Antitank Ditch

a man-made obstacle in the form of a broad, deep earthen ditch dug in front of the forward line of a defensive position or in the depth of the defense to stop enemy tanks and destroy them by the fire of antitank weapons.

Breaks are left when digging the ditch, and the approaches to the ditch are mined and covered by all types of fire. Antitank ditches were used extensively in the first part of the Great Patriotic War of 1941‣45.