Soviet Military Administration in Germany
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.