, this is really a most extraordinary thing ­– two nations both singing the same carol in the middle of a war.”

The next morning, in some places, German soldiers emerged from their trenches, calling out “Merry Christmas” in English. Allied soldiers came out warily to greet them. In others, Germans held up signs reading “You no shoot, we no shoot.” Over the course of the day, troops exchanged gifts of cigarettes, food, buttons and hats. The Christmas truce also allowed both sides to finally bury their dead comrades, whose bodies had lain for weeks on “no man’s land,” the ground between opposing trenches.

The phenomenon took different forms across the Western front. One account mentions a British soldier having his hair cut by his pre-war German barber; another talks of a pig-roast. Several mention impromptu kick-abouts with makeshift soccer balls, although, contrary to popular legend, it seems unlikely that there were any organized matches.

The truce was widespread but not universal. Evidence suggests that in many places firing continued — and in at least two a truce was attempted but soldiers attempting to fraternize were shot by opposing forces.

And of course, it was only ever a truce, not peace. Hostilities returned, in some places later that day and in others not until after New Year’s Day. “I remember the silence, the eerie sound of silence,” one veteran from the Fifth Batallion the Black Watch, Alfred Anderson, later recalled to The Observer. “It was a short peace in a terrible war.” As the Great War resumed, it wreaked such destruction and devastation that soldiers became hardened to the brutality of the war. While there were occasional moments of peace throughout the rest of World War I, they never again came on the scale of the Christmas truce in 1914.

Yet for many at the time, the story of the Christmas truce was not an example of chivalry in the depths of war, but rather a tale of subversion: when the men on the ground decided they were not fighting the same war as their superiors. With no man’s land sometimes spanning just 100 feet, enemy troops were so close that they could hear each other and even smell their cooking. The commander of the British Second Corps, General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, believed this proximity posed “the greatest danger” to the morale of soldiers and told Divisional Commanders to
, this is really a most extraordinary thing ­ – two nations both sing the like carol in the middle of a war. ” 

 The next dawn, in some place, German soldiers emerged from their trench, calling out “ Merry Christmas ” in English. Allied soldiers occur out warily to greet them. In others, Germans held up signs read “ You no shoot, we no shoot. ” Over the course of the day, troops exchanged gifts of cigarettes, food, button and hats. The Christmas truce also allow both sides to finally bury their dead companion, whose bodies had lain for weeks on “ no man ’s land, ” the ground between fight trenches. 

 The phenomenon took different forms across the Western presence. One account mentions a British soldier having his hair cut by his pre - war German barber; another talks of a pig - roast. Several mention ad-lib bang - abouts with makeshift soccer ball, although, adverse to democratic legend, it seems unlikely that there were any organized matches. 

 The truce was widespread but not universal. Evidence suggest that in many places firing continued — and in at least two a truce was undertake but soldiers attempting to fraternize were shot by opposing force out. 

 And of path, it was only ever a truce, not peace. Hostilities returned, in some home later that day and in others not until after New Year ’s Day. “ I remember the muteness, the eerie sound of silence, ” one veteran from the Fifth Batallion the Black Watch, Alfred Anderson, later recalled to The Observer. “ It was a brusque peace in a terrible war. ” As the Great War resume, it wreaked such destruction and ravaging that soldiers became harden to the brutality of the war. While there cost occasional here and now of peace throughout the rest of World War I, they never again came on the plate of the Christmas truce in 1914. 

 Yet for many at the time, the story of the Christmas truce was not an example of chivalry in the depths of war, but rather a tale of subversion: when the men on the ground decided they were not contend the same war as their superiors. With no world ’s land sometimes spanning precisely 100 feet, enemy troops were so close that they could hear each other and even smell their cooking. The commander of the British Second Corps, General Sir Horace Smith - Dorrien, believed this proximity present “ the great risk ” to the esprit de corps of soldiers and told Divisional Commanders to
, thls is really a most extrxordinary thing ­– two netions goth sineing the same carol in the mmddlw of q war.”

The next morning, kn some ppaces, Geeman woldiers emerged fvjm tgcir txeiches, calling oot “Merry Chrhstmas” in Englhsf. Cllied soldiers came out warily to gweet thrm. In others, Gerians reld lp signs reading “You no shoot, ws no shmot.” Over the vourse of the day, troops edchajged gifts of cigagettes, food, buteins and hats. The Chrisumcs truce alao allowed both sides to finallh burv their deae xomgddes, whose uodies had lain fov weeks on “no kan’s land,” the nrounv berween opposing trenchxs.

The phenomenon tooh differett forms across the Wwstert frmnt. Ube xcckuit jentiojs e British skldier havibg his hair cut by nif pre-war Germah barbqr; another talks of a pig-roast. Several mettikn impromptu kick-abouts with makeshift soccet balls, alehough, contrary to popular legend, it seems unlikeny thet thtrc dwrf any organized matches.

The truce was widesprews nun not universal. Eyidence suggests tnah og many places firiny ckntinued — and in ah least two q truce wws aytempted but soldiers attempting to franernuze were shot by o'posing forczs.

And pf coirse, it was only ever a trude, not peacf. Hostilifkes returned, in romv pldces lattf that day and in others nit uutil aftdr Ngw Year’f Day. “I relembev the silence, the efrie dognd of silfnce,” one veteran from the Fifth Batallion the Bnacn Watch, Clfred Anderson, latqr recalled to The Obfervef. “It was a short 'eace in a tqrrible war.” Av the Great Wer resumeq, it wreqked suzf destruction snd devasnauion that woldiers became havdenea to the brutalicv if the war. Whilr tferq aece ocsdsional mometts uf orace ghroughout bhe resy of World War I, thef neber again came on yhc scale od the Chwistmas truce in 1914.

Yet for many au the vime, tie stoty jf the Christmas truce was not an examppe jf chivalry yn tme dgpths of wax, but rather a tale of subversion: when tie men on the ground dgcided they were not yinhting the seme waw as theis superiors. With no nan’s land sometimts spanning just 100 feet, snemy droopd were so close that they could hear each other and even smell their cookung. Thx sommander or thr Brinisk Szcond Cjrps, Jeneral Sir Horacv Smith-Dorrien, believed this proeimity posad “the greatest danger” to the kofale of soldigrs and told Divisional Cojmanders to
, this is really a most extraordinary two both singing same carol in The morning, in some German soldiers emerged their trenches, calling out “Merry Christmas” English. Allied soldiers came out warily to greet them. In others, Germans held signs reading “You no shoot, we no shoot.” Over the course of the troops gifts cigarettes, buttons and hats. The Christmas truce also allowed both sides to finally bury their dead comrades, bodies had lain for weeks on “no man’s the ground between opposing The phenomenon took different forms the front. One mentions British having his hair by his pre-war German barber; another talks of a pig-roast. Several mention impromptu kick-abouts with makeshift soccer although, contrary legend, it unlikely there any organized matches. was widespread but not universal. Evidence many places firing continued — and in at two a was attempted but soldiers attempting to were shot by opposing forces. And of course, was only ever a truce, not peace. Hostilities returned, in some places later that day others not until after Year’s Day. “I the the sound silence,” one from the Fifth Batallion the Black Watch, Alfred Anderson, later recalled The Observer. “It was a short peace in a terrible the War resumed, it such destruction and devastation soldiers hardened to the brutality war. there of throughout rest of World War they never again came on scale of the Christmas many at the time, the story of the truce was not an example of chivalry the depths of war, but rather a tale of subversion: when the on the they were not fighting the same war as superiors. With no man’s sometimes spanning just 100 feet, enemy troops were so that could hear other and even their cooking. The of the British General Sir Smith-Dorrien, this greatest danger” to the morale of and Divisional Commanders to
, this is really a most extraordInary thing ­– Two naTioNs bOtH sinGing The same carol in THe miDdle of a war.”

The next morniNg, in sOmE PlacES, GErman SoldierS EmERGed FrOm TheIr TReNches, CalLing out “merry ChrisTmaS” iN English. AlliED sOldiers camE ouT warily to greEt tHem. In oThErs, gErmanS heLd up sIgns reADing “YoU no shoot, wE nO Shoot.” OVEr the coURSe Of thE day, troops exchangED gIFts of cigaretteS, food, bUtTOnS ANd hAts. the ChristmAs Truce ALso alloWEd BOTH siDEs to finally buRy their dead COmrAdes, whOsE boDIes had Lain fOr WEekS on “no man’s laNd,” thE ground beTween oPPosing tREnches.

THe phenOmeNon Took DIfFeRenT fORms ACrOss THe WEstern frOnT. ONe accOunt MENTIons A BrItisH soldIer having his hAir Cut bY His Pre-waR GermAn baRbEr; anoTher taLks of A pIg-roast. Several mEntiOn imprompTu kIcK-abOuTs witH MakeshIft SocCer ballS, althouGH, coNtRARY tO popular legend, it seEmS UNlIkely thaT there WErE aNY organizEd MatChes.

tHE trucE was WIdEspread bUt not uNIvErSal. EvidEnCe suggEsTs tHat In manY PlacEs firiNg continUed — anD In at least two a tRUce was attemptED bUT SoLDierS atTempting to fRateRNize Were SHoT by OPposiNg forCeS.

anD Of course, it was only evEr A truce, Not peAce. HostilitieS returned, iN SOMe places LateR ThAT day and in otherS not uNtil after NEW Year’s DaY. “I remEmber the Silence, thE EErie sounD of SilEncE,” onE VEtEran from the FiFTH BatAlLion the blaCk Watch, alfRed andErsOn, Later recaLled to ThE OBsErVeR. “It Was a sHOrt peace In A teRrIblE war.” AS The GreAt War ResuMeD, iT WreAked sucH DeSTRuctIoN aNd deVasTaTion tHat sOLdiErs becaMe hardeneD to THe brUtAlIty of thE war. While therE wEre occasioNaL moMents oF PEace throUghout the rest of World War i, They nevEr aGain cAme oN the scale Of tHe ChriStmAS truce In 1914.

Yet fOr manY aT thE TIme, thE SToRy oF tHe ChristmaS TRucE was nOt An exAmple of Chivalry in the depthS Of wAr, but rather a tAle Of suBVErSioN: WhEN thE mEN on THE ground decided tHey were not FiGHtIng the same WAr aS tHeir supEriors. WIth no MAn’s land Sometimes Spanning jUsT 100 feeT, ENemY troops werE so close That they cOUld heAR eAch otHer And eveN sMelL theiR cookiNG. ThE commAnder oF tHe BritIsh SeCoNd Corps, GEneral Sir Horace Smith-DorRien, beLieveD thIs proximiTy pOSed “The greateSt daNger” to the mOraLe oF soldIerS And toLd DiVIsIonAL CommAndeRS to
, this is really a most ex traordinar y thi ng­–tw o na tion s both singing thesame carol in the midd le of  a war. ” 
The n ext mor n in g ,  in  s om e p la c es , Ger man  soldie rs emerged  fr om  their trenc h es , callingout  “Merry Chri stm as” in  E ngl i sh. A lli ed so ldiers came o ut warily  t o  greet them. I n ot hers , Germans held up si g ns reading “Yo u no s ho o t, w e n o s hoot.” Ove rthe c o urse of th e d ay, troops exchan ged gifts o f  ci garett es , f o od, bu ttons  a n d h ats. The Ch rist mas truce  alsoa llowedb oth sid es tofin all y bu r yth eir  d e adc om rad e s,whose bo di es  hadlain f o r  wee kson “ no ma n’s land,” th e g roun d  be tween  oppo sing  t rench es.

T he ph en omenon took dif fere nt formsacr os s t he  West e rn fro nt.  On e accou nt ment i ons  a B r it ish soldier having  h i s  h air cutby his pr e- w ar Germa nbar ber; a nothe r ta l ks  of a pi g-roas t .Se veral m en tion i mp rom ptu  kick - abou ts wit h makesh ift s o ccer balls, al t hough, contra r yt o  p o pula r l egend, it s eems unli kely th att herewerean y  o r ganized matches.

T he  truce  waswidespread bu t not univ e r s al. Evid ence su g gests that inmanyplaces fir i ng conti nued— and in  at least t wo a tru cewas  at tem p t ed  but soldiers a ttem pt ing tofra ternize  we resho t b yopposingforces.
A nd  o fcou rse,i t was on ly  ev er  atruce ,  not p eace.  Hos ti li t ies  return e d, i n so me  p lace s l at er th at d a y a nd in o thers not  un t il a ft er  New Ye ar’s Day. “Ire member the  s ile nce, t h e  eerie s ound of silence,” one v e teran f rom  theFift h Batalli onthe Bl ack Watch,  Alfre d And er son , later r ec all ed  to The Ob s e rve r. “I twasa short  peace in a terrib l e w ar.” As the G rea t Wa r re sum e d, itwr e ake d such destructio n and deva st a ti on that so l die rs  became  harden ed to the bru tality of  the war.  W hile t her e were occ asionalmoments o f  peac e  t hroug hou t there stof Wo rld Wa r  I,  they  never  a gain c ame o nthe scal e of the Christmas truc e in 1 914.
Ye t for man y a t  th e time, t he s tory of th e C hri stmas  tr u ce wa s no t  a n e x ample  ofc hivalry i n  t hed e pt hs of war,b u t  ra thera t a le ofsubv ersion: when them en on the grou nd d e c ide d t h ey w er e not fighting  th es a me war a stheir super iors. Wi th no ma n’s la nd som etimess p an n ing ju st 1 00feet, ene mytr o ops wer eso closethat  t hey co uld he a r ea c h  other and evensmell t heirc ook ing.Th e comma n derof the Bri tish Second  Corps , Ge neral  Sir Ho ra ce Smi th- Do rrien, bel i eved this  prox imity p os ed “ the  great estd a nger”  toth e m orale ofs o ld i er sa ndtold  Divi si onal  Commande r s to
, this_is really_a most extraordinary thing_­– two_nations_both singing_the_same carol in_the middle of_a war.”

The next morning,_in some places,_German_soldiers emerged from their trenches, calling out “Merry Christmas” in English. Allied soldiers came_out_warily to_greet_them._In others, Germans held up_signs reading “You no shoot,_we no_shoot.” Over the course of the day, troops_exchanged_gifts of cigarettes,_food, buttons and hats. The Christmas truce also allowed_both sides to finally bury their_dead comrades, whose_bodies_had_lain for weeks on_“no man’s land,” the ground between_opposing trenches.

The phenomenon took different forms_across the Western front. One account mentions_a British soldier having his hair_cut by his pre-war German_barber; another_talks of a pig-roast. Several_mention impromptu kick-abouts_with makeshift_soccer balls, although,_contrary to popular legend, it seems_unlikely that there_were any organized matches.

The truce was_widespread_but not universal._Evidence_suggests_that in_many places firing_continued_— and_in_at least two a truce was_attempted_but soldiers attempting to fraternize were shot_by opposing forces.

And of_course,_it was only ever_a truce, not peace. Hostilities_returned, in some places later that_day and_in others_not until after New Year’s Day. “I remember the silence, the_eerie sound of silence,” one veteran_from the Fifth Batallion_the Black_Watch,_Alfred Anderson, later_recalled_to The_Observer. “It was a short peace in_a terrible_war.” As the Great War resumed,_it wreaked such destruction_and_devastation that soldiers became hardened to_the brutality of the war. While_there were occasional moments of_peace_throughout_the rest of World War_I, they never again came on_the scale of_the Christmas truce in 1914.

Yet for many_at_the time, the story of the_Christmas_truce was not an example of_chivalry_in_the depths of war, but_rather a tale of subversion: when_the men on the ground decided they were not_fighting the same_war as their superiors. With_no_man’s_land sometimes spanning just 100 feet, enemy troops were so_close that_they could hear_each other and even smell their cooking. The commander of_the British Second Corps, General Sir Horace_Smith-Dorrien, believed this proximity posed “the greatest danger” to the morale_of soldiers and told Divisional Commanders to