Posted on 12/18/2011 8:26:11 PM PST by DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis
German and British soldiers laid down arms in holiday celebration, took up soccer.
As darkness crept over British and German trenches on Christmas Eve of 1914, one of history’s most astounding and heart-warming anomalies of warfare spontaneously unfolded. The German and British troops halted their fire and laid down their arms in order to sing to one another, exchange gifts, bury their dead together and according to many recollections, play friendly games of soccer in the no-man’s land that has been strewn with the bodies hours earlier.
According to most accounts recorded in diaries and interviews years later, the 1914 Christmas Truce began sometime after 7 p.m. on December 24, just over four months into World War One. German troops decorated the small Christmas trees with candles sent by headquarters, and broke out into carols, faintly heard dozens of meters away by British soldiers.
The most famous story took place near Ypres, Belgium, where British troops made out the melody of Stille Nacht (Silent Night) being sung from the German lines and sang back the same carol in English. Each round of song elicited applause from the opposing trenches, replacing the booms and cracks of artillery and rifle fire that had raced across the narrow stretch of no-man’s land separating the two sides only hours before.
Soon shouts in broken English replaced the song. "You no fight, we no fight," the Germans yelled at their enemies, Dominic J. Caraccilo tells in Beyond Guns and Steel. Small groups and sometimes individual soldiers from both sides climbed out of their trenches and walked toward one another past concertina wire and heavy guns. Without a common language in most cases, the enemy soldiers shook hands and exchanged Christmas greetings and tobacco.
(Excerpt) Read more at jpost.com ...
Memorial:
Christmas in the trenches , 1914,
“A shudder ran through the high command on either side. Here was disaster in the making: soldiers declaring their brotherhood with each other and refusing to fight.
Generals on both sides declared this spontaneous peacemaking to be treasonous and subject to court martial. By March, 1915 the fraternization movement had been eradicated and the killing machine put back in full operation.”
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 menSoon 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 forevermoreMy 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
Love the poem. Thanks for posting.
“Love the poem. Thanks for posting.”
Not a poem, but a song by John McCutcheon. It was released on a CD called “Winter Solstice” back in the mid-80’s. My favorite Christmas recording....
I love the words to it.
You’re welcome. I found it here via google, from a post in a 2006 thread about the Battle of the Bulge. Then I saw your post. ;)
I miss Christendom.
“We taught the Germans a lesson in 1918, and they’ve hardly bothered us since then.” Tom Lehrer
A beautiful moment of light and humanity in a dark time.
Private Baldrick: (re: the 1914 Christmas truce) Do you remember the football match?
Captain Blackadder: Remember it, how could I forget it, I was *never* offside! I could not BELIEVE that decision!
Note: this topic is from the FRchives and probably years past. Adding to the GGG catalog.
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