Country | Nazi Germany |
---|---|
States and Regions |
|
Gau (from 1934) |
|
Founded | 1933 |
Folded | 1945 |
Replaced by | |
Level on pyramid | Level 1 |
Domestic cup(s) | Tschammerpokal |
Last champions |
Gauliga Hessen-Nassau: KSG Saarbrücken (1943-44) |
Gauliga Hessen-Nassau:
Kickers Offenbach
The 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. Additionally, the league was from then on divided in the Gauligas Hessen-Nassau and Westmark.
Shortly after the formation of the league, the Nazis reorganised the administrative regions in Germany, and the Gaue Hesse Nassau and Saar-Palatinate (later: Westmark) replaced the old states and provinces.
The league was introduced by the Nazi Sports Office in 1933, after the Nazi take over of power in Germany. It replaced the Bezirksliga as the highest level of play in German football competitions.
The Gauliga Südwest/Mainhessen was established with twelve clubs from the states of Prussia, Bavaria, Hesse and Saarland. At the time of the leagues establishment, the Saarland was actually not yet a part of Germany again.
The Gauliga replaced as such the Bezirksliga Rhein-Saar and the Bezirksliga Main-Hessen, who had been the highest leagues in this region until then. The clubs from Mannheim in the Bezirksliga Rhein-Saar however joined the Gauliga Baden, while some clubs from the Bezirksliga Main-Hessen joined the Gauliga Hessen.