In mid-1914, Oskar Ursinus, the founder and editor of the German flying magazine Flugsport, began designing a large twin-engine seaplane of unconventional configuration.

[3][4] Ursinus was conscripted into the army on 1 August 1914 and little over a week later, presented his commanding officer, Major Helmut Friedel, with the seaplane design adapted into a Kampfflugzeug (battle aircraft) intended for ground attack duties.

[5] Apart from the aerodynamic benefits claimed by Ursinus, the aircraft's unorthodox layout provided excellent views for the three crewmen and broad fields of fire for the gunner.

[1] The design also matched the specifications that Inspektion der Fliegertruppen (Idflieg, Inspectorate of Flying Troops) had issued in March that year for a "Type III" large military aircraft, and Friedel ordered the construction of a prototype.

[11] The final batch was powered by 120 kW (160 hp) Mercedes D.III engines and featured an extra defensive machine gun and nearly double the armor of previous examples.

By the time it reached the front, the Gotha G.I was already an easy target for faster and more maneuverable fighters and the few pilot recollections that have survived are largely unfavourable to the type.