RE: Why the Trees?
As far as add on armor, that's probably my favorite aspect of WWII tanks. From Shermans with lumber on Tarawa to concrete on a StuG, it's great to see what these guys did to protect themselves with what was on hand.
The best, hands down in my opinion though...Russian bedspring armor. Imagine the conversation with the freezing, starving civilians about giving up there bed frames to weld on tanks.