At the end of World War II, Germany was divided into zones to ensure that Germany would not again be in a position powerful enough to attack other European nations. The part of Germany given to the Soviet Union to control was called East Germany. Dresden, which originally meant "people of the riverside forest," is the capital of the state of Saxony, a state that was a part of that newly designated area of East Germany. Situated in a valley on the Elbe River, in east central Germany, not far from the Czech Republic, Dresden was severely damaged by bombing raids during World War II. However, ever since Germany's reunification, Dresden has been growing back into its role as an important cultural, political and economical center.

Did you know that along with Coventry, England, Dresden became the first Twin City? This bonding of friendship took place after World War II as an act of reconciliation since both cities had been nearly destroyed by all the bombing activities. Today, 63 percent of Dresden is made up of green areas and forests, making it one of Europe's greenest cities. Dresden is also an art center. Its lovely buildings that reflect off the water at night remind many Europeans of Venice. It is a city, still though, that remains quite undiscovered by Americans.

Dresden and the nearby town of Meissen are renowned as the first places in Europe where porcelain was manufactured, back in the early 1700s. Today, people visit Meissen to see the Albrechtsburg Castle and its 13th and 14th century gothic cathedrals, but the name Meissen first and foremost stands for a standard of excellence and a certain style of delicate painted porcelain. In fact, old Meissen can be extremely valuable. Meissen was originally so highly regarded that the manufacturer decided to create a logo to protect the product. This image of crossed swords is maybe the first business logo that ever came into being.