The V 15 was a light two-axle diesel shunter built by LKM Babelsberg for the Reichsbahn, for private operators and for export. It was based on the diesel-mechanical V 10 B with 100 hp, but this did not satisfy the demands of the Reichsbahn. So LKM developed a variant with 150 hp and hydraulic transmission. With only a single-stage torque converter, it had a top speed of 32 km/h. Now it was ordered by the Reichsbahn, but also by the industry and for export.

From 1960, these locomotives were delivered with an increased output of 180 hp. The manufacturer now called it V 18 B, but the DR just numbered them starting with V 15 2001, while the first batch started with V 15 1001. A total of 473 locomotives of the 150 and 180 hp variants were built until 1964. 262 of these went to the DR and also replaced small steam locomotives in shunting service. 50 also went into export.

After a prototype called V 22 B with 220 hp that was built in 1966, a new production variant with the same output was introduced by the Reichsbahn in 1968 as V 23. It had a completely new engine and a two-stage torque converter for a top speed of 55 km/h. A total of 671 were built of which only 80 went to the DR. From 1975, many V 15 were also rebuilt in this form. In 1970 they became classes 101 and 102. Some even came to the DB AG as classes 311 and 312. The last one was withdrawn in 2001.