12/25/2009

The Christmas Truce 1914

On Holy eve 95 years ago, amidst the already entrenched armies of the British Expedition Forces and the germans, it happened. While the Brits had an extra ration of rum, the Germans received small trench fitting christmas trees. At this place near La Bassee, East Flanders the trenches were not 300ft. away from their enemies counterparts. German soldiers began to sing christmas carols and were heard by the Brits, who suddenly started to join in. The German troopers put up their lightened trees over their parapets and shouted Happy Christmas to the british parapets. So did the Brits and after a while the First Soldiers left their trenches on both sides and met in No mans land. They exchanged small presents like a can of beef or tobacco, showed each other their respective family pictures and some scottish soldier even produced a football, so the soldiers played a match, which the Germans won 3-2. This informal truce lived about a week, before the respective High Commands ordered them back to fight, the Brits removing the two involved regiments. The war continued. Have you all a merry Christmas! :-) Tadah Pilgrim

7 comments:

Captastro said...

It's stories like this that give one hope for the future of mankind. WWI was the war to end all wars, yet several wars have been fought since. It seems that with each war, opponents are less inclined to show respect for one another during these holy and sacred times.

Regardless, this story is meaningful and I'm glad to have read it here.

Merry Christmas to you, my friend, and to your family and those you hold dear. <3

Anonymous said...

An act of the old 'Gentlemen's war'? I wonder how they all felt when the
war later continued... now somehow personally knowing the enemy. Maybe it didn't change anything after all. Just a thought.

Merry Christmas to you!

Love
Daniel

Seth said...

A very special and happy holiday season to you!!
*Hugs*

torchy! said...

nice post, and very moving to think of those times of terrible conflict with such appalling loss of life.

Warmest Christmas wishes to you and your family, Pil

torchy!

Mickle in NZ said...

An excellent post. Sadly this wasn't repeated in the following years of WW1.

Hope you're having a happy time and keeping warm. Is 30C here - feel like I'm melting!

Michelle xxxxx

MartininBroda said...

Yes, this story is meaningful, but it’s hard to say, what exactly is the meaning of it. One last defiant struggle of humanity and Christian Reminder before all ended in hatred and destruction? A sign? Hope has become a reality? A piece of humanity in a flood of inhumanity? A legacy? Certainly this story is a monument that is worth to be kept in mind, a worthy post indeed.

Workforced said...

The Christmas Day Armistice is one of the most moving pieces of history. there are a lot of associated personal tales with it. It really was quite an incredible event.