It was implemented 11 years after the founding of the FuĂźball- as the new second division for professional football.
Arminia Bielefeld came a distant last and was relegated while 17th placed SpVgg Bayreuth was rescued when was refused a license.
The inaugural champions of the league were in the north and in the south, both former Bundesliga clubs.
Pauli and Fortuna DĂĽsseldorf followed it up to the Bundesliga.
It returned to a single division format again at the end of that season and has had 18 clubs as its strength since 1994.
Like in 2003, 2005 saw 1.