The DFS 230 was a German military assault glider developed in the 1930s by the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug (DFS), or German Research Institute for Sailplane Flight. It was designed to transport troops and equipment silently into combat zones and became the Luftwaffe’s standard assault glider during World War II. The glider played a significant role in several early-war German operations and was notable for its compact design, precision landing ability, and role in pioneering airborne tactics.
The DFS 230 was conceived in response to the growing interest in airborne warfare, particularly the need to transport soldiers and light equipment into battle zones quickly and without alerting the enemy. First flown in 1937, the DFS 230 was a high-wing, strut-braced monoplane with a fixed landing skid and tailwheel. Its fuselage was made largely of wood and fabric, making it lightweight but strong enough to carry a payload of approximately 1,200 kilograms. It typically carried a pilot and up to nine fully armed troops or equivalent cargo.
Because it was a glider, the DFS 230 had no engine and required a tow aircraft to bring it to altitude. Common tow planes included the Junkers Ju 52 and later the Heinkel He 111. Once released near the landing zone, the glider would glide silently to its destination. A notable feature of the DFS 230 was its dive brakes, which allowed for steep, controlled descents and accurate landings in confined areas—a significant advantage during surprise assaults.
Operational use
The glider saw its first major operational use during the German assault on the Belgian fortress of Eben-Emael in May 1940. In this daring operation, DFS 230 gliders carried German paratroopers directly onto the roof of the fortress, allowing them to neutralize its defenses from within. The success of this mission demonstrated the effectiveness of glider-borne troops and marked a turning point in airborne assault strategy.
Following Eben-Emael, the DFS 230 was used in several other campaigns, including the Battle of Crete in 1941 and operations in North Africa and the Eastern Front. One of the last major action of the DFS 230 glider was the liberation of Benito Mussolini from imprisonment in the Italian mountains with the 2nd Parachute Division and the 502nd SS Jäger Battalion led by Otto Skorenzy during the Gran Sasso raid (German codenamed Unternehmen Eiche). However, as the war progressed, the vulnerabilities of gliders became more apparent. They were often difficult to recover, susceptible to crash landings, and their tow aircraft were vulnerable during approach and release. Despite this, the DFS 230 remained in service throughout the war due to its reliability and the lack of suitable alternatives.
Specification DFS 230 A
The DFS 230 glider was secretly built between 1969 and 1939. Its first flight was in 1937.Several variants of the DFS 230 were produced, including versions with improved landing gear, defensive armament, and structural reinforcements. A few were even modified to be towed by vehicles or winched into the air for training purposes.
In our photos is a DFS 230 A seen in the Militärhistorisches Museum Flugplatz Berlin-Gatow in 2016 with a Length of 11,24 m, a width of 22,30m and a height of 2,74 m. It had one pilot and 9 Paratroopers and weighed 860 kg empty, and in combat weight 2100 kg. It had a top speed towed of 210 km/h (normally 180 km/h), and a never exceed speed in glide of 290 km/h. The DFS 230 was armed with one MG 15 or two MG 34 7,92mm machine guns.
In total seven variants of the DFS 230 were made, an A1 and A2 version, B1 and B2, C1, D1 up to F1- a larger version with capacity for 15 soldiers (only one prototype was made). Focke adjusted one fuselage into the Focke-Achgelis Fa 225, a single seat rotary wing glider (1942).
