This organization was formed by the 1926 merger of two German automobile manufacturers, Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes, and Benz. Daimler was one of the first manufacturers of automobile engines. Its earliest aircraft engines, beginning in 1888, propelled airships. The famous line of Mercedes aircraft engines dates back to 1909, beginning with four-cylinder, water-cooled, in-line types. Later developments incorporated Benz designs.

The DB 600, first of the 600 series of engines manufactured by Daimler-Benz, appeared in November of 1937. The DB-600 was an inverted V-12 liquid-cooled (apparently either water or glycol) engine. In the years prior to and during World War II, additional 600 series models were developed.

The DB 610 is comprised of two DB 605 engines mounted side by side and geared to drive one propeller shaft. It was used in later versions of the Heinkel He 177 bomber during the war. This artifact is enclosed in a complete He 177 engine nacelle.