German Economic Commission

The German Economic Commission (German: Deutsche Wirtschaftskommission or DWK) was the top administrative body in the Soviet Occupation Zone of Germany prior to the creation of the German Democratic Republic (German: Deutsche Demokratische Republik).

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-19000-4055, Berlin, Leipziger Straße, Deutsche Wirtschaftskommission.jpg

The former Air Ministry building in Berlin, then named 'House of the DWK', was the seat of the German Economic Commission (DWK). The title above the pillars is Deutsche Wirtschaftskommission. Above this the DWK logo and a banner with the title 'The Two-Year Plan secures our future' can be seen. The banner on the right reads "Two-Year Plan = Work and Bread * Marshall Plan = Ruin and Despair". Date of photo: 8 January 1949.

The DWK was established in June 1947 by the Soviet Military Administration in Germany (German: Sowjetische Militäradministration in Deutschland or SMAD) as a central German auxiliary institution of the SMAD with the task of assisting the SMAD in the execution of economic affairs. The DWK was housed in the former Reich Air Ministry building in East Berlin, at Leipziger Strasse 7.

A SMAD order on 12 February 1948 granted the DWK legislative power to issue orders and directives to all German organs within the Soviet zone and converted it into a nascent state structure for all intents and purposes, with competence far beyond the economy proper, thus it became the predecessor of the eventual East German government. Heinrich Rau became chairman of the converted body and after a reorganisation, announced the new organisational structure on 9 March 1948.

The DWK ceased to exist on 7 October 1949 with the proclamation of the German Democratic Republic.

See also

• Heinrich Rau
• Merger of the KPD and SPD into the Socialist Unity Party of Germany
• German People's Congress
• German People's Council
• People's Control Commission