Volkseigener Betrieb
Brandenburg was part of the "Sowjetische Besatzungszone" (SBZ or Soviet occupation zone) from 1945 and the "Deutsche Demokratische Republik" (DDR or German Democratic Republic) from 1949. The Volkseigener Betrieb Industriewerke Ludwigsfelde was founded on 1 March 1952. Initially it made marine diesel engines, machine tools and machine elements. Assembly of Multicar M21 "Diesel-Ameise" ("diesel ant") vehicles was transferred to Ludwigsfelde from the "Schmiedewerk Roßwein" ("Roßwein Forge Works") in Saxony. In 1953 IWL became involved in the development of motor scooters, which entered production in 1954.