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The Christmas Truce
The Sydney Morning Herald ^
| 12/23/2003
| Robin Oliver
Posted on 12/24/2003 6:38:27 AM PST by JohnGalt
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The mist was slow to clear and suddenly my orderly threw himself into my dugout to say that both German and Scottish soldiers had come out of their trenches and were fraternising
exchanging cigarettes, schnapps and chocolate
Later a Scottish soldier appeared with a football which seemed to come from nowhere and a few minutes later a real football match got underway. The Scots marked their goalmouth with their strange caps and we did the same. It was far from easy to play on the frozen ground, but we continued, keeping rigorously to the rules, despite the fact that it only lasted an hour and that we had no referee
Us Germans really roared when a gust of wind revealed that the Scots wore nothing under their kilts
The game finished with a score of 3 goals to 2 in favour of Fritz against Tommy.
--Leutnant Johannes Niemann, 133rd. Saxon Regiment
1
posted on
12/24/2003 6:38:27 AM PST
by
JohnGalt
To: JohnGalt
Great book
2
posted on
12/24/2003 6:39:23 AM PST
by
Tijeras_Slim
(Saddam looked like he could use a "Baath Party".)
To: JohnGalt
I actually find this story pathetic, for it illustrates the idiocy of having ordinary citizens fighting a war just because some @sshole in a palace or government building thinks it's a good idea.
3
posted on
12/24/2003 6:53:11 AM PST
by
Alberta's Child
(Alberta -- the TRUE North strong and free.)
To: billbears; mr.pink; sheltonmac; Burkeman1; Theodore R.; Liz; EverFree; Catholicguy; RonPaulLives; ..
While the attacks on our Western and Christian culture continue unabated, and the King sends friends, neighbors, and countrymen abroad to fight in debt financed wars, in the words of the angel, "Fear Not, for I bring good tidings, a savior has been born."
It has been an honor to converse with you all this past year. The mere effort to build a consensus on liberty is a noble cause in the battle for our Republic and the battle for men's souls.
Peace to you and your families. Merry Christmas. Cheers.
4
posted on
12/24/2003 6:53:54 AM PST
by
JohnGalt
(Peace to #26 and #51, and their wives this Christmas. Come home safe!)
To: Alberta's Child
I think the last two lines will interest you...
Christmas in the Trenches(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
5
posted on
12/24/2003 7:01:15 AM PST
by
JohnGalt
(Peace to #26 and #51, and their wives this Christmas. Come home safe!)
To: JohnGalt
My sentiments exactly.
Reminds me of an early scene in the movie "Last of the Mohicans," when the British officer is recruiting a militia among a group of colonial farmers in a small village somewhere in upstate New York. Some of the farmers are concerned that if they leave their farms, their families will not be protected against attacks by the Ottawa and Huron tribes who are fighting with the French. Nathanial, the white man who was orphaned as a child and adopted by Chingachkook of the Mohicans, points out that it is the families of the farmers will be the ones exposed to attacks by the French and the Indians while the families of the British officers will be living comfortably in London, Boston, or New York.
Officer (angrily): "You call yourself a patriot, and loyal subject of the Crown?"
Nathanial (nonchalantly): "I don't call myself subject to much at all."
6
posted on
12/24/2003 7:10:38 AM PST
by
Alberta's Child
(Alberta -- the TRUE North strong and free.)
To: Alberta's Child
That is excellent.
North Americans of Northern European descent have created a splendid anti-statist image with some synthesis between the German 'blood and soil' volk and the purely American, "radical individualist"-- be it the Yeoman farmer or the Mountain Man.
7
posted on
12/24/2003 7:16:33 AM PST
by
JohnGalt
(Peace to #26 and #51, and their wives this Christmas. Come home safe!)
To: JohnGalt
It has been an honor to converse with you all this past year.
I share that same sentiment.
A merry and blessed Christmas to you and yours.
Peace on Earth, goodwill towards all.
8
posted on
12/24/2003 7:22:47 AM PST
by
mr.pink
To: JohnGalt
It's been quite a year. Good wishes to all.
9
posted on
12/24/2003 9:04:11 AM PST
by
Burkeman1
("If you see ten troubles comin down the road, nine will run into the ditch before they reach you")
To: JohnGalt
BUMP I bought this book for my father after hearing about it from Kirby Wilbur on KVI. Inspiring, heartwarming story :)
10
posted on
12/24/2003 10:56:43 AM PST
by
Libertina
(Michael Moore is the big bloated weasel in the little spider hole of weasels.)
To: JohnGalt
Thank you so much for the ping. I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas Day and a Happy New Year. For someone like me, who has been through a lot of hard times for the last 2 years or so, the folks at Free Republic are like a wonderful, extended family. Thanks to everyone reading this for being there. God Bless
To: RonPaulLives
You can pay for your pint tankard
and I will pay for mine
We'll drink a toast of kind remembrance
For auld lang syne
12
posted on
12/24/2003 11:51:04 AM PST
by
JohnGalt
(How few were left who had seen the Republic!---Tacitus)
To: JohnGalt
Awesome post. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Merry Christmas!
To: AAABEST
And a Merry Christmas to you, Sir.
Apologies but #4 was for you as well...Good times last March against the Canadian Conservative movement.
14
posted on
12/28/2003 7:13:57 AM PST
by
JohnGalt
(How few were left who had seen the Republic!---Tacitus)
To: Alberta's Child
I actually find this story pathetic, for it illustrates the idiocy of having ordinary citizens fighting a war just because some @sshole in a palace or government building thinks it's a good idea. Similar scenes were played out during the American Civil War.
15
posted on
12/28/2003 7:15:42 AM PST
by
Alouette
(Proud parent of an IDF recruit!)
To: JohnGalt
*Raises mug high*
God bless and a Merry Christmas to you sir as well!!
16
posted on
12/28/2003 8:08:38 AM PST
by
AAABEST
To: KantianBurke
Apologies, but I intended to include you in my #4.
Best to you and yours in the New Year,
17
posted on
12/30/2003 7:10:48 AM PST
by
JohnGalt
("How few were left who had seen the Republic!"- Tacitus)
To: JohnGalt
Same to us sir! Keep up the intelligent posts!
18
posted on
12/30/2003 7:14:06 AM PST
by
KantianBurke
(Don't Tread on Me)
To: philosofy123
#4 is to you as well, Sir.
Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to you and yours.
19
posted on
12/31/2003 9:07:00 AM PST
by
JohnGalt
("...so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.")
To: JohnGalt
That was a nice thread. I am sorry I missed it before. Do you know a congressman fom Texas by the name of Ron Paul? He writes a lot of independent thinking (conservative/liberterian) type columns on LewRockwell.
Please ping me when you come across "America First" type subjects.
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