Essen and Aachen met in the first final of the German Cup in 1953. It replaced the Tschammer Cup, held between 1935 and 1943. Essen won 2-1 thanks to a goal by Helmut Rahn (center, behind Clemens Wientjes and August Gottschalk), who would go on to score the winner in West Germany's 1954 World Cup final triumph over Hungary. Aachen's goal came from future West Germany coach Jupp Derwall.

Bayern Munich won their first German Cup on December 29, 1957. There were only three rounds back then - a qualification game, semifinal and final. Bayern beat Spandau und Saarbrücken before facing Fortuna Düsseldorf in the showpiece. Rudi Jobst grabbed the only goal.

Borussia Mönchengladbach captain Günter Netzer (No. 12) was left on the bench for the 1973 final against Cologne because he had already agreed a transfer to Real Madrid. The game was tied 1-1 after 90 minutes. Netzer suddenly said: "Coach, I am going on now" and replaced an injured teammate without asking. With his first touch he scored to make it 2-1 to win the Cup.

Ten years later, FC Cologne faced Fortuna Cologne in the first and only time two teams from the same city have met in the final. The game took place at FC Cologne's Müngersdorf Stadium, where Pierre Littbarski (above, right) netted in the 68th minute to seal a 1-0 victory for the much bigger of the city's two clubs.

In 1984, Gladbach's Lothar Matthäus had already signed a deal with Bayern Munich before the pair met in the Cup final. In a penalty shootout, his nerves got the better of him and Matthäus missed. He fell to the ground in mental torment but Bayern were happy with their Cup triumph...and their new recruit.

Friedhelm Funkel (above, right) and Bayer 05 Uerdingen celebrate their shock win over Bayern in 1985. This was the first German Cup final to be played in the Olympic Stadium after the decision had been taken to move the final permanently to Berlin. The success meant the underdogs qualified for Europe and a few months later they upset East German powerhouse Dynamo Dresden 7-3.

Hamburg triumphed in 1987 beating Stuttgart Kickers 3-1 thanks in part to a freekick from Manfred Kaltz (photo) and an own goal. This was the last time that Hamburg won a major trophy. Kickers goalkeeper Armin Jäger lost his second final in a row. He had been in goal for VfB Stuttgart in the final one year earlier when they were beaten by Bayern.

The 1989 final is one that Borussia Dortmund fans will never forget. Norbert Dickel (photo) scored twice in their 4-1 win over Werder Bremen. The forward had been suffering from a serious knee injury but managed to play in the final. A few months later he was forced to retire from football due to the injury.

Gladbach were the clear favorites against second-division side Hannover in 1992. However, the underdogs prevailed in a penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Jörg Sievers (photo) saving two spot kicks. They weren't so successful in the European Cup Winners' Cup in the following season, getting knocked out by Werder Bremen in the first round.

Since the final was moved to Berlin, Hertha fans have been waiting for their side to make it to the showpiece contest. Hertha's first team have never made it but the club's reserves did reach the final in 1993. Bayer Leverkusen beat Hertha's reserves 1-0. Among those who lined up for Hertha was Carsten Ramelow (above, fifth from right), who would move to Leverkusen in 1995.

Kaiserslautern had just been relegated from the Bundesliga when they faced Karlsruhe in the 1996 final. Martin Wagner beat goalkeeper Claus Reitmaier with a free kick in the 42nd minute (photo) to put the Red Devils ahead. Despite being down to 10 men for the last 18 minutes due to Andreas Brehme having been sent off for a second bookable offense, Kaiserslautern held on for a 1-0 win.

Twenty minutes into the 1998 final, Duisburg looked as if they might be on their way to upsetting Bayern Munich after Bachirou Salou had scored the opening goal. In the 66th minute, former Duisburg player Michael Tarnat brutally fouled Salou, who tried to soldier on, but was eventually subbed off. Bayern tied the match while he was being tended to on the sidelines, and went on to win 2-1.

Two-and-a-half weeks after their last-gasp defeat to Manchester United in the 1999 Champions League final, Bayern Munich suffered more heartache. Werder Bremen goalkeeper Frank Rost (pictured above, second from left) scored against Oliver Kahn and saved Lothar Matthäus' shot to win the penalty shootout - and the German Cup.

Stuttgart's Brazlian-born Cacau (second from left) scored the goal that put his team up 1-0 against Nuremberg in the 2007 final. Later he lost it, punching an opponent in the stomach, for which he was sent off. Later, Stuttgart's Fernando Meira (left) should have been given a red for a brutal foul on Nuremberg striker Marek Mintal. Nuremberg won 3-2.

In 2012 Bayern were suddenly only the second best team in German football. Borussia Dortmund were Bundesliga champions completed the double with a 5-2 win over their rivals in the Cup final. Future Bayern forward Robert Lewandowski bagged a hat trick - enough to convince Bayern to sign him.

Yussef Poulsen celebrates his second goal of the game, Leipzig's third, in only the 16th minute of the match. The Dane had opened the scoring with less than 90 seconds on the clock, the result of a blistering Leipzig start in Düsseldorf. The result means Leipzig move back into the Champions League spots.

Julian Brandt and Kai Havertz celebrate at the final whistle after Leverkusen's dominant win over high-flying Wolfsburg. Havertz became the youngest penalty scorer in a Bundesliga match for more than 13 years when he opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime. Kevin Volland and Brandt added to the score in the second half as Peter Bosz got his first win in his second game in charge.

The scoreline doesn't tell the full story of a game that Stuttgart looked like they might get something out of. After Donis scored a brilliant goal to equalizer, it took the arrival of Serge Gnabry and a fortunate deflection to restore Bayern's lead. Even then, Stuttgart hit the post and Lewandowski missed a penalty but eventually Stuttgart succumbed. Bayern reclaimed second spot.

Axel Witsel jumps for joy after spanking in a late screamer in Dortmund's rout of Hannover. The big Belgian's had his scoring boots on in recent weeks and was one of five different Dortmund scorers on Matchday 19. Achraf Hakimi, Marco Reus, Mario Götze and Raphael Guerreiro also notched for the league leaders.

Max Eggestein slides on his knees after scoring a cracking goal for Werder Bremen. The 22-year-old midfielder dribbled passed three Frankfurt defenders before slotting home the game's opening goal. But Ante Rebic nullified the home side's advantage eight minutes later. Harnik restored Bremen's lead in the second half only for Sebastien Haller to level the score again from the spot.

Patrick Herrmann slams an absolute screamer into the top corner of the Augsburg net to guarantee victory in the dying minutes of this hard-fought showdown. It was only the winger's second goal of the season, but provided some much needed relief as Gladbach recorded back-to-back wins in the Bundesliga. The result keeps them in touch of second-placed Bayern.

Referee Bibiana Steinhaus watches on as Andrej Kramaric of Hoffenheim scores the first of his two strikes in this six-goal thriller. Freiburg dared to get back into the game, but the Croatian World Cup finalist proved the difference. Kramaric has been in top form this season, slotting eight times in 15 Bundesliga games as his club aim to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Daniel Brosinksi slots home from the spot to give Mainz an early lead over strugglers Nuremberg. It was the right-back's first goal of the season and although Nuremberg also scored from a set-piece, Robin Quaison stole in to score a winner 17 minutes from time. Mainz are now 13 points clear of the relegation playoff spot, whereas Nuremberg stay rock bottom.

A feisty game at the Olympiastadion was the curtain-raiser for Bundesliga Matchday 19. All the goals came in an open first half, with the visitors taking the lead through Yevhen Konoplyanka's curler. Hertha replied with a slick move and finish by Marko Grujic but Schalke when Mark Uth rattled in a fins strike from distance. Hertha levelled for the second time though through Vedad Ibisevic.