The wartime Allies initially worked together under the auspices of the Allied Control Council (ACC) for Germany.[11] Cooperation between the Western Allies and the Soviets ultimately broke down because of disagreements over Germany's political and economic future. In May 1949, the three western occupation zones were merged to form the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) with a freely elected government. In October, the Soviet zone was proclaimed the German Democratic Republic (GDR), under communist rule.[12]