DarthJ opened this issue on Dec 15, 2010 · 635 posts
DarthJ posted Wed, 19 October 2011 at 7:19 PM
Aka Grenzmauer 75 or border wall 75 segment. Together with about 45000 other segments it formed the "Antifaschistischer Schützwall" according to one side, the "wall of shame" according to the other side.
This was the 4th and last generation of the Berlin wall, built between 1975 and 1989. Its colour when new whas a more "beautifying" concrete white, in an effort to enhance the wall's and thereby the whole country's image.
The element is about 3.60 m high, with a tube on top to avoid people getting grip and a foot to avoid vehicles breaking through (the foot would tip into the underside of the vehicle).
Some elements had small doors to inspect the other side. Paranoid as usual these doors could only be opened using 2 keys.
And then there were elements that* could* be taken down fast to allow the easy passage of East-German troops.
Easy passage of East-German troops ? That's right, they had plans for the invasion of West-Berlin, called "Operation Mitte". This invasion was exercised as "Operation Bordsteinkante" in 1986, 1987 and 1988 with the city of Magdeburg doubling for Berlin. However, the plan also involved breaking through the Berlin wall in 59 places. Bearing in mind that the definitive downfall of the Wall took place only 1-3 years later this seems a major mistake to me : how would the East-Germans have reacted when suddenly 59 holes in the Wall appeared ?
Of course NATO knew about these plans and had a defensive plan ready.
Anyway, the segment will soon be available as a freebie, then you can try it out for yourself.