The Saxon Class XII H2 steam locomotives (also nicknamed Sächsischer Rollwagen or 'Saxon rollers') were bought by the Royal Saxon State Railways (Königlich Sächsische Staatseisenbahnen) specifically for the mountainous areas of Saxony.

The Deutsche Reichsbahn took over 124 of these engines as the DRG Class 38.2-3 (the others had been lost during the First World War or had to be given away as reparations) and gave them operating numbers 38 201 to 38 324.

During the Second World War 15 of the Class XII H2s that had been given to France returned to Germany and were stationed again in the Reichsbahn division of Dresden.

As a result, after the war only about a half the original fleet of these engines was left in Germany.

Five of the locomotives returned from France went into the East German Deutsche Reichsbahn where they were allocated operating numbers 38 204 and 38 351 to 38 354.