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By Peter Simkins, Imperial
War Museum Along the British section of the line, about 22 miles in Flanders, particularly on and around Christmas Day (it wasn't just a Christmas Day phenomenon), both sides began to detect in the opposing trenches, certain signs of Christmas celebration (if celebration is the right word in such a setting). Germans would be heard singing, "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht." The British forces would respond with a British Christmas carol. In some places, food was lobbed over into the opposing trenches. I think on one or two instances, the Germans erected Christmas trees. And, there was a kind of mutual curiosity, and certainly instances of soldiers applauding each others' singing; and it became a kind of friendly duel, if you like. And, people would shout messages like: "Fritz, here. I was a waiter in a Manchester hotel before the war. How are my friends from the Lancashire? (Fusiliers? etc., etc.)" |
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On Christmas Day
itself, the first curious, slightly headstrong people, perhaps, from both
sides poked their head above the trenches, and being made aware that somebody
on the other side wasn't going to shoot it off, then clambered cautiously
out. Others followed suit. People stopped in the middle of no-man's-land,
shook hands, exchanged buttons and badges, cigarettes. And, this went
on, in some parts for two or three days. And, then, partly because the
Generals didn't want it to happen, and partly because units moved out
of the line and others came in, the thing died away. It was never repeated. |