The Rohrbach Roland was one of the first commercial aircraft produced for Deutsche Luft Hansa, which was seeking to re-equip with modern types. The Roland, which entered service in 1927, was a successful design, and six examples were operated by the German airline. In 1929 it was followed by the more powerful Roland II. Both types were high-wing tri-motor monoplanes and were the brainchildren of Adolf Rohrbach.

The prototype of the Rohrbach Ro VIII Roland airliner, presumably photographed soon after its first flight. The airframe was delivered to Lufthansa with the name Zugspitze, but soon moved on to Spain to become M-CAAC, one of the first aircraft of Iberia. Returned to Germany in August 1928 and rebuilt as Ro VIIIMb bomber. Photo from: SLUB / Deutsche Fotothek