The following is the summary of the Swiss National League in the 1944–45 football season, both Nationalliga A and Nationalliga B. This was the 49th season of top-tier and the 48th season of second-tier football in Switzerland.

Overview Preamble In Switzerland during the second world war, sport became an integral part of the "spiritual national defense". This was a political and cultural movement that had already become increasingly important during the late 1930s. Politicians, intellectuals and media professionals had increasingly called for measures to strengthen Switzerland's basic cultural values. Since the Nationalliga games were also considered to be one of the activities that seemed important for maintaining the morale of the population, the military authorities put considerably fewer obstacles in the way of the top players as they had during the previous World War.

ASF/SFV Therefore, it came about that the Swiss Football Association (ASF/SFV) expanded themselves. The decision of the extraordinary assembly, held on 9 October 1943 in Lugano, was to double the number of members to 28 clubs for the 1944–45 season and to initiate a new format. The Nationalliga was divided into two strength classes each with 14 teams. The previous Nationalliga became the Nationalliga A (NLA), while the Nationalliga B (NLB) was newly formed. From this moment, the 1. Liga became the third-tier of the Swiss football league system. It was also increased in size, from 25 clubs in two groups, to new three groups with 10 teams each.

Format The teams in both NLA and in NLB played a double round-robin to decide their table positions. Two points were awarded for a win and one point was awarded for a draw. The top tier (NLA) was contested by the top 13 teams from the 1943–44 Nationalliga and the newly promoted, 1. Liga champion, AC Bellinzona. The two last placed teams in the league table at the end of the season were to be relegated.

The second-tier, the newly formed NLB, was contested by the relegated team from the NLA, FC Luzern, and the 13 best teams of the 1943–44 Swiss 1. Liga season. The top two teams would be promoted to 1945–46 Nationalliga A and the two last placed teams would be relegated to the 1945–46 Swiss 1. Liga.

Nationalliga A Teams, locations Team Based in Canton Stadium Capacity FC Basel Basel Landhof AC Bellinzona Bellinzona Stadio Comunale Bellinzona FC Biel-Bienne Biel/Bienne Stadion Gurzelen FC Cantonal Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Stade de la Maladière Grasshopper Club Zürich Zürich Hardturm FC Grenchen Grenchen Stadium Brühl FC La Chaux-de-Fonds La Chaux-de-Fonds Centre Sportif de la Charrière FC Lausanne-Sport Lausanne Pontaise FC Lugano Lugano Cornaredo Stadium Servette FC Geneva Stade des Charmilles FC St. Gallen St. Gallen Espenmoos BSC Young Boys Bern Wankdorf Stadium FC Young Fellows Zürich Utogrund FC Zürich Zürich Letzigrund

Final league table

Results

Topscorers Rank Player Nat. Goals Club1. Hans-Peter Friedländer 26 Grasshopper Club2. Alfred Bickel 18 Grasshopper Club3. Numa Monnard 16 Lausanne-Sport4. Domenico Gallo 13 Lugano Roberto Bergamini 13 Lugano6. Georges Aeby 12 Lausanne-Sport Roger Courtois 12 Lausanne-Sport Giovanni Conte 12 Zürich9. Lauro Amadò 11 Grasshopper Club Mario Fornara 11 Lugano Eugen Walaschek 11 Young Boys Walter Bosshard 11 Zürich René Bader 11 Basel

Nationalliga B Teams, locations Team Based in Canton Stadium Capacity FC Aarau Aarau Stadion Brügglifeld FC Bern Bern Stadion Neufeld SC Brühl St. Gallen Paul-Grüninger-Stadion SC Derendingen Derendingen Heidenegg FC Étoile-Sporting La Chaux-de-Fonds Les Foulets / Terrain des Eplatures / FC Fribourg Fribourg Stade Universitaire CS International Genève Geneva FC Locarno Locarno Stadio comunale Lido FC Luzern Lucerne Stadion Allmend FC Nordstern Basel Basel Rankhof US Pro Daro Bellinzona Campo Geretta / Stadio Comunale Bellinzona / FC Solothurn Solothurn Stadion FC Solothurn Urania Genève Sport Genève Stade de Frontenex SC Zug Zug Herti Allmend Stadion

Final league table

Further in Swiss football 1944–45 Swiss Cup 1944–45 Swiss 1. Liga

References

Sources Switzerland 1944–45 at RSSSF