The German Höckerlinie
A Höckerlinie is also known as Dragon- or Hitler’s teeth. It is a colloquial term for hump or tooth-shaped anti-tank barriers made of concrete, such as those used on the West Wall, Atlantic wall, Festungfront Oder-Warte-Bogen and more. Along with the Czech hedgehog, the Höckerlinie line is one of the most common anti-tank barriers around the world.
The aim of the Höckerlinie lines was to make tank attacks on bunker positions more difficult and the hope was that the enemy would concentrate on certain areas where their own defenses (tanks, anti-tank weapons) could then intervene. In order to deter infantry attacks and advancing demolition teams, the Höckerlinie lines were flanked by bunkers and additionally surrounded with wire barriers. To defend against tanks, there were deeply staggered alternating positions with concrete protective shields for the anti-tank weapons or mortars. With the more powerful tanks, the resistance of the obstacles had to be continually increased or an anti-tank ditch about 4.5 m wide had to be dug in front of them.
The enemy used various tactics to overcome the obstacles. The infantry usually advanced first across the Höckerlinie line under artillery fire, even with smoke screens, and formed a bridgehead in which the surrounding bunkers were fought down. A gap was then blown into the obstacle or covered with earth by engineer tanks so that the tanks could advance. Therefore the defenders placed all kinds of mines between the concrete obstacles and closed the openings with barbed wire. And a minefield was placed in front of the Höckerline with anti-personnel and anti-tank mines.
The bunkers behind the Höckerlinie covered the Dragon teeth line with all kinds of weaponry and they themself were covered with a second, possibly third or fourth layer of bunkers and obstacles.
Manufacturing
The bunkers were cast in concrete on site because their weight meant they could not be transported using the trucks of the time. Reinforced concrete has a high density of approximately 2.3 tons per cubic meter. The concrete bumps of the chariot obstacles were also cast on site. Underground there was a network of concrete beams that connected the Höckers, the dragon’s teeth, and added strength to the construction. These concrete mats stuck 1 to 2 meters into the ground to prevent tunneling and place explosives. A typical obstacle was between 90 and 120 cm high.
Fun fact
The Toblerone chocolate bar is named after the Swiss version of the Höcker Line.
Visit
The Höckerline is clearly seen from the Fortification museum and leads you to Panzerwerk 717 and Panzerwerk 716.
