In November 1948, the German Economic Commission ("Deutsche Wirtschaftskommission" – DWK) assumed administrative authority in East Germany under Soviet supervision. On 7 October 1949, the German People's Congress formed a provisional government and established the German Democratic Republic with Wilhelm Pieck as its first president. On 5 November 1949, the SMAD was abolished and replaced by the Soviet Control Commission ("Sowjetische Kontrolkommission" – SKK). However, the SKK did not formally turn over administrative responsibilities to the GDR government until 11 November 1949.