the berlin-karlsruher industrie werke (berka) was founded in 1920 as a successor to the deutsche waffen und munitionsfabriken ag, one of germany's largest munitions firms of the prewar era. under the regime of the versailles treaty the firm was forced to give up the manufacture of armaments, which had been its core business. most of the facilities that had grown up to meet the needs of war were reduced and berka carried on with factories in berlin and karlsruhe, manufacturing a variety of light metal goods.