Yes, it's not a tree, it's a spy post. During World War I, engineers built this replica tree out of steel, with every crooked branch and broken piece of wood, to replace a real, destroyed tree near the trenches. The idea was to hide a soldier in it and secretly observe enemy movements. The tree had to be so similar that it wouldn't be a target for the enemy, so it was turned into the darkness of night, and at the same time made a noise to distract attention. Once it was installed, it blended perfectly into the battlefield landscape and helped provide soldiers with a hidden vantage point.