An electrolytic cell for polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis with a cathode half-cell and an anode half-cell is provided. The cathode half-cell and the anode half-cell being separated from one another by a polymer electrolyte membrane. The anodic half-cell has a gas diffusion layer. The gas diffusion layer is made from a fine-meshed metallic carrier material. An anodic catalyst layer with an anodic catalyst material is applied onto the polymer electrolyte membrane. The anodic catalyst layer is arranged adjacent to the gas diffusion layer, wherein a thin protective layer is applied in each case locally and selectively onto the fine-meshed carrier material in the area of the contact points between the gas diffusion layer and the adjoining anodic catalyst layer. The thin protective layer comprises iridium and/or iridium oxide so that the input of anodic catalyst material into the gas diffusion layer is inhibited.