The French became the first army to use camouflage in 1915 during the First World War

In 1915, the French army became the first army to use camouflage during the First World War. They created a dedicated camouflage unit, which was tasked with remaining hidden and spying and attacking the enemy. Most camouflage was originally used on guns and vehicles, and not so much common soldiers. The word ‘camouflage’ actually comes from the French verb ‘to make up for the stage’. This tactic was quickly followed by other nations, with the British army copying the tactic the following year under Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Wyatt.