Along with the development of the G12 class five-axle coupled-drive freight locomotive, there was a need for a quadruple-coupled motor for medium duty. Therefore, the 1'Dh3 locomotives of the G8.3 group were derived from the 1'Eh3 locomotive of the G.12 group.

However, these locomotives held well below expectations in terms of performance and consumption, so much so that after 85 units built, preference was given to the simpler two-cylinder type G8.2 (1'Dh2).A total of 846 locomotives of this type left the workshops of various German locomotive plants before 1928.

The main areas of activity were central and western Germany in the directions of Cologne, Essen, Hanover, Münster, Altona, Magdeburg and Halle (Saale). There they mostly supported high-quality freight traffic, but were also used for passenger trains.