Oberliga Südwest (1945–63)
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|
| Country |
 Germany
|
|---|---|
| State | |
| Founded | 1945 |
| Folded | 1963 (18 seasons) |
| Replaced by | Bundesliga |
| Level on pyramid | Level 1 |
| Relegation to | 2. Oberliga Südwest |
| Last champions |
1. FC Kaiserslautern (1962–63) |
The Oberliga Südwest (English: Premier league Southwest) 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 Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland.
The league was introduced as the highest level of football in the French occupation zone in 1945, replacing the Gauligas as such. As was the French occupation zone, the Oberliga was split into a northern and a southern zone. The northern zone continued till 1963 to form the Oberliga Südwest while the southern zone was integrated into the Oberliga Süd in 1950. Until then, the champion of the Oberliga was determined by a home-and-away final between the two group winners.
The clubs in the Oberliga Süd came from the following Gauligas:
In addition to the Oberliga Südwest, four other Oberligas were formed in Germany in the 1940s.
Next to the Oberliga Berlin, the Oberliga Südwest was the smallest of the five Oberligas. Considering this, it is still impressive that it won two German titles through the 1. FC Kaiserslautern, led by the German captain Fritz Walter, still a legend in Kaiserslautern and Germany.
Set below the Oberliga were originally the Amateurligas. In 1951 the 2. Oberliga Südwest was formed to fit in between.
With the reintroduction of the German championship in 1948, the winner and runners-up of the Oberliga Südwest went on to the finals tournament with the other Oberliga champions.
In 1950, the southern group of the Oberliga Südwest was disbanded and its clubs joined the Southern German Football Association.
From 1948 to 1951 the clubs from the Saarland did not take part in the Oberliga Südwest, playing their own competition instead. The 1. FC Saarbrücken even took part in the French second division in 1948-49, winning the division but being refused further participation.
The 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Wormatia Worms and 1. FSV Mainz 05 took part in all of the 18 seasons of the Oberliga Südwest.
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