What Is The Christmas Truce
The christmas truce german.
What is the christmas truce. The so called christmas truce of 1914 came only five months after the outbreak of war in europe and was one of the last examples of the outdated notion of chivalry between enemies in warfare. However in december in many places along the battle area known as the western front soldiers stopped fighting and celebrated christmas. German troops were decorating their areas by placing candles on christmas trees and around their trenches. The war began in the summer of 1914.
The pause in fighting was not universally observed nor had it been sanctioned by commanders on either side but along some two thirds of the anglo german front the guns fell silent. Christmas truce december 24 25 1914 impromptu cease fire that occurred along the western front during world war i. After the start of the truce on christmas eve in 1914 about 100 000 soldiers from both german and english armies have started celebrating christmas together. But what was the real story behind the truce.
The christmas truce has become one of the most famous and mythologised events of the first world war. For many the christmas truce remains one of the most enduring and symbolic moments of world war one. Within only a few months hundreds of thousands of soldiers had been killed in heavy fighting. The events of december 1914 have become an integral part of national remembrance and provide a centrepiece for the current first world war centenary commemorations.
The christmas truce also allowed both sides to finally bury their dead comrades whose bodies had lain for weeks on no man s land the ground between opposing trenches. Yet the christmas truce has also become one of the most misunderstood events of the entire war. Contrary to popular belief first hand sources reported that the christmas truce was not a large scale event. Late on christmas eve 1914 men of the british expeditionary force bef heard german troops in the.
The truce occurred only five months into the war. The christmas truce was an event that happened during world war i. This iconic moment of history tells the tale of soldiers on opposite sides coming together in a moment of peace during christmas day 1914. Why did it happen and did british and german soldiers really play football in no man s land.