The V V was developed as the successor to the V, which had been in production since 1859, with the first V standing for the generic class "Roman five" and the second for the compound engine. These were six-coupled freight locomotives without carrying axles. 

The boiler was not perfectly circular in cross-section and was slightly narrower at the rear to accommodate the firebox within the frame. In keeping with the times, its pressure was increased by three to twelve bar compared to type V. Distinctive features of the boiler were the very high steam dome with a hemispherical ceiling on the second boiler section and the relatively high sand dome on the first. The valve gear was of the Allan type and was located within the frame. Initially, only a Heberlein brake was used as a brake, which was actuated by a cable pull. Some of the engines were later converted to Westinghouse air brakes.

By 1901, 164 pieces were made, some of which were built in Chemnitz and some in Vienna. A curiosity was an additional locomotive, which was built in 1920 with a boiler that was actually intended for the Turkish State Railways. It was thus created 61 years after the start of series production of the underlying model. It was a few tons heavier than its predecessors and a Westinghouse brake was installed ex works.

After the First World War, 14 engines came to Poland and were designated Th101 there, another eight were taken over by the Belgian State Railways. The Reichsbahn was able to include 130 class V V locomotives in its inventory and gave them the numbers from 53 601 to 53 751 with a few gaps. Their end of service overtook them in the following years, so that by 1930 all without exception had been scrapped. This also included the single engine manufactured later, which was less than ten years old.