102 years ago something amazing happened.

By the middle of October 1914, the front lines of the Western Front had settled down into the horror that would become known as trench warfare - a brutal war of attrition who's objective was to see "who can kill the most in the shortest possible time". However, it was still 1914 and the bulk of the senseless slaughter remained to be seen, so at that point neither side had resorted to painting the enemies as subhuman.

On December 7, Pope Benedict XV suggested a temporary hiatus of the war for the celebration of Christmas. The politicians of the warring countries refused to consider it, but politicians only declare wars. Politicians don't fight wars, soldiers do.

The opposing trenches in WWI were often just yards away from each other, so the soldiers got into the habit of taunting each other. On December 24, the day that Germans traditionally celebrate Christmas a very unusual event happened.

"As I told you before our trenches are only 30 or 40 yards away from the Germans. This led to an exciting incident the other day. Our fellows have been in the habit of shouting across to the enemy and we used to get answers from them. We were told to get into conversation with them and this is what happened:- From out trenches: "Good morning Fritz." (No answer). "Good morning Fritz." (Still no answer). "GOOD MORNING FRITZ." From German trenches: "Good morning." From our trench: "How are you?" "All right." "Come over here, Fritz." "No. If I come I get shot." "No you won't. Come on." "No fear." "Come and get some fags, Fritz." "No. You come half way and I meet you." "All right." One of our fellows thereupon stuffed his pocket with fags and got over the trench.. The German got over his trench, and right enough they met half way and shook hands, Fitz taking the fags and giving cheese in exchange." Letter from Private H Scrutton, Essex Regiment, published in the Norfolk Chronicle on January 1, 1915

"You will no doubt be surprised to hear that we spent our Christmas in the trenches after all and that Christmas Day was a very happy one. On Christmas Eve the Germans entrenched opposite us began calling out to us ‘Cigarettes’, ‘Pudding’, ‘A Happy Christmas’ and ‘English – means good’, so two of our fellows climbed over the parapet of the trench and went towards the German trenches. Half-way they were met by four Germans, who said they would not shoot on Christmas Day if we did not. They gave our fellows cigars and a bottle of wine and were given a cake and cigarettes. When they came back I went out with some more of our fellows and we were met by about 30 Germans, who seemed to be very nice fellows. I got one of them to write his name and address on a postcard as a souvenir. All through the night we sang carols to them and they sang to us and one played ‘God Save the King’ on a mouth organ" Rifleman C H Brazier, Queen's Westminsters, of Bishop's Stortford(The Hertfordshire Mercury, Saturday January 9, 1915)

Obviously censorship was in its infancy if these got published. Picture in your mind the setting. Dirty, unwashed soldiers from both sides of a battlefield, who just the day before were killing each other, singing Stille Nacht, O Tannenbaum, and O Come All Ye Faithful together.

Generally the Christmas Truce was used to bury the dead of those who had fallen in No-Man's Land.

"On Christmas Eve the firing practically ceased. I think both sides understood we were going to have a day off. Through the night we sang carols to one another, the German lines were only a hundred yars away, so we heard each other quite plainly. This went on all night. When dawn arrived we started putting our head above the parapet and waved to each other. On our left was a brewery occupied by the Germans and to our surprise we saw a German come out and hold his hand up, behind him were two rolling a barrel of beer. They came halfway across and signed to us to come for it. Three of us went out, shook hands with them, wished them a merry Christmas, and rolled the barrel to our own trenches amid the cheers of both British and Germans! After that it was understood that peace was declared for a day. We both got out of our trenches and met in the middle of the field, wished each other seasons greetings. The Germans said: "A merry Grismas!". Some of them were quite good at English. We had a most interesting day. The Germans got permission for our officers to bury some of their dead which were lying near our lines. " Private Cunningham, of the 5th Scottish Rifles (The Scotsman, January 5, 1915).

The story that cannot be confirmed is whether a soccer game happened in No-Man's Land. Some letters refer to the game(s), including that of 133rd Royal Saxon Regiment against "Scottish troops" (German's won 3-2), and another involving the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders that the Scots won 4-1. Royal Field Artillery Lieutenant Albert Wynn described a match between "Prussians and Hanovers" played near Ypres.

  Many historians doubt the games happened due to the terrible conditions of No-Man's Land, the lack of soccer balls, and how the stories are often second-hand. More likely what happened was simply some 'kick-about' matches. The best evidence is that at least one such game took place at Wulverghem and no score was kept.

The Christmas Truce was not total by any means. Some areas experienced horrendous fighting.

The End of the Truce

In most cases the truce ended the very next day and the senseless carnage returned. But in many instances, the soldiers were reluctant to go back to killing each other.

"Next day we got an order that all communication and friendly intercourse with the enemey must cease but we did not fire at all that day, and the Germans did not fire at us." Company-Sergeant Major Frank Naden of the 6th Cheshire Territorials (Evening Mail (Newcastle) January 31, 1914) And the Manchester Guardian's Paris Correspondent wrote on January 6, 1915: "The sequel was more interesting than the event itself. The French and German soldiers who had thus fraternised subsequently refused to fire on one another and had to be removed from the trenches and replaced by other men."

"The first casualty when war comes is truth."

-  Hiram W Johnson, US Senator, 1917

It's when the politicians, generals, and other national leaders, the ones who aren't fighting, have to punish the troops for not killing the enemy that the true absurdity of war is exposed for all to see. Regular people don't want war. Not then. Not now.

 "For it discourages initiative in commanders, and destroys offensive spirit in all ranks. . . . Friendly intercourse with the enemy, unofficial armistices and exchange of tobacco and other comforts, however tempting and occasionally amusing they may be, are absolutely prohibited."  

- Brigadier General G.T. Forrestier-Walker

There is no way of knowing what happened to the men who participated in the Christmas Truce. Most likely most of them were dead before the war was half over.

However, I like to think that some of the German soldiers survived to participate in the German Revolution of 1918, when the German Army simply decided to stop fighting the war on the Western Front, the event that actually ended the war.