Share This Page:
The Christmas Truce of 1914
-
- Member
- Posts: 2231
- Joined: Sat 24 May, 2003 1:46 pm
- Location: London, England
- Contact:
The Christmas Truce of 1914
The Christmas Truce of 1914
The "great war" had been raging for nearly five months when Christmastime rolled around. For the soldiers on the front lines, their homes were deep trenches cut into the ground, filled with knee-deep sticky mud. Many soldiers on both sides of the battle lines were covered with it from head to toe.
Soldiers had to keep their heads low, because at all times the enemy snipers were watching, and would shoot at anything that appeared in their scope. The closer to Christmas it got, the more sporadic the rifle fire became, as if on both sides, they were simply ready for a break. On Christmas Eve. 1914 the first hard freeze settled over the ground, which was welcomed by the soldiers because at last the mud was solid.
Thoughts of the soldiers turned to their families, tucked away safely in their beds. The soldiers settled down in their bunks with letters from their loved ones, pictures, and if they were lucky, gifts. While the cold air blew in around them, they turned their faces into their coats, and tried to sleep.
In the early morning hours of December 25, a thick mist settled around them. It was hard to see from one side of "No Man's Land" to the other. Suddenly a chorus of song broke the silence of the morning, and drifted up from the German trenches across the way. The startled allies were amazed to discover when they peeked their heads up to look, that the Germans had erected dozens of Christmas trees in their trenches, and had even decorated them. They listened in silence as the Germans sang "Silent Night." Stille nacht, heilige nacht…
When the voices concluded and echoed away, applause rang out from the allies. The German singing had been lovely. The allies began a song of their own, and on through the night the soldiers from either side of the battlefield sang together.
When dawn broke, the Germans called out to the allies, "Come over!" The allies responded, "You first!" and tentatively, officers from either side walked out over "No Man's Land," to greet each other. A ceasefire was called, and soldiers from both sides rose out of their trenches to meet these people whom they had just been trying to kill. Some of the people could communicate with words, but others who did not know the other side's language made themselves understoodas they gave each other gifts of cigarettes, clothing and food. They shared photographs of their families, and called each other "friend" for the rest of the day. They built bonfires which glowed well into the night.
Finally the long dreaded moment had come- time for each side to return to their trenches. The soldiers said goodbye to their new friends, and sank down into their muddy holes. With a heavy heart, the firing began again, and the war continued for four more years.
You may ask, why have I told such a sad story? What good is the Christmas spirit if it only lasts such a short while? I think that it is important to remember that in the midst of all that death and chaos, the Christmas spirit was still able to reach down into the darkest pit and lift the soldiers out. The Christmas spirit has another name- Hope. It needs nothing more to survive on its own than a beating heart, and a song to sing.
Spread hope around you this Christmas. Hug and kiss your family, send a gift to a soldier overseas, give blood. The real magic of Christmas is always inside of you. Share the magic.
The Christmas truce was not an isolated incident. All along the battle lines, ceasefire was called by soldiers similar to the ones in the story above. Sometimes the truce lasted all the way until Boxing Day (Jan.6).
A little christmas magic I think
The "great war" had been raging for nearly five months when Christmastime rolled around. For the soldiers on the front lines, their homes were deep trenches cut into the ground, filled with knee-deep sticky mud. Many soldiers on both sides of the battle lines were covered with it from head to toe.
Soldiers had to keep their heads low, because at all times the enemy snipers were watching, and would shoot at anything that appeared in their scope. The closer to Christmas it got, the more sporadic the rifle fire became, as if on both sides, they were simply ready for a break. On Christmas Eve. 1914 the first hard freeze settled over the ground, which was welcomed by the soldiers because at last the mud was solid.
Thoughts of the soldiers turned to their families, tucked away safely in their beds. The soldiers settled down in their bunks with letters from their loved ones, pictures, and if they were lucky, gifts. While the cold air blew in around them, they turned their faces into their coats, and tried to sleep.
In the early morning hours of December 25, a thick mist settled around them. It was hard to see from one side of "No Man's Land" to the other. Suddenly a chorus of song broke the silence of the morning, and drifted up from the German trenches across the way. The startled allies were amazed to discover when they peeked their heads up to look, that the Germans had erected dozens of Christmas trees in their trenches, and had even decorated them. They listened in silence as the Germans sang "Silent Night." Stille nacht, heilige nacht…
When the voices concluded and echoed away, applause rang out from the allies. The German singing had been lovely. The allies began a song of their own, and on through the night the soldiers from either side of the battlefield sang together.
When dawn broke, the Germans called out to the allies, "Come over!" The allies responded, "You first!" and tentatively, officers from either side walked out over "No Man's Land," to greet each other. A ceasefire was called, and soldiers from both sides rose out of their trenches to meet these people whom they had just been trying to kill. Some of the people could communicate with words, but others who did not know the other side's language made themselves understoodas they gave each other gifts of cigarettes, clothing and food. They shared photographs of their families, and called each other "friend" for the rest of the day. They built bonfires which glowed well into the night.
Finally the long dreaded moment had come- time for each side to return to their trenches. The soldiers said goodbye to their new friends, and sank down into their muddy holes. With a heavy heart, the firing began again, and the war continued for four more years.
You may ask, why have I told such a sad story? What good is the Christmas spirit if it only lasts such a short while? I think that it is important to remember that in the midst of all that death and chaos, the Christmas spirit was still able to reach down into the darkest pit and lift the soldiers out. The Christmas spirit has another name- Hope. It needs nothing more to survive on its own than a beating heart, and a song to sing.
Spread hope around you this Christmas. Hug and kiss your family, send a gift to a soldier overseas, give blood. The real magic of Christmas is always inside of you. Share the magic.
The Christmas truce was not an isolated incident. All along the battle lines, ceasefire was called by soldiers similar to the ones in the story above. Sometimes the truce lasted all the way until Boxing Day (Jan.6).
A little christmas magic I think
I fight for my corner and secondly I leave when the pub closes. - Winston Churchill [img]http://www.world-of-smilies.de/html/images/smilies/teufel/smilie_vampire.gif[/img]
- old scaly back
- Member
- Posts: 349
- Joined: Tue 07 Oct, 2003 10:50 am
- Location: Birmingham
Not only at Christmas time did this happen.
At one location there was a shortage of water.
One well was available,the stange thing was that the British shared with the Germans.
They took it in turns getting the water out,standing in a line.
If i remember right the well was underground.
I have been on a few battlefield tours,mainly WW1.
If you have a spare week i highly recomend them.
At one location there was a shortage of water.
One well was available,the stange thing was that the British shared with the Germans.
They took it in turns getting the water out,standing in a line.
If i remember right the well was underground.
I have been on a few battlefield tours,mainly WW1.
If you have a spare week i highly recomend them.
I used to be in the SASS (Saturday and Sunday Soldier)
Yeah I heard that story, the officers got in trouble for that and wasn't allowed to happen again. The investors, corporations and politicians would lose their ass if that senario was repeated enough times.
Yeah I say I like the story and that is how it should be. Soldiers, war ect.. to me is like a sporting event in the raw. Each team wears his countries jersey and the sport should only be played between the two teams, no civilian bombings ect... At the end the better man wins. As for chivalry being abscent from the field, well who's fualt is that? Ours of course. Modern warfare disallowed it. And we wonder why we fight these guerrilla wars?
What the hell, why not use a nuke to settle it?
Yeah I say I like the story and that is how it should be. Soldiers, war ect.. to me is like a sporting event in the raw. Each team wears his countries jersey and the sport should only be played between the two teams, no civilian bombings ect... At the end the better man wins. As for chivalry being abscent from the field, well who's fualt is that? Ours of course. Modern warfare disallowed it. And we wonder why we fight these guerrilla wars?
What the hell, why not use a nuke to settle it?
Let them call me a rebel and I welcome it, I feel no concern from it; but I should suffer the misery of demons were I to make a whore of my soul. (Thomas Paine)
Jason
A timely post. Funnily enough there's an academic at the University of {Leicester?????} trying to get 'eyewitness' accounts of this event. Or, at least, letters to family from guys who were there at the time.
The implication being that it may have all been a bit of propaganda rather than an actual event. Which surprises me because I, like most people, have heard the 'story' plenty of times.
Anyway, I'll be keeping my ears open with interest to see what transpires.
A timely post. Funnily enough there's an academic at the University of {Leicester?????} trying to get 'eyewitness' accounts of this event. Or, at least, letters to family from guys who were there at the time.
The implication being that it may have all been a bit of propaganda rather than an actual event. Which surprises me because I, like most people, have heard the 'story' plenty of times.
Anyway, I'll be keeping my ears open with interest to see what transpires.
-
- Member
- Posts: 2231
- Joined: Sat 24 May, 2003 1:46 pm
- Location: London, England
- Contact:
old scaly back wrote:Not only at Christmas time did this happen.
At one location there was a shortage of water.
One well was available,the stange thing was that the British shared with the Germans.
They took it in turns getting the water out,standing in a line.
If i remember right the well was underground.
old scaly back did this take place in WW1 as well ?
I agree with you there WhiteyWhitey wrote:Yeah I say I like the story and that is how it should be. Soldiers, war ect.. to me is like a sporting event in the raw. Each team wears his countries jersey and the sport should only be played between the two teams, no civilian bombings ect... At the end the better man wins. As for chivalry being abscent from the field, well who's fualt is that? Ours of course. Modern warfare disallowed it. And we wonder why we fight these guerrilla wars?
What the hell, why not use a nuke to settle it?
Sisyphus there is a museum in the Belgium town of Ypres that is dedicated to this one event. I'm sure they would have all the information you would ever need.
I fight for my corner and secondly I leave when the pub closes. - Winston Churchill [img]http://www.world-of-smilies.de/html/images/smilies/teufel/smilie_vampire.gif[/img]
Cheers, JasonJason The Argonaut wrote:Sisyphus there is a museum in the Belgium town of Ypres that is dedicated to this one event. I'm sure they would have all the information you would ever need.
I'm not sure when I might be visiting there [if ever]. my last trip was in 1965. But if I do, I'll definitely pop in. I wonder why that Prof. was asking for 'eyewitness' accounts, letters?
I wish I could remember more where I read it. On teletext, I think. Still, I'm sure he'll get the feedback he needs. Even if it's only advice that he needs to visit Ypres!!
-
- Member
- Posts: 1016
- Joined: Mon 14 Apr, 2003 8:21 pm
- Location: East Anglia
-
- Member
- Posts: 2231
- Joined: Sat 24 May, 2003 1:46 pm
- Location: London, England
- Contact:
Well Belgium is a bit far just to pop into a museumSisyphus wrote:Sisyphus there is a museum in the Belgium town of Ypres that is dedicated to this one event. I'm sure they would have all the information you would ever need.
Your last trip was in 1965, was it a ceremonial visit or just a bit of a holiday ?
I fight for my corner and secondly I leave when the pub closes. - Winston Churchill [img]http://www.world-of-smilies.de/html/images/smilies/teufel/smilie_vampire.gif[/img]
-
- Guest
What a nice story it shows the true spirit of the common man. No one wants to kill another human being only a psycopath enjoys killing its simply they are forced into it by curropt goverments. When it comes down to it we all no wars are started by people in suits but there fought by people in camoflage while they sit safely in there offices eating caviar and drinking crystal.
-
- Member
- Posts: 14415
- Joined: Tue 19 Feb, 2002 12:00 am
-
- Guest
-
- Member
- Posts: 14415
- Joined: Tue 19 Feb, 2002 12:00 am