Post First World War, Germany was forbidden the production of new military aircraft (and ships and tanks, but that’s for other day). To bypass this, starting the 1920s, the country focused on the production of commercial aircraft and other “airliners,” while also training the future crews of military aircraft in airfields in Soviet Russia.
Thus, in 1931, after a big family of smaller airliners, the first Ju 52 flew for the first time, this being the Ju 52/1m (for Ein Motor, one engine). A year later, the first Ju 52/3m (Drei Motor, three engines) came out of the Junkers factory. This three engined aircraft became the airliner, capable of carrying 17 passengers. With the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party in Germany, Junkers was instructed to develop a military version.
In constant production between 1931 and 1952, total production was of more or less 4800 aircraft, both of the airliner and the military version.
The 52 flew with many civilian operators, which is the focus of this topic. Users were: Argentina (Líneas Aéreas del Estado), Austria (Austrian Airlines), Bolivia (Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano), United Kingdom (BOAC, BEA), Switzerland (Ju Air) and Germany (Lufthansa). Air France is also mentioned as a user, but the only IRL photos I found were of the Toucan in use with the French Air Force.
Photo is mine, and was taken at Berlin’s Technik Museum in 2012.