The Promotion to the Bundesliga (German: Aufstiegsrunde zur Bundesliga) was an end-of-season competition, held annually to determine the clubs that were promoted from the Regionalligas, later the 2. Bundesliga to the Bundesliga. Originally, it was necessary because there were more second division champions than promotion spots available. From 1974 onwards, it involved only two clubs who determined the third possible promotion spot to the Bundesliga.