The Christmas Truce of 1914
On Christmas Eve, 1914, during the first World War, German troops near Ypres, Belgium, put decorations up around their trenches. They even put candles in trees, and started singing Christmas carols, namely Stille Nacht (Silent Night).
Hearing the Germans, the British troops in the opposite trenches started singing carols in English.
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As the carols grew louder, both sides began yelling Christmas greetings to each other. Then, some began to venture across No Man’s Land and exchanged gifts, such as cigarettes and chocolate.
While the cannons remained still, troops from both sides retrieved the dead and took the opportunity to give fallen comrades a proper burial. At one funeral in No Man’s Land, soldiers from both sides gathered and read a passage from the 23rd Psalm. |
The truce spread along the lines, and there are even tales of a soccer match being played. The truce lasted through Christmas night, and in some places through New Year’s Day.
One soldier in the British Expeditionary Force wrote a letter about the event:
My Dear Mater,
This will be the most memorable Christmas I’ve ever spent or likely to spend: since about tea time yesterday I don’t think theres been a shot fired on either side up to now. Last night turned a very clear frost moonlight night, so soon after dusk we had some decent fires going and had a few carols and songs. The Germans commenced by placing lights all along the edge of their trenches and coming over to us - wishing us a Happy Christmas etc. They also gave us a few songs etc. so we had quite a social party. Several of them can speak English very well so we had a few conversations. Some of our chaps went to over to their lines. I think theyve all come back bar one from ‘E’ Co. They no doubt kept him as a souvenir. In spite of our fires etc. it was terribly cold and a job to sleep between look out duties, which are two hours in every six.
First thing this morning it was very foggy. So we stood to arms a little longer than usual. A few of us that were lucky could go to Holy Communion early this morning. It was celebrated in a ruined farm about 500 yds behind us. I unfortunately couldnt go. There must be something in the spirit of Christmas as to day we are all on top of our trenches running about. Whereas other days we have to keep our heads well down. We had breakfast about 8.0 which went down alright especially some cocoa we made. We also had some of the post this morning. I had a parcel from B. G’s Lace Dept containing a sweater, smokes, under clothes etc. We also had a card from the Queen, which I am sending back to you to look after please. After breakfast we had a game of football at the back of our trenches! We’ve had a few Germans over to see us this morning. They also sent a party over to bury a sniper we shot in the week. He was about a 100 yds from our trench. A few of our fellows went out and helped to bury him.
About 10.30 we had a short church parade the morning service etc. held in the trench. How we did sing. ‘O come all ye faithful. And While shepherds watched their flocks by night’ were the hymns we had. At present we are cooking our Christmas Dinner! so will finish this letter later.
Dinner is over! and well we enjoyed it. Our dinner party started off with fried bacon and dip-bread: followed by hot Xmas Pudding. I had a mascot in my piece. Next item on the menu was muscatels and almonds, oranges, bananas, chocolate etc followed by cocoa and smokes. You can guess we thought of the dinners at home. Just before dinner I had the pleasure of shaking hands with several Germans: a party of them came 1/2way over to us so several of us went out to them. I exchanged one of my balaclavas for a hat. I’ve also got a button off one of their tunics. We also exchanged smokes etc. and had a decent chat. They say they won’t fire tomorrow if we don’t so I suppose we shall get a bit of a holiday - perhaps. After exchanging autographs and them wishing us a Happy New Year we departed and came back and had our dinner.
We can hardly believe that we’ve been firing at them for the last week or two - it all seems so strange. At present its freezing hard and everything is covered with ice…
There are plenty of huge shell holes in front of our trenches, also pieces of shrapnel to be found. I never expected to shake hands with Germans between the firing lines on Christmas Day and I don’t suppose you thought of us doing so. So after a fashion we’ve enjoyed? our Christmas. Hoping you spend a happy time also George Boy as well. How we thought of England during the day. Kind regards to all the neighbours. With much love from Boy.
The identity of the writer has never been discovered, as he referered to himself only as “Boy.” It’s also unknown whether he survived the war or not.
More letters from soldiers that participated in the truce can be read here: Christmas Truce: The Letters.
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Joe, did you happen to see the french movie “Joyeux Noel” which was based on the Christmas Truce story? Great film I rented c/o Netflix. Hope you and the family are great. Happy New Year’s!
–Robin Jones
Hey, Rubbles! Happy New Years! No, haven’t seen “Joyeux Noel” –didn’t even know they’d made a movie about it, and it’s pretty highly rated too ( imdb link.) I’m putting it on the list to watch.
Hope all the Jones family is doing well! Got the pics in the email and the boys are really growing up!