Christmas truce

[michael steinrok]

True accounts of the Christmas truce can be found in the above listed book.
The event occurred on Christmas eve 1914. It was started by the Germans who had begun singing Silent Night.British and Scottish regiments at first thoght it was a trick as they had rarely seen Christmas trees before.It started an informal truce that many hoped would last and was deplored by the high commands on both sides. Oh what might have been? Similar attempts basically failed in the following Christmas Eves.

[macwilkin]

The tenor John McDermott, who is part of the Irish tenors, performs this song on the album "Remembrance":

Christmas in the Trenches

by John McCutcheon

My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung,
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.

I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
"He's singing bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony
The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought us respite from the war
As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was "Stille Nacht." "Tis 'Silent Night'," says I
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky
"There's someone coming toward us!" the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright
As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night
Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men

Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each prepared to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost, so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore

My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same

© 1984 John McCutcheon - All rights reserved

There is also documented evidence of similar "truces" on the Eastern Front between the Russians and the Germans.

Cheers,

Todd

[davedove]

True accounts of the Christmas truce can be found in the above listed book.
The event occurred on Christmas eve 1914. It was started by the Germans who had begun singing Silent Night.British and Scottish regiments at first thoght it was a trick as they had rarely seen Christmas trees before.It started an informal truce that many hoped would last and was deplored by the high commands on both sides. Oh what might have been? Similar attempts basically failed in the following Christmas Eves.

What a shame that something so simple and inspiring was brought to an end. As someone once said (I don't remember who) "Old men are always findings ways for young men to die."

Since I was gone from the boards, Merry Christmas to all, and may you all find peace and happiness in your lives.

[macwilkin]

What a shame that something so simple and inspiring was brought to an end. As someone once said (I don't remember who) "Old men are always findings ways for young men to die."

Since I was gone from the boards, Merry Christmas to all, and may you all find peace and happiness in your lives.

The aforementioned documentary did do a very good job in pointing out that not all officers and even other ranks participated in the truce, and that some officers did see value in a temporary lull in the fighting. However, I think it needs to be mentioned that we are talking about military discipline, and whilst it's easy to criticize high command for their stance, as a military historian I have to also examine the truce from their point-of-view, too much fraternization leads to low morale and even the possiblity of treason, which the film also mentioned.

Fraternization between opposing forces is nothing new in military history; our Civil War is full of many stories of it, as well as many other conflicts.

Sorry to go "OT" there...

Cheers,

Todd

[GlassMan]

However, I think it needs to be mentioned that we are talking about military discipline, and whilst it's easy to criticize high command for their stance, as a military historian I have to also examine the truce from their point-of-view, too much fraternization leads to low morale and even the possiblity of treason, which the film also mentioned.

When I was taking a class on WWI & WWII from the eminent military historian Sir Michael Howard during college he mentioned something that he had learned when he was an officer during WWII. Apparently in a discussion of the truce with an old general the greatest concern the British had was that by fraternizing the troops would see that the enemy wasn't the demon High Command made them out to be, and that there might be an organized mutiny on both sides with the troops simply refusing to fight. Apparently that general had given orders to his officers that any enlisted personnel who attempted to cross lines for the Christmas Truce were to be shot.

[bubba]

Wouldn't it be nice if all the troops refused to fight. Let the cretins that want to start wars go out and fight each other instead of staying nice and safe far behind the lines. Yeah, I know. Dream on.

[GMan]

Without trying to hijack this thread, I do want to say that seeing the humanity of others whether we disagree or not is what we should all be about. The Christmas Truce of 1914 is what human kindess is all about.

[sav]

I saw that too, it was great, would to God the truce would had lasted, and even to this day, I look forward to the time when there will be no more war.

I wonder how comfy those kilts were in such horrid conditions, better than trousers I'll wager!

Gray,
Check out the following article on the Scottish Tartans Authority website:

http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/...heGreatWar.asp

[Beery]

I am watching a show on the history channel about the Christmas truce between the Germans and Uk's during WW1...

I was a reenactor and supplier of reproduction items for reenactors for a while back in the 1990s and when I saw this program I was pleased to see that my own reproduction Princess Mary box contents were displayed prominently in one scene.

Sorry to dig up this old thread, but it came up in a search and I had to comment.

[michael steinrok]

Wouldn't it be nice if all the troops refused to fight. Let the cretins that want to start wars go out and fight each other instead of staying nice and safe far behind the lines. Yeah, I know. Dream on.

Bubba you and I don't always agree,but AMEN to that one brother!