RLM numbering system for gliders and sailplanes

Contrary to the methods used by the Reich Air Ministry (RLM) for the allocation of aircraft designations, the designers and manufacturers of sailplanes and gliders in Germany enjoyed the freedom of choosing their own designations for their products up until 1945.

Thus a bird name like "Habicht" could be used, or a number combined with two or more letters, stemming from the designer's or factory's name, such as DFS, RRG or Göppingen. The RLM only assigned them for every design a separate number, which obviously served the same purposes as that used with aircraft, namely to provide a common basis for an exchange of drawings in the event of an intended production under license by other firms or by clubs, or even single persons and to secure the provision of spare parts. A rigid system of rules for the form and order of drawings was applied.

As regards the structure of the following list, it is obvious, that the numbering began with 10, comparable with the RLM aircraft designations. This first number was allocated to a rather antiquated primary glider, the Grunau 9 or ESG 29, also called the "Schädelspalter" ("Skull splitter"), which was still in use in considerable numbers at that time.