There were 33 teams competing in the 1. Liga this season. They were divided into three regional groups, each group with 11 teams. Within each group, the teams would play a double
round-robin to decide their league position. Two points were awarded for a win and one point was awarded for a draw. The three group winners then contested a play-off round to decide the two promotion slots to the second-tier (NLB). The last placed team in each group was directly relegated to the
2. Liga (fourth tier). The season started on 9 September 1945, was completed by 23 June 1946 with two of the games in the promotion play-off being held in July. The following season would see the 1. Liga with the addition of three further clubs, thus the number of teams in each group was to be new twelve teams, therefore six clubs from the 2. Liga (fourth tier) would be promoted this season. ==Group West==