Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Christmas Truce in the Trenches


There's a Christmas story that my dad shares every once in a while and I thought I'd share it with all of you because it is a most wonderful story.

In 1914 during World War I, soldiers on both sides were stuck in awful trenches with no respite from the harsh winter elements and under constant threat from the enemy. On Christmas Eve however, German soldiers began a "Christmas Truce" by delivering chocolate cake to the British along with the resquest for a cease fire so they could have a concert. The British answered the German request with a gift of tobacco. Thus began a truce of magnificent proportion, never seen before, never to be seen again.

The cease fire spread a 27-mile length along the front. Soldiers from both sides met in no-mans-land, exchanged gifts, played a bit of soccer, and sang Christmas carols together. In some places, the truce lasted through New Year's Day and it touched soldiers from both sides deeply.

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." 1 John 4:10-11 (KJV)

4 comments:

janers said...

I think I would quite like to see this story played out on the big screen in heaven. I shall file this story away to be remembered again another day! Thanks for sharing this great story.

Ben said...

Did you know there's a movie all about this truce? Freaky coincidence but just a few days before I read this entry I saw the video on the shelf at Blockbuster. That was the first I had ever heard about it.

j said...

yay! jane doesn't have to wait for heaven to see it!

Unknown said...

I love Christmas stories! I actually collect them and have a book with all my favorites in it. This one is being added. Thanks girly!