A cuckoo is a

military slang Military slang is an array of colloquial terminology used commonly by military personnel, including slang which is unique to or originates with the armed forces. In English-speaking countries, it often takes the form of abbreviations/acronyms or d ...

term for a sniper, disguised in a sprawling tree. This word has been particularly applied to the

Finnish Finnish may refer to: * Something or someone from, or related to Finland * Culture of Finland * Finnish people or Finns, the primary ethnic group in Finland * Finnish language, the national language of the Finnish people * Finnish cuisine See also ...

Winter War The Winter War,, sv, Vinterkriget, rus, Зи́мняя война́, r=Zimnyaya voyna. The names Soviet–Finnish War 1939–1940 (russian: link=no, Сове́тско-финская война́ 1939–1940) and Soviet–Finland War 1 ...

snipers and the

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

snipers, who took pot-shots at enemy troops from hidden vantage points. During World War II, before 1944, the German high command left many cuckoos behind as their armies retreated, in order to delay the

Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nation ...

rush. Japanese snipers repeatedly shot at US troops from trees.Tree climbers // Handbook on Japanese Military Forces. Technical Manual. TM-E 340-480 (15 September 1944) page 351

In popular culture

The 2002 Russian film '' The Cuckoo'' tells a story of Finnish cuckoo sniper.

References

Military slang and jargon Military snipers Military tactics {{slang-stub