What was the Christmas truce?

Christmas Truce

On Christmas Eve and Christmas day, 1914, British and German forces at various places along the front met informally in no-man's land. In most places it began with each side singing carols and putting Christmas trees over their own positions. A few soldiers from each side ventured out and exchanged Christmas wishes and small presents and soon most of the soldiers on both sides were involved. Apparently in several places the trenches were empty while the opposing armies played football/soccer. Then on the 26th, they resumed shooting at each other.

There are many reports that French troops in some places also took part in the Christmas truce, although the French officially deny it. Even the British and German officers at the time officially denied that any such fraternization took place.

Most reports agree the truce started when the Germans erected their traditional Christmas trees on the parapets and began to sing carols. (The British, French and Australian commands did not supply trees to their men.) The British responded with carols of their own. Soon a truce was offered by the Germans (and accepted by the British) to bury the decaying bodies in no-man's land, left from a raid about 3 days previous. The Germans helped the British bury the dead, and some officers exchanged gifts. The Germans mostly had sausages, and cheese, from home. The British donated brandy, chocolate or tinned delicacies from home. Some of the enlisted men traded what they had. . . tins of bully beef, pocket knives, even buttons from their uniforms.

Eventually the troops went back to their trenches, although the caroling went on all night long. One German soldier, a famous opera singer, even serenaded the British troops. Many of the Germans had worked in London prior to the war, so they were able to sing in English. (The British even sang God Save the King to the Germans.)In some locations, the truce lasted throughout the following day, until the troops were rotated out. Then the fighting began again, in earnest.

The Christmas Truce is a beautiful story of the triumph of human nature over war. A great book about it to read is Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce, by Stanley Weintraub.

Check the related link for several stories about this.

First answer by ID2375361472. Last edit by Joni. Contributor trust: 827 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 121 [recommend question]