After the success of the 1940 airborne assaults involving the DFS 230, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM/German Aviation Ministry) invited the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug/DFS and Gotha to submit plans for a larger capacity glider.

[3] The visibility from the cockpit was good, with the entire nose being glazed, and the body was very wide, allowing it to carry light Flak guns and small military vehicles.

The best glide ratio, at fully loaded weight, was 17.5.

[3] Data from Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945,[4] German gliders in World War II[5]General characteristics Performance Armament

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