WWI Christmas Truce of 1914

When enemies became friends A moment of humanity in the Great War

Setting the Scene: WWI in 1914

War began in August 1914 Soldiers expected to be 'home by Christmas' By December, armies were stuck in trenches Terrible conditions: mud, cold, and constant danger Christmas was approaching - soldiers missed their families

Think About This...

Imagine you're a 19-year-old soldier in a cold, muddy trench You haven't seen your family for months Tomorrow is Christmas Day How would you be feeling?

Christmas Eve 1914: Something Unexpected

German soldiers began singing 'Silent Night' (Stille Nacht) British soldiers heard the familiar tune Candles and small Christmas trees appeared on German trenches Gradually, both sides stopped shooting Soldiers began calling out Christmas greetings

Christmas Day 1914: The Truce Unfolds

Primary Source Investigation

Work in pairs to read soldier letters and diary entries Look for clues about soldiers' feelings Identify activities that took place during the truce Consider why soldiers chose to stop fighting Prepare to share your findings with the class

What the Sources Tell Us

{"left":"Soldiers felt homesick and lonely\nThey shared food, cigarettes, and souvenirs\nSome played football in No Man's Land\nThey helped bury fallen comrades together","right":"Many felt the enemy were 'just like us'\nOfficers tried to stop the fraternization\nThe truce lasted 1-3 days in different areas\nNormal fighting resumed after Christmas"}

A Soldier's Memory

'The Germans were really magnificent in the whole thing, and jolly good sorts. I spotted a German officer, some sort of lieutenant I should think, and being a bit of a collector, I intimated to him that I had taken a fancy to some of his buttons... We both burst out laughing at the absurdity of the situation.' - British Lieutenant Dougan Chater, 1914