Every year about this time, I look through my library of Christmas books seeking reprieve from the stress
of the holidays. I grab whichever one catches my eye for some much-needed centering about the
meaning of the season.
This year I grabbed Christmas Truce: The Western Front December 1914, by British authors Malcolm
Brown and Shirley Seaton. The book is an assemblage of accounts about the “unofficial” day-and-a-half
Christmas cease-fire “truce” that took place Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on the battlefront during
the first year of WWI. May the following three minutes of history and excerpts spark some reflecting
about the holiday season amidst our frenzied habits of buying, wrapping, traveling, …and stressing to “get
it all done”. Now, let’s go back 101 years:
The World War (…sigh, it was to have been the only world war) began in Europe on July 28, 1914. As
fighting raged on during the onset of winter, outspoken figures from Pope Benedict XV to British women
suffragists implored Germany and Austria to reach peace as the first Christmas of the “Great War”
approached. Their requests were officially rebuffed.
Nonetheless, on December 24, 1914, an estimated 100,000 British, French and German troops near
Ypres in Belgium, along the Western Front, ceased fighting. German troops started decorating their
trenches with Christmas trees and candles in their branches, and began singing "Stille Nacht" – "Silent
Night." Since this was one of the Christmas carols that soldiers on both sides knew, English, French and
German troops began to sing along across the battle lines.
The 1914 unofficial Christmas Truce continued as soldiers from both sides started shouting Christmas
greetings to each other. Venturing across "No Man's Land," they recovered bodies and held joint burial
services. Soldiers even played soccer together. The Germans won 3-2. There was general
handshaking; the dead were buried; cigars, cigarettes and newspapers were exchanged, and a general
celebration ensued. “Then the Frenchmen suggested that we shoot no longer, promised that they
themselves would not resume hostilities in that event."
Among the firsthand accounts in the book is one from C. Ernest Furneaux of the British Rifle Brigade,
who wrote in a letter to his parents:
"About five o'clock on Christmas Eve the Germans started lighting up Christmas trees in their
trenches. We took no notice of them until they began to sing. Then we began to cheer them and
talk to one another as we are only about 80 yards apart. So by the light of their searchlight our
officers went across halfway and their officers came to meet them. They shook hands and
conversed for a while. It was agreed that we should have a day off and they would fire the first
shot to start again. So from five o'clock on Christmas Eve until ten o'clock this morning
(December 26th) neither side has fired, only walked about. Some of the Germans came across to
us and we shook hands and had some chocolate and cigars from them."
[The opposing front lines in WWI were indeed very close. To put their proximity in modern context, a
football field is 100 yards.]
In another account, Lance-Corporal Imlah of the Gordon Highlanders wrote in a letter to his father:
"Our padre then gave a short service, one of the items in which was Psalm XXIII. Thereafter, a
German soldier, a divinity student I believe, interpreted the service to the German party. I could
not understand what he was saying but it was beautiful to listen to him. The service over, we
were soon fraternizing with the Germans just as if they were old friends."
The January 9, 1915 edition of the Hertfordshire Mercury published a letter from British rifleman C. H.
Brazier:
"All through the night we sang carols to them and they sang to us... On Christmas day we all got
out of the trenches and walked about with the Germans, who when asked if they were fed up with
the war said 'yes, rather.' They all believed that London had been captured, and that German
sentries were outside Buckingham Palace. They are evidently told a lot of rot. We gave them
some of our newspapers to convince them."
Bruce Bairnsfather, who also served during the First World War, later wrote:
"I wouldn't have missed that unique and weird Christmas Day for anything... I spotted a German
officer, some sort of lieutenant I should think, and being a bit of a collector, I intimated to him that
I had taken a fancy to some of his buttons... I brought out my wire clippers and, with a few deft
snips, removed a couple of his buttons and put them in my pocket. I then gave him two of mine in
exchange... The last I saw was one of my machine gunners, who was a bit of an amateur
hairdresser in civil life, cutting the unnaturally long hair of a docile Boche, who was patiently
kneeling on the ground whilst the automatic clippers crept up the back of his neck."
Alas, some commanders on both sides were not as goodwill-spirited. When General Sir Horace SmithDorrien, commander of the British II Corps, heard what was happening, he reportedly became irate and
issued orders forbidding friendly communication with the opposing German troops. And a German officer
in the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry was also openly opposed to the truce: a young corporal named
Adolf Hitler.
The infusion of American troops and resources into the western front in 1918 generated the turning point
that led to victory for the Allies. And on the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month –
November 11, 1918 – Germany signed the armistice agreement with the Allies of World War I at
Compiègne, France. (And for we history buffs, yes, WWI officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles
was signed on June 28, 1919. Official paperwork is important, but not nearly as meaningful to the public
heart as was the actual cessation of fighting right before the holiday season.)
World War I, the “war to end all wars”, lasted four years, at a horrific cost of slaughter and destruction: 9
million military members and 7 million civilians died. WWI remains one of the deadliest wars in world
history.
After World War I ended, President Woodrow Wilson acknowledged the support of the twenty-two million
Americans who had enrolled as members of the Red Cross the previous Christmas and sent a stimulating
message of cheer and goodwill to the men who were fighting our battles overseas. Wilson stated “…
Now, by God's grace, the Red Cross Christmas message of 1918 is to be a message of peace as well as
a message of good-will." Wilson was the first U.S. President to travel overseas while in office, arriving in
Europe on December 13, 1918 to great crowds jubilantly hailing their gratitude to the United States for
being instrumental in the Allies’ victorious end to WWI.
Throughout our nation’s history, every President of the United States has officially wished the nation a
Merry Christmas and recognized the nation’s gratitude to those serving and to those who served during
times of war.
~~~
(For those who might want to read more, I find that the book is still available on Amazon. Please
remember… before buying anything on Amazon be sure to sign up for Amazon Smile and designate the
ALA Foundation as your Amazon Smile charity. It literally takes less than thirty
seconds, costs nothing, and once you’ve signed up, every purchase you make on
Amazon going forward results in a percentage donation to the ALA Foundation at
no cost or price hike to you. Plus, Amazon remembers you’re an Amazon Smile
ALA Foundation supporter every time you sign back into your Amazon account –
it’s just that simple. And with some 700,000 ALA members, your shopping using
Amazon Smile can really benefit the ALA over time with no extra effort or cost on
your part – it’s just the ALA “elfish” thing to do! )
Amidst the hustle and bustle, may we reflect on why we can indeed say “Merry
Christmas”. May 2016 bring peace in our communities and the world. I wish you
happy holidays…with gratitude to our veterans and all who serve to protect us,
with thanks to each of you for all you’re doing to help the ALA achieve our five
goals, and with hope that the New Year truly be filled with good will.
Appreciatively, Dubbie
Mary “Dubbie” Buckler, National Secretary/Executive Director, American Legion Auxiliary National Headquarters I O) 317569-4506 I [email protected]
Submitted by Department National Security Chairman Chris Ronning