On and a around Christmas of 1914, in the midst of the first...
On and a around Christmas of 1914, in the midst of the first year of the First Word War, members of the British and German armies engaged in what is known as the “Christmas Truce”. A number of units across the Western Front set aside the conflict imposed upon them by their respective governments and engaged in a brief period of peace and mutual goodwill. The incident is believed to have begun when German soldiers in Belgium began decorating their trenches and singing carols, which was followed by the British forces opposing them. One set of opposing units is believed to have played a football (soccer) game. While following years did not see a repeat of this occurance (mostly caused by the increasing hostility and dehumanization toward the enemy felt by both sides as the war progressed), the incident is one of those rare moments of hope seen in the midst of great darkness. We must remember that amid the senelessness of the First World War, moments of humanity manage to shine through.
