This Day in History: The First World War Christmas Truce
- 5 years ago
This Day in History:
The First World War
Christmas Truce December 25, 1914 The Christmas Truce of 1914
came only five months after
the outbreak of war in Europe. It was one of the last examples
of the outdated notion of chivalry
between enemies in warfare. Just after dawn on Christmas day, German troops emerged unarmed from their trenches singing Christmas carols. They crossed no-man's land
calling out “Merry Christmas”
in their enemies’ native tongues. The soldiers exchanged
gifts of cigarettes
and plum puddings
with each other. There was even a documented
case of soldiers from
opposing sides playing a
good-natured game of soccer.
The First World War
Christmas Truce December 25, 1914 The Christmas Truce of 1914
came only five months after
the outbreak of war in Europe. It was one of the last examples
of the outdated notion of chivalry
between enemies in warfare. Just after dawn on Christmas day, German troops emerged unarmed from their trenches singing Christmas carols. They crossed no-man's land
calling out “Merry Christmas”
in their enemies’ native tongues. The soldiers exchanged
gifts of cigarettes
and plum puddings
with each other. There was even a documented
case of soldiers from
opposing sides playing a
good-natured game of soccer.