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It looks like something straight out of a René Magritte gallery, but a black and white photo showing lines of trees floating over a dirt track is no surrealist masterpiece. Indeed, it’s not an optical illusion at all, but evidence of a carefully constructed war tactic. The picture was taken in 1941 by a Finnish photographer called Osvald Hedenström, as his nation tried to shield itself from the might of neighbouring Stalinist Russia during World War II. A year earlier, Finland had reluctantly agreed to fight alongside Nazi Germany in a bid to protect itself from Soviet invasion, and Hedenström was fighting under German command when he found himself beneath the mysterious levitating pines. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “The Finns didn’t have funds to buy artificial camouflage such as nets in vast quantities,” military historian Colonel Petteri Jouko told Atals Obscura, “So they used trees, leaves, and foliage to confuse the enemy.” Of course, camouflage is nothing new, and military fatigues are designed to mimic the colour and patterns of surrounding landscapes. But why are the trees suspended in thin air? And how on earth did they get them up there? According to Hedenström’s caption to the photo: “The Finns have camouflaged the road to Raate, about 10 km from Russia, with pines hanging in the air, because right on the border there is an observation tower erected by the Russians.” The trees were strategically placed to ensure that they wouldn’t block the road from a plane flying overhead, but could obscure the view from the nearby enemy tower. In fact, the pines were hung from wires which were connected to a series of poles (which, if you look carefully you can see), on the right-hand side of the road. Because of the angle of Hedenström’s snap, the cables on the first row of trees are hidden, which gives the impression that they’re being held up by sheer magic. The image is now part of the Finnish Defence Force’s photographic Archive, which contains some 160,000 photos captured between 1939 and 1945, when Finland fought two separate wars against the Soviet Union. It features other examples of clever concealment – thanks to Mother Nature – including a battleship which almost melts into surrounding forest land, and other examples of floating trees. In the end, Finland’s mastery of camouflage was among the key defences which helped it inflict humiliating losses on the Red Army and, ultimately, preserve its freedom. So, Vladimir Putin, take note: these guys know a thing or two about fighting off invasions. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Carlo Ancelotti admits he does not know what the future holds for Marco Asensio at Real Madrid but would be disappointed if the Spaniard left the club this summer. PSG are understood to be in advanced talks over a move on a free transfer.

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Newcastle may have beaten Paris Saint-Germain in their first Champions League game at St James’ Park in 20 years but the Magpies will want to back that up with a strong performance against Borussia Dortmund. Eddie Howe’s side are unbeaten in their group stages having secured a goalless draw away at AC Milan and stunning PSG 4-1 at home last time out. The Magpies have been a force to be reckoned with in English football but it remains to be seen how much a toll balancing the demands of the Premier League and Europe football is taking on a side without the depth of some of the other top sides. Dortmund have lost just one game in 11 matches all season, away at PSG in their Group F opener. Here’s everything you need to know about the fixture: When is Newcastle vs Borussia Dortmund? The match is on Wednesday 25 October with a kick off time of 8 pm BST. How can I watch it? Newcastle vs Dortmund will be shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 2 with coverage starting at 7 pm BST, the game can also be streamed via the Discovery+ app. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get great deals on the best VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider. Team news The main question surrounding selection will be the outcome of a decision over Sandro Tonali and the investigation into breaches of betting rules concerning the midfielder. The outcome could be announced ahead of the clash, with a lengthy ban expected. Sven Botman has a knee problem, Matt Ritchie, Javier Manquillo, Harvey Barnes are also out while Joe Willock is back in training but Wednesday’s match could come too early for the midfielder. For Dortmund, Julian Ryerson is expected to miss out through illness, with Mateu Morey and Thomas Meunier more long-term injury concerns for the German side. Odds Newcastle 13/20 Draw 31/10 Dortmund 4/1 Prediction It will be a hard-fought affair, but Newcastle will not quite have the energy and motivation they showed against PSG. Newcastle 1-1 Dortmund.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 15, 2023--

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