~ A TRUCE OF CAROLS ~

From an historical perspective, WW I was a turning point for warfare, both from a technologic and global standpoint.  Old world troop tactics were used against new technologies in weaponry.  From the new lethal machine guns, cannons with greater and more accurate ranges and destructive power, to airplanes and eventually chemical warfare, a war of this scale and destruction had never before been waged.

When war was declared in late July, 1914, a domino effect of poorly written treaties between waning empires ensued with little understanding of the ramifications that lay ahead.  Most thought that earlier wars between France and Germany, just a few decades in the past, would serve as the model for more saber rattling rather than actual death and destruction.  Both sides believed the war wouldn’t last until Christmas. 

Perhaps the greatest irony is that peace and cross border relationships between much of Western Europe’s new middle class was in flower.  Stories of Germans driving cabs in England and English upper middle class making pilgrimages to the temperate climes of Italy abounded.  In the first decade of the 20th century, the masses were enjoying a peace and prosperity foreshadowing the European Union of present day. 

Early in WW I, the warring nations began a program of propaganda demonizing the other side.  The difficulty at least early on, is that many had either traveled to the countries they were enlisted to fight against, or had acquaintances with many of their new enemies before the war began. 

Fighting became bloody very quickly and old tactics were held to regardless of the loss of life and the stalemate that led to trench warfare.  Large groups of soldiers were sent over the top into the clutches of devastating machine gun fire and cannon shelling.  Commanders seemed to have very little regard for the lives of the common soldier in the trench.

The trenches themselves were wretched and water logged, filled with disease and the detritus of war.  As in most wars, the soldier’s allegiances soon turned to saving oneself and ones closest comrades, not the vague vision and misplaced honor of the leaders of waning and bloated empires who declared the war.

The miracle of peace.
After creating six-hundred miles of trench, an area evolved between the trenches called “no man’s land”.  It was a battleground between the trenches and soon filled up with the casualties of war.  No man’s land was filled with bodies, barbed wire and water filled craters; a veritable hell on earth.  At an officer’s command a soldier was expected to go over the top and try and overrun the enemy’s trench.  What took place was usually a slaughter with few survivors.  Needless to say, most men had no desire to “go over the top”.   One British song quipped, “Send out my mother, My sister and my brother, But for Gawd’s sake don’t’ send me.”*

No man’s land in some places was somewhat narrow, and the soldiers from opposite sides could speak with each other.  Sometimes insults, sometimes jokes and even the occasional trade of food or souvenirs ensued.   When the war was quiet, the boredom could become extreme and endless.  Any diversion was better than none. 

A Christmas Truce was discussed on both sides, but discarded as untenable and counterproductive.  To bolster the men’s spirits, the generals had gifts shipped to the front lines.  The English command provided a tin from Princess Mary filled with gifts of tobacco and chocolate, the German recruits were sent thousands of small “Tannenbaum” and kegs of beer along with tobacco.  Some of the soldiers even complained that items necessary for their survival such as munitions and foodstuffs were held up so that these tokens of the holidays could be distributed. 

The Germans at that time were a mix of undertrained Saxon, Bavarian, Westphalian, Hessian and Prussians, many of whom were reservists and far from enthusiastic about the war.  The Germans have a rich tradition of celebrating Christmas.  Therefore, it didn’t take long before Christmas carols began wafting over no man’s land and the small glimmering, candle-strewn Tannenbaum were appearing on the German parapets. 

To the amazement of all, small bands of soldiers began, tentatively at first, to communicate and even agree to meet in no man’s land to share a smoke, trade food or souvenirs.  Soon all along the front, large groups of soldiers from all armies were “fraternizing” in the name of Christmas.  Some of the older veterans remembered the war before this one, between France and Germany where a similar event occurred. 

Comrades, struck down in no man’s land were buried, services were held, food and stories were shared. Even soccer matches took place.  If a ball wasn’t available, one was fashioned.  There were instruments to be found and one could often hear a string quartet or other instruments playing traditional Christmas music.  A tenor from the Paris opera made his frontline debut singing Cantique de Noel.  O Holy Night, its English title, was written by Adolf Adam, a non-practicing Jew, famous for his ballet Gisele, with words by a defrocked monk.  Written in the first half of the nineteenth-century, it was suppressed by the church, thus largely unknown at the time.

The impossible miracle of peace did come to an end after several days, and some of those who participated were either shipped out or shamed into continuing to fight.  Not a single officer was successfully court-marshaled for the blatant disobedience.  To the men in the trenches that survived the war, the truce was a seminal event of their lives.  Many friendships developed that lasted beyond both world wars and the veterans would go on to speak and write about the truce for the rest of their lives.