Christmas Truce

Mr.Buttocks · **Christmas Truce -** 12-22-2004, 10:57 AM

This has probably been posted 187236483276487364 times before, but it's neat so here it is again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_truce

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

The so-called "Christmas truce" began on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1914, during World War I, when German troops began decorating the area around their trenches in the region of Ypres, Belgium for Christmas. They began by placing candles on trees, then continued the celebration by singing Christmas carols. The British troops in the trenches across from them responded by singing English carols.

The two sides continued by shouting holiday greetings to each other. Soon, there were calls for visits across the "No Man's Land", where small gifts were exchanged — whiskey, cigars, and the like. The artillery in the region fell silent that night. The truce also allowed a breathing spell where recently fallen soldiers could be brought back behind their lines by burial parties. Proper burials took place as soldiers from both sides mourned the dead together and paid their respect. At one funeral in No Man's Land, soldiers from both sides gathered and read a passage from the 23rd Psalm:

"The lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me lie down in green pastures. He leaveth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the path of righteousness for his namesake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."

The truce spread to other areas of the lines, and there is a perhaps apocryphal story of a football match between the opposing forces, which ended when the ball struck a strand of barbed wire and deflated.

In many sectors, the truce lasted through Christmas night, but in some areas, it continued until New Year's Day.

British commanders Sir John French and Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien vowed that no such truce would be allowed again. In all of the following years of the war, artillery bombardments were ordered on Christmas Eve to insure that there were no further lulls in the combat. Troops were also rotated through various sectors of the front to prevent the troops from becoming overly familiar with the enemy troops. Despite those measurements there were a few friendly encounters between enemy soldiers, but on a much smaller scale than the previous year.

During Easter 1916 a similar truce existed on the Eastern Front.

In 1999, the so-called "Khaki Chums" (officially: The Association for Military Remembrance) visited a region of Flanders and recreated the Christmas truce. They lived as the World War I British soldiers had lived, with no modern conveniences.

The Christmas Truce has often been characterized as the last "twitch" of the 19th century: it was the last moment when in war, two sides would meet each other in proper and mutual respect for one another; when they would greet each other with kindness to show that - in spite of the horrible turn of events that had unfolded - they were still honorable and respectful soldiers of war.

[DAS REICH] Blitz · 12-22-2004, 10:57 AM

Ahhh Good Story...+1 noble OckButts

geRV · 12-22-2004, 10:58 AM

Might need one for this forum and all, no flaming for a day, (chances) oOo:

12-22-2004, 11:05 AM

would be nice to have no flaming from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day

[DAS REICH] Blitz · 12-22-2004, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acideyez

would be nice to have no flaming from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day

It would be, but honestly how many of us will be checking GF1 on Christmas eve...Wait nvm, all you nerds will biggrin: including me.. loney:

12-22-2004, 11:11 AM

course i will be, im jewish.

Mr.Buttocks · 12-22-2004, 11:11 AM

[quote="[DAS REICH] Blitz":43d30]Wait nvm, all you nerds will....[/quote:43d30]

You smell like one of the phantom spammers from last week. mwah:

[DAS REICH] Blitz · 12-22-2004, 11:13 AM

[quote="Mr.Buttocks":6d3d2][quote="[DAS REICH] Blitz":6d3d2]Wait nvm, all you nerds will....[/quote:6d3d2]

You smell like one of the phantom spammers from last week. mwah:[/quote:6d3d2]Alas, For the past 2+ months my account has been deactivated..

bukdez · 12-22-2004, 11:31 AM

great story... rock:...

Doctor Duffy · 12-22-2004, 11:40 AM

Thats kinda funny...I dont think I'd ever make a truce with anyone who killed a friend. But, thats me, and that didnt happen,.

wintersforge · 12-22-2004, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geRV

Might need one for this forum and all, no flaming for a day, (chances) oOo:

LOL! +1 to zee Buttocks. nice read.... ed:

Tripper · 12-22-2004, 12:57 PM

Even though I've read it before, I read it again because I think those truces perfectly capture the true meaning of christmas...

Doctor Duffy · 12-22-2004, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tripper

Even though I've read it before, I read it again because I think those truces perfectly capture the true meaning of christmas...

You sound like a Christian extreamist.

Tripper · 12-22-2004, 05:48 PM

[quote="Sgt. Duffy":62f4b]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tripper

Even though I've read it before, I read it again because I think those truces perfectly capture the true meaning of christmas...

You sound like a Christian extreamist.[/quote:62f4b]

It's 'extremist,' and there's nothing particularly christian about what I posted at all....

To christian extremists, the true meaning of Christmas is the hatching of jesus' egg or whatever.