Smitty256 Posted December 25, 2022 Report Share Posted December 25, 2022 On this day, 108 years ago, December 24th, 1914, men on both sides sat in the trenches all across the Western Front. It was freezing cold. They were told that the war would be over by Christmas and yet there they were, sitting in a trench, essentially waiting to die. Then the unthinkable happened. The British soldiers and the German soldiers met in No Man's Land and called an unofficial Christmas truce. They spent tonight, and all of tomorrow, conversing with each other. They played soccer (I refuse to call it Football) with each other. They traded food. They traded coffee and cigarettes with each other. They spent time together. They felt their humanity returning, even if it was just for a day. They collected and buried their dead comrades. They held funeral services. As Sabaton so eloquently states in their song "Christmas Truce": And today we're all brothers, tonight we're all friends. A moment of peace in a war that never ends. Today we're all brothers, we drink and unite. Now Christmas has arrived and the snow turns the ground white. Hear carols from the trenches. We sing O Holy Night. Our guns laid to rest among snowflakes. A Christmas in the trenches. A Christmas on the front far from home. They proclaim "We were soldiers! Carried the war on our shoulders, for our nations!" And then ask, "Is that why we bury our friends?" Later in the song, they sing: We were all We were all We were all We were all friends (Yes, we were friends) And today we're all brothers Tonight we're all friends A moment of peace in a war that never ends Today we're all brothers We drink and unite Now Christmas has arrived and the snow turns the ground white A Christmas on the frontline We walk among our friends We don't think about tomorrow The battle will commenceWhen we celebrated Christmas We thought about our friends Those who never made it home When the battle had commenced As we spend time with our families this Christmas, let us remember those brave men. They knew what they were doing. They knew what the punishments would be if they did it. They didn't care. How many have died fighting pointless wars, who will never see their families again? Merry Christmas, everyone! Have a Happy New Year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firingline Posted December 26, 2022 Report Share Posted December 26, 2022 Jesus. DLS' muzzle on you really bottled up some energy, didn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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