’Dragon’s teeth’. ?nti-tank Obstacles

Concrete anti-tank obstacles, also known as ‘Dragon’s Teeth’, were first used during World War II. They are believed to have been invented in Finland as a means of defense against the armored vehicles of the Red Army. The purpose of these obstacles was not only to stop tanks and other armored vehicles but also to direct their movement into areas where they could be targeted by fire. These types of obstacles were widely used by all participants in the conflict, including neutral countries. For example, Switzerland also used similar obstacles, referring to them as Toblerone fortifications, due to their resemblance to the shape of the famous chocolate bars.

‘Dragon’s Teeth’ are still used today as engineering obstacles of a fortification type. Typically, they are made of concrete and have a tetrahedral shape, sometimes with the top corner cut off. A large number of such obstacles have been installed in Ukraine—both in areas where combat operations are taking place and in other regions of the country, as a protective measure in potentially dangerous zones