When a gap between the V 60 shunting locomotive and the V 180 main line locomotive became noticeable in the GDR diesel locomotive range, a V 100 with a power output of around 1,000 hp was proposed. It was originally intended to be used for both shunting and route service. However, since the existing shunting locomotives were finally considered sufficient, the V 100 was only designed as a mainline locomotive.
The engine used was the 12 KVD 18/21 A3, which was also installed twice in the V 180. The first prototype had 900 hp, but the final version with 1,000 hp was already used in the second. The originally planned use as a shunting locomotive was noticeable in the fact that there was only one driver's cab, which was moved towards the middle. The engine and the cooling system were housed in the larger front hood, while the smaller rear hood housed various auxiliary machinery, the electrical equipment and the boiler. The torque converter was below the driver's cab and transmitted the power to the two bogies.
When the computer numbers were introduced in 1970, the V 100 became the class 110, with the 10 indicating the power output of 1,000 hp. Between 1981 and 1990, around 500 units became the class 112 with the installation of the new 12 KVD 18/21 AL4 engine with 1,200 hp. A further 65 units were made between 1983 and 1991 with the 12 KVD 18/21 AL5, initially with 1,400 and later 1,500 hp equipped and designated as the class 114. Today the three variants are listed as the classes 201, 202 and 204.
Soon after German reunification, the original series of the V 100 began to be phased out. This was accelerated by the fact that the locomotives, now known as the class 201, tended to sway unacceptably on the renewed tracks and therefore quickly became unpopular. The top speed, which was then reduced to 80 km/h, also considerably restricted the possible uses on main lines. However, many were modernized and equipped with significantly more powerful engines, so that they were bought by a large number of smaller railway companies and are still in use today. In addition, six of the original ten class 1998 locomotives are still in use on the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways, which have been converted to meter gauge.