The British Camouflage Tree Observation Post of WWI

This is a British camouflage tree observation post on display at the Imperial War Museum in London, which was used on the Western Front during World War I.

In stalemate, the war had become very long and slow. The armies had to begin to be creative with war tactics since neither side would leave their trenches.

A real tree in no man's land , with its branches blown off, was sketched by a soldier-artist from the Royal Engineers' camouflage unit.

 

 

A replica tree with a steel core was then made behind the lines. The real tree was removed at night and replaced with the fake one.
The observer could then crawl up inside it and watch the German lines.

 

 

These camouflage trees stood in full view of the Germans, but their secret purpose was never discovered.