Grenzmauer 75 was the fourth-generation fortification that formed the main Berlin Wall. East Germany introduced this improved concrete design in the mid-1970s as part of a continuing effort to make escapes more difficult.
The name means “Border Wall 75,” referring to the period in which the design was developed and deployed. Its prefabricated reinforced-concrete segments were smoother and harder to climb than many earlier sections. A rounded concrete top reduced the usefulness of ladders and other climbing aids.
The Wall was not a single uninterrupted slab everywhere. It was a layered border system containing patrol roads, fences, lighting, watchtowers, anti-vehicle obstacles, and a controlled strip often called the death strip. The arrangement varied by location and changed over time.
Grenzmauer 75 is sometimes confused with the official political term Antifaschistischer Schutzwall, or “Antifascist Protection Wall.” That phrase described the state’s propaganda label, while Grenzmauer 75 identified a specific physical wall design.