Michael in Texas

Merry Christmas to the commenters as well.

We should all look forward to and hope for a wonderful new year.

Here is a new short piece on the truce; it’s an advertisement, but very well done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWF2JBb1bvM

“Moonlight in Vermont”
Playing in the background air
Justifies our cause.

Wishing you the best,
You and all your families,
Health and happiness.

Today is the 100th anniversary of one of the most remarkable events of World War I, or indeed of any war: the Christmas Truce.

The war began at the end of July and was less than five months old. In the beginning, most people on both sides expected a short, sharp, decisive war, but by December it had degenerated into a bloody stalemate. The number of casualties was already shocking by that point.

Soldiers on both sides met in No Man’s Land between the trenchlines to bury their dead, exchange presents, and take photos. From what I’ve read, it started on Christmas Eve when German soldiers began singing “Stille Nacht”, and the British troops in the opposing trenches instantly recognized the melody and joined in.

When the leadership on both sides got wind of the truce and that their frontline soldiers were openly fraternizing with the enemy, they threatened disciplinary action and ordered the men to start shooting again. Apparently, the units involved were transferred to other sectors of the front.

This may have been the only time in history when a war was nearly called off by popular consent, by troops who were already sick of the carnage.

I guess this truce was only possible because people in all the countries of Europe shared a Christian culture that was still strong in 1914. It would be much less likely in a war against atheist Communists or Muslim jihadis.

I’m not a writer, but somebody should write an alternative history story where the truce stuck, and the governments of both sides realized that further fighting would be senseless. How would today’s world be different? No 20 million dead in WWI, no Russian Revolution, no punitive peace settlement at Versailles, and maybe no World War II. Of course, that would require that everybody accept the fait accompli that the Germans had conquered parts of France and most of Belgium.

These appear to be the best books about the event: Christmas Truce and Truce.

There was also a movie made in 2005: Joyeux Noé«l. It has a lot of positive reviews, but reading the negative reviews, it seems to be a fictionalized account of the events. And I wonder how many of the positive reviews are from people who consider themselves “anti-war” and like the movie because it confirms their preconceived notions. Still, I’m considering buying the books and the movie.

Merry Christmas and God bless us, everyone.