For 40 years, the Cold War dominated the international scene. East and West Germany were at the forefront of global confrontation, with the notorious Berlin Wall symbolizing the division of loved ones, friends, families, and colleagues. The Wende Museum in Los Angeles was founded in 2002, with the purpose of studying the visual and material culture of the former Eastern Bloc. This encyclopedic volume includes approximately 2,000 objects from its outstanding collections, offering a comprehensive view of the art, archives, and artifacts from socialist East Berlin. Accompanied by texts from scholars and specialists from across Europe, Canada, and the United States, the topics range from the secret police to sexuality. More than 800 pages, with photos of everyday life and public events from the most renowned photographers of the GDR. Special bilingual edition with texts in English and German.