A soldier on guard duty observes his surroundings in a fake tree, 1914-1918

 

A soldier on guard duty observes his surroundings in a fake tree, 1914-1918

Fake trees were a brand new method of observation in World War I and were used as a place for snipers to counter enemy troops or enemy snipers. These trees were constructed behind friendly lines. They were based on real trees in no man's land. They were modeled to look like a replica of a particular tree so that when it was replaced, there would be little to no difference, and this was done using measurements and sketches. These trees were built using steel, and then it was camouflaged. These trees were then transported to the front lines. The original bombed tree was removed, and the fake one was installed. It was anchored into the ground, and it had a small entrance at the bottom. They were established during the night to make it less noticeable. The noise of these trees being installed was made less obvious by artillery and gunfire. The French were the first to come up with the idea and later taught the British the art of making these trees. The Germans later discovered this tactic and used it later in the war. Dead models of horses were also used too though they were not as expected. Photographer: Unknown