The J.A. Maffei locomotive works of Munich was charged by the Bayerische Staatsbahn of the building of a first lot of articulated Mallet locomotives. The steep gradients found along the lines of South Germany required very powerful locos for freight service and at the same time a limited axle load was necessary. The German industry solved the problem, and, between 1913 and 1914, delivered 15 units of the Gt 2x4/, the biggest Mallet they ever built.
In the years immediately after the First World War, a further 10 almost identical units followed, but with wider coal bunkers. All these locos became part of the Deutsche Reichsbahn BR 96 group when this administration was established. In 1926 the high pressure cylinders were modified and the sand-domes were split in two.
