Imperial War Museums - The Camouflage Tree

 

A canvas and steel tree observation post near Souchez, France, May 1918. Concealment and deception have always been a part of warfare. Spies, Lies and Deception, a free, must-see exhibition at IWM London, explores the role of deception and espionage in conflict from the First World War to the present day. Find out more.  During the First World War the proximity of opposing trenches and the advent of aerial photography made detecting enemy troops far easier. Armies on all sides needed new ways to see without being seen. The pioneers of such techniques were the French, who were the first to create a camouflage unit in 1915. Camouflage comes from the French verb 'to make up for the stage' and practitioners were often called 'camouflers'. The British were always learning from the French and elected to set up a camouflage unit of their own. The unit was part of the Royal Engineers and was named the Special Works Park, an act of camouflage in itself. Those with artistic skills such as sculptors, architects, artists and set painters were recruited for this new unit. Those with practical skills such as metal workers and carpenters were also enlisted.  By this time, the war on the Western Front had become bogged down into a stalemate. To break the deadlock, allied soldiers needed to be able to see the enemy and read their movements. (continues below)   IWM In Conversation With A series of special events at IWM London inspired by Spies, Lies and Deception.  Join our special guest authors, historians and journalists for talks, book signings and exclusive after-hours exhibition entry. Hear the story of a legendary MI5 spymaster, explore intelligence gathering during the Cold War and discover inspirational stories of women in war in celebration of Women's History Month. Find Out More       The solution was the camouflage tree, a fake piece of shrubbery with an observation post hidden inside. This would allow allied soldiers to monitor enemy movements from a concealed elevated position. Putting the idea into practice, however, was extremely difficult. Enemy observers would be watching for any changes on their front line. For this reason, the fake trees needed to be identical to those they were replacing.  To ensure an identical replica, artists were required to sketch the target tree under cover of darkness. These sketches were turned into small models from which the full-size trees were produced.  Installation of the trees was even more difficult, with the original tree being cut down and replaced with the replica. Artillery fire had to be deployed to hide the noise. Once in place, the trees would remain in position for months, or even years. Only about 45 were known to have been deployed by the British, and - of these - at least six were destroyed by shellfire. Yet the camouflage tree was just the beginning. As the war went on, many more ingenious designs grew from its roots.   Spies, Lies and Deception IWM London, until 14 April 2024 "a fascinating look at the tricks, and dangers, of espionage" ★★★★★  The Telegraph Through over 150 objects, newly digitised film and photography, plus specially commissioned interviews, explore how plots of deception have changed the course of conflict and the lives of those involved.  Find Out More       IWM 2024 Programme IWM will open a major new temporary exhibition exploring the psychology of conflict as part of our 2024 programme.  Ministry of Information poster from 1939 Opening in Autumn 2024, War and the Mind will explore the perceptions, methods of persuasion, and mental consequences of war and conflict. The exhibition will invite visitors to rethink war through a psychological lens. IWM will also present an exhibition of the celebrated conflict photographer Tim Hetherington's most engaging work. Storyteller: Photography by Tim Hetherington will open at IWM London in Spring 2024.  Northern Ireland: Living with the Troubles will travel to IWM North in Spring 2024, following its successful run at IWM London. Visitors will be invited to explore the Troubles through the perspectives of individuals affected. 2024 will also see IWM mark 80 years since D-Day, when Allied forces launched a combined naval, air and land assault on Nazi-occupied France, through a range of events and family activities taking place across our branches. IWM will also be marking 150 years since the birth of Winston Churchill. A new exhibition, Churchill in Cartoons at IWM London, will offer a snapshot into Churchill’s representation in political cartoons through a display of original artwork. Visit our website to discover more about what you can expect at IWM in 2024.