DKW first developed its twin-cylinder watercooled two-stroke engine in 1929 for its Z500 motorcycle. The motorcycle wasn't a success, but the engine was repurposed for DKW's F1 small car. That car was an enormous success and the engine was rapidly developed from 500cc to a standard 700cc version developing 18 horsepower. This was DKW's workhorse engine, put into numerous uses, including as a stationary engine, boat motor and even as an aircraft engine.
DKW engineers attempted to increase the engine's power by reboring the cylinders to 550cc, creating an engine of 1100cc capacity. Although the engine put out 28 horsepower, its performance was considered 'sloppy' so it was relegated to industrial use as a stationary motor. The DKW ZW1101 was in production from 1936 to 1942.
After the war and division of Germany, DKW's engine plant at Zschopau was nationalized by the East German government to become IFA Motorradwerk DKW VEB. IFA Zschopau continued manufacturing DKW motorcycle and stationary engines, including the trusty 700cc engine used in the IFA F8 cars and the ZW1101 industrial motor. The ZW1103 variant was specially adapted for use as a fire-engine pump and as an electrical generator. In the early 1950s the stationary motor lines were relocated to the VEB Barkaswerks (the former Framo plant) in Hainchen. By this stage, the old ZW1101 and 1103 had been retired.
VEB Barkaswerk export brochure: https://dkwautounionproject.blogspot.com/2019/06/1964-barkas-prospectus.html
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