For the most part the truce was observed by British and German soldiers in the southern part of the Ypres Salient in Belgium.
However it was observed elsewhere on the Western Front and by other combatants, notably by the French and Belgians, although the very fact that the Germans were sited on the territory belonging to France and Belgium inhibited any great displays of seasonal goodwill towards their German opponents.
Started with Trees and Carols
Although there are numerous individual stories telling how the unofficial Christmas was started in various sectors, for the most part it was initiated by German troops situated opposite British forces where a relatively short distance separated the trenches across No Man's Land.
Many German soldiers had, as was their custom on Christmas Eve, begun to erect Christmas trees adorned with lit candles - except they were placed along the trenches of the Western Front.
Initially surprised, and then suspicious, British observers reported the existence of these to higher officers. The word came down that they were not to fire, but were instead to observe closely the actions of the Germans.
Next was heard the singing of carols, in German. The British responded in places with carols of their own. Those German soldiers who understood and could speak English called across greetings to 'Tommy' (the popular name for the British private); similar greetings were shouted over to "Fritz".
In areas German soldiers invited 'Tommy' to step across No Man's Land and to pay a visit to the same German opponents they had been so wrapped up in killing but a few hours earlier.
Edward Hulse, a 25-year old lieutenant in the Scots Guards, wrote in his battalion's war history:
We got into conversation with the Germans who were anxious to arrange an armistice during Xmas. A scout named F. Murker went out and met a German Patrol and was given a glass of whisky and some cigars, and a message was sent back saying that if we didn't fire at them they would not fire at us.
Consequently the guns in that sector were silent that night.
Most remarkable of all, perhaps, is the story of the football match conducted between the English Bedfordshire regiment and German troops (allegedly won 3-2 by the latter). The game was brought to an end when the football was punctured after it struck a tangle of barbed wire.In many sectors the truce lasted until midnight on Christmas night; yet on others lasted until New Year's Day.
Corporal John Ferguson recounted how the truce was conducted in his sector:
We shook hands, wished each other a Merry Xmas, and were soon conversing as if we had known each other for years. We were in front of their wire entanglements and surrounded by Germans - Fritz and I in the centre talking, and Fritz occasionally translating to his friends what I was saying. We stood inside the circle like street-corner orators.
Soon most of our company ('A' Company), hearing that I and some others had gone out, followed us ... What a sight - little groups of Germans and British extending almost the length of our front!Out of the darkness we could hear laughter and see lighted matches, a German lighting a Scotchman's cigarette and vice versa, exchanging cigarettes and souvenirs. Where they couldn't talk the language they were making themselves understood by signs, and everyone seemed to be getting on nicely.
Here we were laughing and chatting to men whom only a few hours before we were trying to kill!
Once and Once Only...
Nevertheless, reaction from on high was such that special precautions were taken during the Christmases of 1915, 1916 and 1917, even to the extent of actually stepping up artillery bombardments.
The events of late December 1914 were never again to be repeated.
Questions:
Who started the truce in most cases?
What part of this story is the most surprising or interesting? Why?
Why do you think 1914 was the last time the two sides had a Christmas Truce?
28 comments:
1. The French and Belgium approached their German opponets with the idea.
2. It was an akward situation because both side were thinking of nothing but killing their opponets, yet they were able to come in peace for a 24 hour period.
3. Since it was only 5months into the war i think the soliders did not have as much hatred as they did in the later years.
1. It was initiated by the German troops
2. The Germans and Britans came together and sang on Christmas Eve. It was weird because both sides wanted to kill each other and were planning on goin to war with one another.
3. It think it was the last time because they took percautions for the following 3 years to make sure it didn't happen again and also because they had gotten alon Christmas Eve.
The Germans started the truce. It began with the Germans putting up Christmas trees as a sign of peace. Later, they would sing Christmas Carols, only to hear an echo of the carol in the British tounge.
Once you get past the truce itself, which in modern day would never happen, the soccer match was the most unbelievable. The fact that two opposing armies were able to come together in a time of crisis and join together in a friendly soccer match is stunning. At that point, the game had nothing to do with who won or lost. Both sides had been living in trenches and both knew how horrible it had been. It was simply recreation. Thinking about modern day warefare, this is just beyond comprehension.
Sadly, This is absolutely the last time that this will ever happen. I think this was just a spark of good nature between to opposing sides. War has become to much about pure hate on one side or the other for something like The Christmas Truce to ever happen again.
1. The Germans were the first to propose the idea of a truce by first setting up the chrismas trees then singing carols.
2.The most shocking part of the truce was indeed the soccer match. The mere fact that these troops were able to suspend their blood thirsty fighting to play a game of soccer is astonishing.
3.A truce like this would never happen in todays world becaus unfortunetly in todays warfare we are so driven by hatred and condemning of other cultures that we would never stop to spend time with our enemy. I also believe that this truce was proposed due to the horrendous conditions that both sides had been living in during the war and they came together under a common understanding.
the last blog was left by kannon
1. Who started the truce in most cases?
The truce was initiated by the German troops. This was done by setting up Christmas trees and singing the Christmas Carols.
2. What part of this story is the most surprising or interesting? Why?
I think it is pretty evident that the most shocking part of this story is the soccer match. It's crazy to think that two battling armies could propose the idea of a soccer match, and having the composure for everyone to agree, I find it almost unrealistic.
3. Why do you think 1914 was the last time the two sides had a Christmas Truce?
Honestly, I'm pretty sure this would never happen again. Warfare these days would never be able to be settled by a soccer match. I agree with Kannon and think that both sides just realized the awful conditions they were living in and came to an understanding.
Why would the commanders of both armies not want this to happen again?
Does this say anything to you about human nature, or was this just an isolated incident - an historical abberation, if you will?
Miranda,
I think you missed the point. The soccer match was not to decide anything from a fighting perspective, as Hunter pointed out, it was merely for fun.
Hunter,
One reason this would never happen today, is that warfare since World War II has been highly mobile, and perhaps, even impersonal. We don't conduct war in trenches much, anymore.
We can also send a "smart bomb" to destroy some factory in Khartoum without ever seeing anyone die.
1) It was initiated by the german troops.
2) I thought that it was interessting that the troops could put away their differences for a soccer match. Even though they were in war, and wanted to kill each other, they still came together for that 24 hours.
3) it will never be repeated because the war did not have as much hatred as it did at the end of the war, so they were still willing to put aside their differences.
1. The Germans
2. When in a war do the sides stop fighting and call a truce for a day...even if it is Christmas.
3. Well first off, precautions were taken on the Christmasses to follow to make sure that never happened again. And war is always just a fight for power so why would people want to give that up, even for a day. Soldiers and entire countries are too wrapped up in who is winning what battles and all that jazz to stop fighting.
1. For the most part it was initiated by the German troops.
2. The fact that both sides came together in Christmas greetings and songs and then eventually in a soccer game is pretty cool. I think it's especially interesting because it showed that even in the middle of such a terrible war, people can show kindness. It kind of looks like a mini-Christmas miracle.
3. This wouldn't happen today because war is just so different now. I think that war can sometimes be just as hatred now as it ever was, but I don't think any officers now would allow this kind of thing to happen.
1. The Germans were the first to start the truce. The wanted peace. The first would put up Christmas trees and later would sing Christmas carols.
2. The most shocking or surprising part of this story is the soccer match because to armies fighting against each other could come together and have a clean friendly soccer match. It is incredible that any two opposing forces could do that.
3. I have to agree with Megan in that war is so different today then it was earlier. Also I agree with Hunter in that war has become too much about hatred and a Christmas Truce could never happen again in this time period.
i spelled two wrong. i put to instead of two
1. The German soldiers were the ones who initiated the truce.
2. The most surprising/interesting part of the story to me was the fact that people, who were so wrapped up in fighting and killing opposing sides, could set all of that aside for a holiday. That they could put all their hate and differences on the backburner, and celebrate Christmas and have fun with each other. Yet the after the holidays are over, go back to trying to kill each other?
3. I honestly think it was one of those once in a lifetime things. It was incredible that they could do it for the first time, and i don't think both sides could come to an agreement again. Plus, it is war, so many people are being killed, and possibly new leaders or soldiers wouldnt be comfortable with it.
-Alexia
1. It was started by the Germans.
2. The British and Germans celebrated christmas with eachother.
3. They had less hatred for eachother because they celebrated their similarities.
The German Troops initiated the truce.
The most suprising part is that in the middle of fighting they decided to call a truce. They were figthing a war and then they just stopped.
They had not developed a hatred because it was so early in the war.
1. The Germans started the christmas truce
2. it was surprising that they wanted to kill each other oneday and then the next they were all singing christmas songs
3. It would never happen today cause now every one is always stuck in like tunnel vision so they just think about killing people
last one was kyle
1. The Germans initiated the truce
2. Whats weird is that both sides came together on Christmas Eve for singing and celebration and then going right back killing each other
3. This is definetly the last time this will ever happen because today we have such advanced technology, for example not having to fight in treches anymore
1. German Troops
2. It was weird because the Germans and Germans had been fighting.
3. I think that human nature has to much anger and resentment to ever do this again. I personally dont know that i could be fine with someone that was trying to kill me.
Make sure you leave your name in the actual post if your nickname is not easy to link with your real name.
1. The Germans did. They showed signs of willingness to make peace by singing carols, decorating, and inviting the British Private to make peace.
2. The story is surprising because nothing of the sort has ever happened in history. Hours earlier before the truce, the armies of either side were killing each other and all of a sudden they briefly came together as friends.
3. Because after the truce, both sides realized how vulnerable they had been and wanted to make sure that they would never give in to the enemy again.
1.Germans
2. there was peace for a day
3.Cause the figured out after that they could'nt stand each other anymore.And the didn't no why in the first place they decied to have a truce.
1) it was initiated by German troops
2) I thought it was kind of weird that they communicated by singing carols.
3) This would happene again because war today is much more violent and it includes so much more hatred.
1) The germans started the truce.
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2) I was surprised that for one day they put their differences aside and came together. It proved that these people don't actually want to kill each other, but they are doing it purely for a job (to protect their country).
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3) I think winning was really important to them, especially because men have this self-respect thing for winning, but they probably didn't want to get off-track on their priority, and they took war very seriously.
By: fikela
1. The germans initiated the truce on this night,
2. If they could hold peace for 24 hours what was the purpose of the war?
3. i think the people actually came to their senses and realized that they were in a war and no matter how much they "came together" and "got along" they were still in a war and the quickest way to get out of the war was to fight and get it over with.
1. The Germans
2. It's a very odd situation because both the Germans & the British were trying to kill each other, however; on Christmas they were able to put aside their differances and be at peace for a day.
3. Because the unofficaial christmas truce of 1914 occured only 5 months into war, the Germans & the British might not have had as much animosity for each other.
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