The NOFV-Oberliga developed after the entry of the Deutscher Fußball-Verband to the Deutscher Fußball-Bund. It was the successor of the DDR-Oberliga and functioned as the elite division in the former East Germany for this season only. FC Hansa Rostock became champions of that league, with Dynamo Dresden being the runners-up. Thereby both acquired the starting rights for the 1991–92 Bundesliga season. The following teams qualified directly for the 2. Bundesliga:
All remaining clubs continued to play in the NOFV-Oberliga. This became the third-highest division starting with the 1991–92 season.
1991–1994
During these three seasons the NOFV-Oberliga was the third-highest league in German football. At this time it consisted of three divisions: North, Central and South. Overall there were 10 Oberligen in Germany at the time. At the end of the season, the Oberliga champions had a play-off for promotion to the 2. Bundesliga. The bottom two teams of each division were relegated to the Landesligen. Division champions and promotion to 2. Bundesliga:
1993–94: Champion North: BSV Brandenburg – Champion Central: 1. FC Union Berlin – Champion South and promoted: FSV Zwickau
1994–2007
With the introduction of the Regionalliga the NOFV-Oberliga became the 4th level of the pyramid starting with the 1994–95 season. The number of divisions was reduced by one so that only North and South remained. Today it is the highest amateur division. The champions of both divisions were promoted directly to Regionalliga until Regionalliga was reduced from 4 to 2 divisions from the 1999–2000 season. Due to that change, there was no promotion from Oberliga in the 1998–99, but more teams were relegated to Oberliga than usual. Starting with the 1999–2000 season promotion was decided by a two-leg playoff between the division champions. This rule was scrapped for the 2005–06 season, so that both division champions will be promoted to Regionalliga at the end of this season. The bottom three teams of each division are relegated to the 5th level of the pyramid, but this number can increase depending on which teams are relegated from Regionalliga. The NOFV-Oberliga is played in two divisions:
At the end of the 2007–08 season, the NOFV-Oberligen were demoted one tier due to the inception of the new 3. Liga. The best three teams from each of the two leagues were promoted to the Regionalliga this season, the two fourth-placed teams played off for one more promotion spot:
Additionally to the six Verbandsliga champions, three runners-up from this leagues were also promoted to the Oberliga. To determine the three teams, three promotion play-off match-ups were drawn:
