On the other end of the table, Rot-Weiß Oberhausen and Arminia Bielefeld were directly relegated to the 2011-12 3. Liga, after finishing the 2010-11 season in the bottom two spots of the table.
A further two places were given to VfL Bochum as losers of the Bundesliga relegation playoff and Dynamo Dresden as winners of the 2. Bundesliga relegation playoff.