Post on 25-Jul-2020
transcript
In Conjunction with Mr. Rauer
Presents
The Western Front
Association United States Branch
Christmas
In the
Trenches1914
With the entire world at war,
the soldiers, their nations
and their families at home
still found ways to celebrate
the most joyous holiday of
the year. Christmas 1914
First Christmas - 1914
Bitterness & Anger Had Not Set in Yet
The Soldiers of Each Side
Decorated Their Trenches
On Christmas Eve the Men Sang Carols
And were Overheard by Their Opponents
The Soldiers Signaled Each Other and
Promised Not to Fight the Next Day.
In the Morning They Met in No-Man’s-Land
This was the Famous Christmas Truce of 1914
July 2014
German Officer in a
British Trench
Two German Officers
with a British Officer
Commanders Never Allowed a Repeat of the Truce
But the Troops Always Celebrated Christmas
Christmas Parties were
held At the Front
And Where Men Were Out of Action
French Prisoners of War - German Patients
Presents Were Opened
Official Commemorations
Were Held in Rear Areas
Some Lucky Soldiers Were Permitted
Christmas Leave
Most Men Could Only Dream of
Christmas with Their Families
Christmas Cards Were Still Exchanged,
But the War Remained Inescapable
By Christmas 1918
The Victors Happy, the Defeated Glum