Several hundred years ago, wealthy princes across all of Europe created "Wunderkammer" – curiosity cabinets for display, teaching, and learning. Cabinets usually contained a wide variety of natural and manmade items from across the globe; the goal of such a cabinet was not just to display the wonders of the world but also to explain their providence and importance. This website is a virtual curiosity cabinet devoted to the German Democratic Republic. Where was East Germany?  Who lived there?  What was life like for them?  Why was Germany divided into two countries? This website is divided into two main sections: the curiosity cabinet on the right highlights ordinary objects from the GDR; the text on the left explains various aspects of the GDR. You need Flash to enter.