The DR Class ET 168 (until 1941: Type "Oranienburg") was the second electric multiple unit that operated on the newly electrified Berlin S-Bahn lines.

17 trainsets in total were ordered by the Deutsche Reichsbahn in 1925 for delivery into the northern suburbs of Berlin.

In 1920 the Prussian state railways ordered six test trains, which were first pulled by steam locomotives until electrification commenced in 1923.

To service all electrified connections, Deutsche Reichsbahn purchased 34 power cars and 51 trailers in total.

In everyday operation, however, the engines soon proved to be too weak and already in 1925 upgraded versions (the later DR Class ET 168 and ET 165) were ordered in large numbers.