in Tabellenform 1897-1988 History of Southern German football in tables, publisher & author: Ludolf Hyll
External links
- The Gauligas Das Deutsche Fussball Archiv
- German league tables 1892-1933 Hirschi's Fussball seiten
- Germany - Championships 1902-1945 at RSSSF.com
- History of the FC Hanau 93 - Hesses oldest football club
- History of the SV SW Ludwigshafen