Between 1936 and 1940, a new line of fortifications was built on the western border of the German Reich by the National Socialist regime, involving up to 500,000 people.
More than 17,000 bunkers and several hundred kilometres of tank obstacles were built. An air defence zone was also built. Nazi propaganda declared the fortification system, called the "Westwall", to be a guarantor of peace, but in reality it was a shield to the West so that wars for living space could be waged in the East without danger.

In 1944/45, the Westwall helped to prolong the war by about 4 months, causing the deaths of many victims of the Nazi regime.

Two technically different hump lines (concrete tank obstacles) have been preserved near Großkampenberg.They accompany the two parts of the Westwall hiking trail Islek through the landscape.

Information boards along the trail explain not only these barriers, but also a variety of topics related to the Westwall.