MIRACLE IN THE TRENCHES: THE 1914 CHRISTMAS TRUCE

On rare occasions in the history of warfare, the actions of those common soldiers who are asked to make the ultimate sacrifice in the name of patriotism override the insanity and irrationality of political leaders and generals. Such was the case of the 1914 Christmas truce in the trenches of the European front during World War I.

Just prior to Christmas, some German soldiers from Saxon packaged up a chocolate cake and lobbed it into the British trenches. They attached a note to their surprise package requesting that the British observe a one-hour cease firm so that they could celebrate their captain’s birthday. Not only did the British troops agree to the request, but they laid down their weapons, stood outside their trenches and offered a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” to the German captain in honor of his birthday.

What followed this singular event was truly a miracle. According to the accounts of many soldiers, both German and British, the German soldiers lit with candles thousands of miniature tannenbaums or Christmas trees that had been sent to the front lines. One German officer, Kurt Zehmisch, a German lieutenant, described the candle lighting of these Christmas trees in the following manner: "It was pure illumination - along the trench parapets there were Christmas trees lit up by burning candles." In response, Zehmisch said: "The British responded by shouting and clapping."

The German soldiers started to sing “Stille Nicht”. The British soldiers responded by singing “Silent Night”. Others recorded how signs were erected in the trenches, one wishing the other side “Merry Christmas” and other signs responding with signs reading “Thank you”. Soon, before the officers realized what was happening, the soldiers on both sides were out of their trenches in no-man’s land exchanging gifts of candles, cake, cigars, cigarettes and Christmas pudding, singing Christmas carols, embracing their enemies and playing a pickup game of soccer with improvised balls (tin cans) and German spiked helmets as goalposts. One Germany soldier recorded in his diary: “The English brought a soccer ball from the trenches, and pretty soon a lively game ensued. How marvellously wonderful, yet how strange it was. The English officers felt the same way about it. Thus Christmas, the celebration of Love, managed to bring mortal enemies together as friends for a time.”

This spontaneous Christmas celebration was not limited to one small area of the front, but stretched for hundreds of kilometers with thousands of troops participating. French and Belgian troops also took part in this miraculous ceasefire. Not all the business of that miraculous ceasefire was spent in celebration. During the lull in fighting, both sides engaged in the discouraging task of burying their dead comrades whose bodies had been left to rot in no-man’s land.

The cessation of hostilities lasted in some locations through Boxing Day and in other locations into the New Year. Ultimately however, the ceasefire came to an end when the horrified military planners and generals on both sides ordered their troops back to war. But for one brief moment in the history of man, the common soldier, with the spirit of Christmas in their heart, put into practice the glorious Christmas message of “Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men.”