Apart from the rye (Secale cereale L.) genome, the short arm of rye chromosome 1 (1RS) is present in triticale and in hundreds of wheat varieties world wide as the 1BL.1RS wheat-rye translocation. This chromosome contains several genes inducing resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Some authors also suggested on this chromosome arm the presence of genes enhancing yield and being responsible for better adaptation. Genetic and physical maps are important tools for genome research but also for plant breeding. Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are the preferred molecular markers for constructing genetic maps, because they are easy-to-use, reliable, and show co-dominant segregation. So far, only few SSR markers were available for the rye genome in general, and for 1RS in particular. The aim of this study was to construct a new physical and genetic map of 1RS based on 119 newly developed 1RS specific SSR markers. Using 12 1RS deletion lines 103 of these markers were physically mapped along the chromosome arm. In a mapping population of 192 F2 plants created by crossing three inbred lines of rye 22 of the markers could be genetically mapped.