Dragon's Teeth were anti-tank fortifications that were used extensively during World War II. The obstacles were shaped like large square pyramids and were from reinforced concrete and re-bar.[1] Although they did not immobilize tanks or other vehicles very often, they could prove a hindrance to the overall momentum of progress.
Purpose and Function[]
The primary purpose of dragon's teeth was not to utterly stop tanks, but rather to slow them down, channel their movement, and disrupt their formation, forcing them into pre-determined "killing zones" where they could be engaged by anti-tank weapons, artillery, or other defenses.
They achieve this by:
- Immobilization: The staggered rows of concrete pyramids are designed to lift a tank's tracks off the ground, causing it to become stuck or "bellied out," rendering it immobile.
- Diversion: By creating impassable barriers across open terrain, they force tanks to detour through specific, often heavily defended, gaps or choke points.
- Delay: Even if a tank could eventually overcome the obstacles (e.g., by using specialized engineering vehicles or explosives), the process would consume valuable time and resources, allowing defenders to prepare or reinforce their positions.
- Exposure: When tanks attempt to cross these obstacles, their vulnerable underbellies or sides can become exposed to defensive fire.
Construction and Design[]
- Material: Dragon's teeth are typically constructed from reinforced concrete, making them incredibly durable and resistant to conventional artillery fire and small arms.
- Shape: They are usually square-pyramidal or truncated pyramidal blocks, set in multiple, staggered rows.
- Size: Each individual "tooth" typically stands between 90 to 120 cm (3 to 4 ft) tall, though some could be larger.
- Foundation: They are not simply placed on the surface but rest on a wide concrete mat, often sunk a meter or two into the ground. This foundation prevents attempts to tunnel underneath them or to easily dislodge them with explosives.
- Arrangement: The rows are offset to create a dense, irregular pattern that is difficult for tanks to navigate. There might be four to eight "teeth" deep in a given section, making a formidable barrier.
- Combined Defenses: Dragon's teeth were almost always part of a larger, integrated defensive system. This often included:
- Minefields: Laid in front of or between the teeth to further deter or disable vehicles.
- Anti-tank ditches (Devil's Dykes): Dug in conjunction with the teeth to create an even more significant obstacle.
- Barbed wire: To impede accompanying infantry.
- Pillboxes and bunkers: Strategically placed to provide interlocking fields of fire over the dragon's teeth, targeting any vehicle that became stuck or troops attempting to clear a path.
- Anti-tank guns: Positioned to engage tanks funneled into the killing zones.
Historical Use (World War II)[]
- Siegfried Line (Westwall): The Germans made extensive use of dragon's teeth along the Siegfried Line, their defensive line on the western border, facing France and the Low Countries. These lines stretched for hundreds of kilometers and incorporated thousands of these obstacles.
- Atlantic Wall: They were also employed on parts of the Atlantic Wall, the German coastal defenses against an Allied invasion.
- Other European Theatres: Various Allied nations, including the United Kingdom, also constructed dragon's teeth as part of their anti-invasion defenses in 1940-1941. France utilized them in the Maginot Line.
- Effectiveness: While they didn't single-handedly stop invasions, dragon's teeth did prove effective in slowing down Allied armored advances, particularly through the Siegfried Line. American and British forces often had to use combat engineers to blast gaps through the lines, a dangerous and time-consuming process under enemy fire.
Post-WWII and Modern Relevance[]
Due to their robust construction, many thousands of WWII-era dragon's teeth can still be seen today, especially in Germany along the former Siegfried Line.
While less common as a primary anti-tank defense in modern warfare (due to advances in breaching technology, heavier tanks, and precision munitions), the concept of using fixed obstacles to channel or delay enemy vehicles remains valid. In recent conflicts, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine, "dragon's teeth" have seen a resurgence, notably in defensive lines constructed by Russian forces, sometimes referred to as "Wagner pyramids." Modern versions may also be movable, positioned at strategic roadside locations to be deployed when needed.
The term "dragon's teeth" has also entered civilian language to describe rows of posts or bollards used to deter vehicle access or even as a type of triangular road marking used for traffic calming.