DDR – the clubs were ranked 7th for 1981 and also 7th in the 5-year table concerning the number of teams a country had to play in the next UEFA Cup. The national team, however, did not rank that high, routinely missing World and European finals. To a point, DDR passed its peak – 1974-75 – but the new changes in the game itself were quite suitable for the straight no-nosense, physical, tough football, which emerged in the late 1970s and was to dominate the 80s. High ranking internationally, but hardly anything new domestically. The Second Division was still more of an appendix than anything else: the difference in class continued to be so great, that hardly anyone expected promoted teams to last more than a season or two among the best. And speaking of the best – they were sharply divided too. But Second Division – divided into 5 groups, the winners going to promotional play-off, the best two promoted. Usually a few former members of First Division competed for promotion. Occasionally, one or two of those missed the boat.
This year Chemie (Leipzig) failed to run for promotion, but this was rather the exception than the rule.
The winners of the five groups were: BSG Energie (Cottbus), BSG Chemie Buna (Schkopau), 1. FC Union (Berlin), BSG Schiffahrt Hafen (Rostock), and BSG Motor (Suhl). The final tournament set the record straight: Motor (Suhl) obviously was not at the same level as the rest and finished last.
Motor was unable to win even a single match, finishing with 3 ties and 5 losses.
Schiffahrt Hafen put a fight, but was not a real contender – they ended 4th with 3 wins, 1 tie, and 4 losses.
Union (Berlin) perhaps disappointed: as freshly relegated from First Division, they were expected to be stronger than the rest and climb up again. But they finished 3rd with 3 wins, 2 ties, and 3 losses. This opened the door for a surprise:
BSG Chemie Buna (Schkopau) finished 2nd with 4 wins, 2 ties, and 2 losses, thus promoted. Parctically unknown club, which appeared in second division in 1971-72, when the second level championship was enlarged – and precisely because of that. Chemie Buna was relegated immediately, but came back after one third division season and this time not only stayed, but gradually climbed up the table. 1980-81 was their best season ever: they won their group and earned promotion. The club never played first division football before, so promotion was great achievement.
Energie (Cottbus) topped the promotional play-off with 5 wins, 2 ties, and single loss – obviously, the strongest team among the candidates.
Third row:Karl-Heinz Jahn, Bernd Müller, Robert, Reiß, Klaus Pohle, Bernd Mudra.
Middle row: Andreas Göhlich (Co-Trainer), Dieter Schulz (Cheftrainer), Ralf Lempke, Uwe Weller, Bernd Kulke, Peter Zierau, Michael Braun, Dr. Klaus-Dieter Schubert.
Crouching: Petrik Sander, Roland Balck, Rolf-Dieter Kahnt, Andreas Wendt, Hagen Wellschmidt, Bernd Deutschmann.
Energie was a small club at the time, one of the ‘unsettled clubs’, constantly moving up and down, so at least they were typical winner of promotion. However, they played First Division football for the last time in 1975-76, so it took them quite a long time to move up again – which was great for their supporters. Apart for that, the next season would really tell how good were both promoted clubs – Energie had better chances for survival than Chemie Buna, but if only compared to the absolute newcomer to top league.