A Christmas story

Good evening dear friends! Christmas has arrived and I remembered a wonderful Christmas story from the First World War.

The First World War began in August 1914. Nevertheless, five months later, on December 25, Christmas carols were heard across the Western Front. It sounds unbelievable, but on that day, both warring parties laid down their weapons and temporarily declared a truce. It was short-lived, but deep and sincere, and it showed that humanity can be found even in the darkest times.The line separating the warring parties in France was so close that they could hear and see each other well - cold, tired and sleepless.The Germans and the French did not communicate much with each other, but the presence of British troops made the conversation easier. The Germans knew little English, and it was similar with the French. During the hours of the armistice, it was not unusual to exchange newspapers, cigarettes, and even novels, because the first months of the war on the Western Front were not particularly sharp.

A Christmas miracle

German and British soldiers came out of the trenches to exchange holiday greetings and talk. What was valid on other days only for a few evening hours, on December 25, 1914, became an all-day holiday for everyone. Christmas in 1914 thus forever remained inscribed in the history of warfare simply as a "day of miracles."

Nobody's country has become a place for gatherings, exchanges of souvenirs, food, joint Christmas Masses jedne even one football match! They sang and joked until late at night.

This is evidenced by the letters of the soldiers addressed to their loved ones, which describe this little "Christmas miracle". In one of them, from a Scot who fought not far from the Belgian city of Ypres, the world learned that even a small Christmas tree was placed in the middle of no man's land!

A FOOTBALL MATCH BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND THE GERMAN WAS PLAYED DURING THE ARMY.

The truce was short-lived and lasted less than a week. By the time the media and the public found out about him at the time, there was already a lot of shooting on the Western Front again, and nothing like that ever happened again!

The commands of both warring parties issued strict orders forbidding twinning with enemy soldiers. The war became increasingly difficult due to the catastrophic loss of human lives during the battles of Soma and Verdun and the introduction of chemical weapons.

The First World War lasted for the next four years, taking millions of lives of soldiers and civilians and completely destroying entire countries. In terms of its destructive effects, it was surpassed only by the Second World War.

However, for a brief moment on Christmas Day 1914, humanity won.

THE CROSS IN BELGIUM WAS ESTABLISHED AT THE PLACE WHERE A FOOTBALL MATCH BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND THE GERMAN WAS PLAYED IN 1914, DURING THE CHRISTMAS PEACE.

Source: Historical Entertainer

Photos taken from google