World War I (WWI) lasted four years between 1914 and 1918 and is widely regarded as a horrible and the most purposeless war than any before or after it.
Over 25 million people were killed or wounded due to advances in military technology, innovations in machine guns, grenades, and artillery, and the introduction of submarines, poison gas, and tanks.
Yet, while the war had its fair share of bloodshed, there were also moments of joy and magic.
One such occasion was in the trenches of Flanders and France, where a Christmas Truce occurred the first Christmas of the war.
During this time, men from both sides laid down their weapons and came together in no man’s land to share food, carols, and games, leaving behind their trenches.
Men who witnessed the miraculous Christmas Truce would remember until the end of the war in 1918, even with the heavy losses that occurred on both sides.
10 /10 The Beginning Of The Truce
The beginning of the truce started at 8:30 pm in 1914. German troops began to light up their trenches, sing songs, and wish the opposing forces a Merry Christmas.
Both sides soon began to exchange pleasantries, keeping military precautions in place. Both sides soon joined in, with the Germans singing “Silent Night and the British with “The First Noel.”
9 /10 Meeting In The Middle
The men from opposing sides soon met in no man’s land, with scouts venturing into the wasteland between the trenches first.
There were also shots of alcohol exchanged, cigars, and messages of a ceasefire, where both parties agreed to not fire at each other. This friendship was a Christmas story that the men needed after fighting for so long in the trenches.