Voluntary Christmas ceasefire during war

During the First World War there were quite a few unofficial ceasefires or cases where soldiers arranged off-target artillery fire. Most of it is anecdotal, since the high command was not involved and would have taken serious issues such events. However, reading letters from the front it becomes clear that these informal armistices actually did happen.

Today such an event would be impossible. After the Second World War it was noted that few soldiers actually fired their weapon directly towards the enemy (it’s somewhat against human nature to kill a fellow man) and training was directed towards eliminating that problem. The military authorities are aware of the problem and are now also focused on producing “killers”, rather than just functional soldiers. Due to such new concepts in military training, modern warfare is far more deadly, when looking at the actions of individual soldiers.

I believe that military commands all over Europe took note of these informal armistices and between the two wars they likewise changed how soldiers were selected and trained (their basic approach to war), so it became more unlikely that soldiers would make such unofficial ceasefire arrangements. Although I have come across anecdotes from WWII, where each side is celebrating Christmas with song, I’m not aware of an actual ceasefire. However, what I’m aware off and what actually happened are naturally two very different things :p

The 1914 Truce started here

Which is just around the corner from Mud Corner cemetary. Which itself is overlooked by Prowse Point Cemetary.

All three are on the edge of Plugstreet Wood. We came upon the cross completely by chance while working our way back from Mud Corner to the main road. All our party stood in the drizzle in silence for a good few minutes. This was where history happened and this was a tangiable reminder of it.

Very humbling.

Just sat through the French film ‘Merry Christmas’ which is a spell binding (based on truth) drama of the impromtu football game, between the trench’s involving the British (Scots), Germans and the French during 1914.

It got me thinking that there were probably more acts of none aggression in and around the Christmas period than just this one.

Can anyone think of instances during any conflict over the last 100 years of wartime aviation that compassion was shown during the Christmas period?

cheers
Baz

In fact the original truce between German and British soldiers happened on the front near Ypres in 1914. There were many others on different parts of the front and some lasted a few hours and some until New Year. The French/German truce happened a year later in 1915.