Christmas truce

[chasem]

Were the Germans laughing at the Scots' definition of "regimental," or the fact that the Scots, being highly trained members of the British army, were mooning them in drill formation?;)

I saw this show too, I was really enjoying it. They implied that the Germans were getting a kick out of it when the Scots' kilts would fly up in the middle of the game, and they'd catch a glimpse of what was[n't] under the kilt.

I recall a letter/note that one of the Germans wrote, basically saying something to that effect, that they got a chuckle when they'd catch the sight of a kilted soldiers bum. At that point in the film a kilted soldier turned and mooned the the Germans. So it was implied that the kilted troops would intentionally moon the Germans, but it was never stated.

[michael steinrok]

True accounts of the Christmas truce can be found in the above listed book.
The event occurred on Christmas eve 1914. It was started by the Germans who had begun singing Silent Night.British and Scottish regiments at first thoght it was a trick as they had rarely seen Christmas trees before.It started an informal truce that many hoped would last and was deplored by the high commands on both sides. Oh what might have been? Similar attempts basically failed in the following Christmas Eves.

[davedove]

True accounts of the Christmas truce can be found in the above listed book.
The event occurred on Christmas eve 1914. It was started by the Germans who had begun singing Silent Night.British and Scottish regiments at first thoght it was a trick as they had rarely seen Christmas trees before.It started an informal truce that many hoped would last and was deplored by the high commands on both sides. Oh what might have been? Similar attempts basically failed in the following Christmas Eves.

What a shame that something so simple and inspiring was brought to an end. As someone once said (I don't remember who) "Old men are always findings ways for young men to die."

Since I was gone from the boards, Merry Christmas to all, and may you all find peace and happiness in your lives.

[macwilkin]

What a shame that something so simple and inspiring was brought to an end. As someone once said (I don't remember who) "Old men are always findings ways for young men to die."

Since I was gone from the boards, Merry Christmas to all, and may you all find peace and happiness in your lives.

The aforementioned documentary did do a very good job in pointing out that not all officers and even other ranks participated in the truce, and that some officers did see value in a temporary lull in the fighting. However, I think it needs to be mentioned that we are talking about military discipline, and whilst it's easy to criticize high command for their stance, as a military historian I have to also examine the truce from their point-of-view, too much fraternization leads to low morale and even the possiblity of treason, which the film also mentioned.

Fraternization between opposing forces is nothing new in military history; our Civil War is full of many stories of it, as well as many other conflicts.

Sorry to go "OT" there...

Cheers,

Todd

[macwilkin]

The tenor John McDermott, who is part of the Irish tenors, performs this song on the album "Remembrance":

Christmas in the Trenches

by John McCutcheon

My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung,
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.

I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
"He's singing bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony
The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought us respite from the war
As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was "Stille Nacht." "Tis 'Silent Night'," says I
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky
"There's someone coming toward us!" the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright
As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night
Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men

Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each prepared to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost, so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore

My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same

© 1984 John McCutcheon - All rights reserved

There is also documented evidence of similar "truces" on the Eastern Front between the Russians and the Germans.

Cheers,

Todd

[Beery]

I am watching a show on the history channel about the Christmas truce between the Germans and Uk's during WW1...

I was a reenactor and supplier of reproduction items for reenactors for a while back in the 1990s and when I saw this program I was pleased to see that my own reproduction Princess Mary box contents were displayed prominently in one scene.

Sorry to dig up this old thread, but it came up in a search and I had to comment.

[michael steinrok]

I was a reenactor and supplier of reproduction items for reenactors for a while back in the 1990s and when I saw this program I was pleased to see that my own reproduction Princess Mary box contents were displayed prominently in one scene.

Sorry to dig up this old thread, but it came up in a search and I had to comment.

Do you have any more of those? How much?

[g koch]

I used to have one of these...still had the little greeting from HRH.

Seem to be many on eBay. Some with contents.

http://tinyurl.com/darwp

[Beery]

Do you have any more of those? How much?

I think they went for about $20 with the cigarettes inside. I don't have any left - sadly I never even kept one for myself. One day I'll dig out the pattern and make a new batch, but probably not in the near future. Someone somewhere is probably making reproductions of the contents, but it's about 5 years since I did any WWI reenacting, so I really wouldn't know where to look.