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TheProfBurg — Christmas Day Truce
#worldwari #thegreatwar #worldwar1 #christmastruce #thefirstworldwar #christmastruce1914
Published: 2014-12-25 07:05:40 +0000 UTC; Views: 1433; Favourites: 19; Downloads: 4
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Description
In 1914, one of the most destructive wars in history started. Both sides thought that they were superior and that the war would be over by Christmas. However that wasn't the case. New technology made killing more effecttive and the hellish conditions of the trenches on the Western Front, made advancement impossible. So dreams of a Christmas victory for both sides were squashed. However something extrodinary happened that day. A hundred years ago on December 25th 1914, British and German troops stepped into no man's land, but instead of killing each other, they seemed like they were happy to see each other. A truce was declared because of this holiday. British and German troops would exchange presents, tell stories and play soccer with each other (Oops I mean football, forgive me I'm American
) It showed what this holiday could do. Unfortunately this would be the only and last truce of the war (except for the occasional fraternisation) Officers on both sides see it that their troops would never do this again. Governments made it an act of treason for anyone to interact with the enemy. Which is ashame that these men could've been the best of friends and yet they went back being the bitterest of enemies. There were attempts at another truce though. In Spring of 1915 the Germans wanted a Easter truce, but that didn't work out and trying another truce in Christmas of 1915 but again failed. By 1916 both sides have seen the horrors of war and hatred that none wanted a Christmas truce. Related content
Comments: 7
It's nice to remember the Christmas Day Truce, a point of light in the horrifying war.
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Indeed, it truly shows that even during the darkest of times, humanity can still join hands for a common cause, even if it's temporary.
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Beautiful. Perhaps this is the answer. Wars will be not be won by our leaders but by our peoples finding a common ground.
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Reminds of something I heard from the adaptation of All Quiet On the Western Front (I haven't read the book yet but the original 1931 movie is a real powerful anti war film) Anyway when the soldiers are eating they are trying to figure out why they are fighting, none of them never seen an Englishman or a Frenchman before and are wondering who started the war and why are their fighting in the first place. Which one of them replies, "You know how to solve problems with war, just gather every world leader in one room, locked em in and make em duke it out. The last one standing is the victor" and that proves his point, why political leaders need to fight war even though despite our differences whether being race, religion, or etc we can get along, but sadly it's ignorance, and power that leads us to it.
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A very good idea. Lock up all our leaders together. We'll have world peace in less than a day.
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