The story of the Christmas truce during World War-I

Christmas really is the most magical time of the year. Celebrated by billions around the world, the day is filled with love and joy. Read this incredible story of how two sides of a bitter conflict put aside their differences at Christmas

A Christmas truce came about along the front lines between British and German soldiers during World War I in 1914. According to old records retrieved by The Naga Republic, it was not an official truce ordered by the warring countries, Britain and Germany, but the soldiers themselves took matters into their own hands and observed an unofficial truce of their own making.

The story of the Christmas truce is remembered after all these years for its remarkable act of humanity shown by soldiers to honor the birth of the Prince of Peace. Described by historians and writers as the “oddest of things” to happen given the bitter war raging on in Europe, the truce that happened is worthy of remembrance due to the reverence shown on Christmas day despite the hostilities of war.

Interestingly it is reported that on December 7, 1914, Pope Benedict XV suggested a temporary cessation of hostilities between the combatants to observe Christmas. In response the warring countries disregarded the suggestion and refused to adopt an official temporary truce.

However, it was the soldiers out in the battle field who took the initiative to cease fire and embrace the message of Christmas. It is reported that in order to try and keep spirits up, soldiers sang carols and lit candles on Christmas trees that lined the trenches. Then, something remarkable happened.

According to accounts of soldiers who were present, the Germans were playing music on Christmas-eve and had also put up Christmas trees on top of their trenches lighted up with candles, and men sitting on the trench. The British soldiers approached their German counterpart and invited them to come over and have a drink and smoke. Initially both sides did not trust each other. After a while, however, officers from both sides reached out to each other and the rest as they was history—a Christmas truce.

Another soldier had this to share: “Waiting in the trenches, our thoughts turned to home and Christmas Eve, and we started singing a few carols. This seemed to cheer the Germans, they, too, began to sing, shouting to us, “A merry Christmas.” Not a shot was fired at them or us all night, and it seemed the war had almost finished.

According to the soldier’s account, on Christmas Day, after a short service in the trenches they decided to approach the Germans who also reciprocated. “In less than half hour were busily talking to them, and found that they were quite longing for the war cease. They asked us not fire all day, and said they would not do so”.

These quotes are real letters from soldiers who witnessed this unbelievable event. Newspapers reported that after the truce was agreed upon, both sides spent time burying the bodies that had been killed earlier that week and then they held a small ceremony to commemorate them.

Many letters were written home describing the peaceful experience. Many explained how speaking to these men [the Germans] changed their entire view on them. They originally believed, as they were taught to, that the Germans were pure evil. Seeing the Germans in a friendly manner and having normal conversation with them opened their eyes to the fact they were all just men who had been dragged into a horrible situation.

“What occurred on that Christmas Eve night was all quite by chance, unprecedented in warfare, and strictly unofficial. It illustrated the humanity that exists even on the battlefield when the focus is on the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ”, writes James G. Smith in an article appearing in the Selma-Times Journal dated December 21, 2017.

Smith gives a more precise account of what happened in the lead up to the truce.

“Out of the night, a British sentry on duty heard singing coming from the opposing trenches. He quickly alerted his countrymen to the event. One British bloke, fluent in German, identified it as a Christmas carol. After it subsided, the British decided to return fire with a rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman,” a song they all knew. The Germans followed with Stille Nacht, Silent Night in English, of which the British recognized and joined in singing along”.

The article by Smith further adds: “As the story is told, at dawn on Christmas morning there was movement from the German trenches. At first, an unarmed soldier appeared with a white flag waving his arms saying Merry Christmas in English. As he walked out into no-man’s-land, more soldiers joined him waving and offering Merry Christmas in English. The Brits, thinking at first it may be a trick, but seeing they were unarmed, soon began coming out of their trenches in return offering Merry Christmas in German”.

The story goes on that the opposing soldiers met in the middle of no-man’s-land each greeting the other and even exchanging small gifts of whatever they had. It is said someone had a ball and a friendly game of soccer also broke out. They also joined together singing Christmas carols and songs familiar to each of them.

For a brief period of time on Christmas Eve and Day of 1914 there was reverence, respect and cordiality shown on the front lines of World War I. That is what Christmas—the birth of the Prince of Peace can bring about, healing and reconciliation in the midst of man-made conflict.

God Bless and Merry Christmas.

Sourced from media reports and compiled by The Naga Republic