Christmas On The Battlefield

There was a time when man came out of their fox holes and trenches and made peace on earth. World War 1 was deadly. It took war to a whole new level of killing and savagery with the invention of the machine guns, mechanized tanks, poison gases, torture, and the thirst for power. The war lasted four years (1914-1918) and left nearly 16 million people dead.

On Christmas Day 1914, for a brief intermission on the battlefield, the guns fell silent. That’s right! The fighting stopped. Across the Western Front in Belgium, German and British soldiers declared an unofficial truce amongst themselves beginning on Christmas Eve. The facts are not all clear, but, the fighting did cease. The truce seemed to begin when soldiers began singing Christmas carols to their enemies while hunkered down in their trenches. In one section of the front, German soldiers sang “Stille Night” (Silent Night) and the British countered with “O Come All Ye Faithful.” It wasn’t long before Germans began peeking their heads above their trenches, setting up small Christmas trees decorated with whatever they had and by putting lighted candles on the tree. People become very resourceful when they want to make a statement.

This particular Christmas Day, soldiers from both sides ventured out of their trenches, across barbed wire, mine fields, impaling stakes, into no man’s land between the trenches, shouting “Merry Christmas” to one another to make sure no one opened fire. White flags and handkerchiefs were attached to bayonets. Trusting each other. It happened. Soldiers met in the middle of a charred, cratered landscape and shared Christmas spirit. They even exchanged small tokens and gifts—tobacco, candy, gum, uniform buttons, coins, showing each other family photographs and other memorabilia—and sang Christmas carols. During this time, they made time to retrieve their fallen comrades and even played a game of soccer. Both sides sharing their friendship found it difficult to go back to face-to-face and hand-to-hand combat after seeing pictures of wives and children.

This peaceful event angered the high-ranking British and German officers alike and upon hearing the truce, transferred some units to different and unfamiliar territories to make sure they would continue fighting. In 1915, Christmas truces were forbidden. But for one day in 1914, peace on earth reigned.

Just as today, the Christmas Spirit was bigger than the Great War because Christ is at the heart and helm of Christmas. Jesus’ birth changed the world, and in the words of “O Holy Night,” “Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace.” In the midst of the chaos that Christmas often brings—the shopping, baking, traffic, decorating, feasting, singing, visiting families and friends, parties—go ahead—declare a truce. Take time out to savor The Savior. Thank Him for His love, forgiveness, grace, mercy and share that with others. Create your own armistice day. Go ahead—hum along with crooner Bing Crosby and “Have yourself a Merry little Christmas, now.”