Can anybody comment on the Christmas truce of 1914.?

Question

I need some real historians here.

Answer 1

Its true...on the eve of Dec 24 , 1914 a truce was haggled out between British and German soldiers, and in many places along the western front, it lasted until the end of the day on the 26th. Many witness accounts were written, but perhaps the most telling of all of it was how it happened.
Its lost to history just what was said to whom beyond the battlefield, but this was primarily lower ranked soldiers and the highest ranking officer was a German. Christmas morning 3 shots were fired into the air by a British sergeant and a white flag went up with "Merry Christmas" written on it, well, the enemy replied with a flag( all of about 50 yards apart), saying "thank you". Then a few Germans stepped out unarmed, as did a few British. What took place for the next 24 or so hours is really quite bazaar, but kinda romantic( if you will..).
There was impromptu soccer matches, gift exchanges, and even jokes...one of them was about a Brit' who asked a German if he wanted a cigarette...the German replied "Virginian?", to which the British soldier replied "aye", the German soldier said "No thx, I prefer Turkish!"...apparently this caused a huge laugh from all there.
Also, the Germans sang Carole's, and when asking the British to sing, one Brit said..."We'd rather die than sing German!"..., and the German yelled back..."Well, we'll surely be dead over here if you do!" Again laughter erupted across that field...
Its really awesome to hear of these events and the remarkable impact such a small thing could have on men who'd wanna kill one-another, but for the greater good of the moment, it proved to be the most significant thing to happen to some of the men who were there.

Answer 2

Not a historian but I do trivia research......Hope this helps....

(1)On Christmas Day 1914, the first Christmas of The Great War, an amazing cessation of hostilities took place in some sections of the British front-line.
(2)This event was an outbreak of spontaneous fraternization between troops almost entirely concentrated in the British sector on the south edge of the Ypres Salient. Contact was in varying degrees from exchanging smokes, chatting or playing football in No-Mans-Land, to sharing meals and dinner gossip in the opponents trenches. It occurred less frequently where one or both of the opposing formations were elite or hard-edged types.
(3)The Christmas Truce of 1914

Answer 3

I think it's a nice idea, but you'll never get the hotheads who always have to be right to agree to it. You honestly think you can save a nation on YA politics? That's just one prime example of the misplaced severity so many have on here. Merry Christmas.