Comments on: The Christmas Truce of 1914 http://www.damninteresting.com/the-christmas-truce-of-1914/ A collection of legitimately fascinating information culled from the past, present, and anticipated future. Tue, 22 May 2012 01:30:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tink http://www.damninteresting.com/the-christmas-truce-of-1914/#comment-25579 Tink Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:53:41 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=247#comment-25579 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eysUcfdAszQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eysUcfdAszQ

]]> By: Tink http://www.damninteresting.com/the-christmas-truce-of-1914/#comment-25578 Tink Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:27:25 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=247#comment-25578 Wishing Peace on Earth and good will towards all mankind. I am reminded of a poster we had in the Vietnam days. It read : What if they threw a war, and nobody came? World peace shouldn't have to be "managed" with sanctions, threats, and wrangling. It should just BE DONE. To all on this planet I plead for you to lay down the arms & stop dropping bombs. There IS enough of everything on this rock to take care of everyone, plenty of food , fuel and land. Learn to share, accept peace. Quit sacrificing our children to an invisible deity, regardless of it's name, Allah, Jesus, Muhammad, or God. We are supposed to the highest thinking creatures on this world, so why do we continue to act like ants? Wishing Peace on Earth and good will towards all mankind.

I am reminded of a poster we had in the Vietnam days. It read : What if they threw a war, and nobody came?
World peace shouldn’t have to be “managed” with sanctions, threats, and wrangling.
It should just BE DONE.
To all on this planet I plead for you to lay down the arms & stop dropping bombs.
There IS enough of everything on this rock to take care of everyone, plenty of food , fuel and land.
Learn to share, accept peace.
Quit sacrificing our children to an invisible deity, regardless of it’s name, Allah, Jesus, Muhammad, or God. We are supposed to the highest thinking creatures on this world, so why do we continue to act like ants?

]]> By: Correct me if I'm wrong, but: http://www.damninteresting.com/the-christmas-truce-of-1914/#comment-24313 Correct me if I'm wrong, but: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:18:06 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=247#comment-24313 this is one of the most touching and yet saddest stories ive ever read. Can you imagine having to leave a fun party, then spend the next four years killing the other guests in horrible ways? And incidentally the Germans had a name for the Canadian soldiers too. They called them "storm troopers". The Canadians were at the top of the German watch-list and they generally avoided counter attacking Canadian sections of the trenches because of their tendancy to not fall back. just thought you would like to know. this is one of the most touching and yet saddest stories ive ever read. Can you imagine having to leave a fun party, then spend the next four years killing the other guests in horrible ways?
And incidentally the Germans had a name for the Canadian soldiers too. They called them “storm troopers”. The Canadians were at the top of the German watch-list and they generally avoided counter attacking Canadian sections of the trenches because of their tendancy to not fall back. just thought you would like to know.

]]> By: sweeper http://www.damninteresting.com/the-christmas-truce-of-1914/#comment-23462 sweeper Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:59:31 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=247#comment-23462 Former-Marine said: "afterwhich the German's called the U.S. Marines "Teufelshunde" (Devil Dog's) because of how fierce they fought." Actually, no. After the battle the Marines called themselves "Teufel hunden" which is poor German. There is no evidence they were called this by the Germans. Former-Marine said: “afterwhich the German’s called the U.S. Marines “Teufelshunde” (Devil Dog’s) because of how fierce they fought.” Actually, no. After the battle the Marines called themselves “Teufel hunden” which is poor German. There is no evidence they were called this by the Germans.

]]> By: Former-Marine http://www.damninteresting.com/the-christmas-truce-of-1914/#comment-17742 Former-Marine Wed, 17 Oct 2007 06:44:19 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=247#comment-17742 Oorah! TO: thisismyseriousside!: THANK YOU for providing the Garth Brooks lyrics to his song. I was not aware this. Excellent!! Oorah! TO: Jason Bellows: THANK YOU for finding and writing about this wonderful story. FYI....While in Marine Boot Camp (Oorah!), Marine recruits get a healthly dose of Marine Corps history (which, by the way, would make an excellent addition do DamnInteresting.com), of which the battle of Belleau Wood was told frequently. The story about the "Truce" ocurred in 1914. However, there is famous battle which ocurred in the same wood but in 1918. During this battle, the U.S. Marines defeated the Germans; afterwhich the German's called the U.S. Marines "Teufelshunde" (Devil Dog's) because of how fierce they fought. Just thought you would like to know.... Oorah! TO: thisismyseriousside!: THANK YOU for providing the Garth Brooks lyrics to his song. I was not aware this. Excellent!!

Oorah! TO: Jason Bellows: THANK YOU for finding and writing about this wonderful story.

FYI….While in Marine Boot Camp (Oorah!), Marine recruits get a healthly dose of Marine Corps history (which, by the way, would make an excellent addition do DamnInteresting.com), of which the battle of Belleau Wood was told frequently.

The story about the “Truce” ocurred in 1914. However, there is famous battle which ocurred in the same wood but in 1918. During this battle, the U.S. Marines defeated the Germans; afterwhich the German’s called the U.S. Marines “Teufelshunde” (Devil Dog’s) because of how fierce they fought.

Just thought you would like to know….

]]> By: thisismyseriousside! http://www.damninteresting.com/the-christmas-truce-of-1914/#comment-16887 thisismyseriousside! Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:47:43 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=247#comment-16887 <p>DI, yet sweet. Garth Brooks sings a song "Belleau Wood", not a 100% true blue rendition, but it inspires hope that peace will come again.</p><p> Oh, the snowflakes fell in silence Over Belleau Wood that night For a Christmas truce had been declared By both sides of the fight As we lay there in our trenches The silence broke in two By a German soldier singing A song that we all knew Though I did not know the language The song was "Silent Night" Then I heard my buddy whisper, "All is calm and all is bright" Then the fear and doubt surrounded me 'Cause I'd die if I was wrong But I stood up in my trench And I began to sing along Then across the frozen battlefield Another's voice joined in Until one by one each man became A singer of the hymn Then I thought that I was dreaming For right there in my sight Stood the German soldier 'Neath the falling flakes of white And he raised his hand and smiled at me As if he seemed to say Here's hoping we both live To see us find a better way Then the devil's clock struck midnight And the skies lit up again And the battlefield where heaven stood Was blown to hell again But for just one fleeting moment The answer seemed so clear Heaven's not beyond the clouds It's just beyond the fear No, heaven's not beyond the clouds It's for us to find it here </p> DI, yet sweet. Garth Brooks sings a song “Belleau Wood”, not a 100% true blue rendition, but it inspires hope that peace will come again.

Oh, the snowflakes fell in silence
Over Belleau Wood that night
For a Christmas truce had been declared
By both sides of the fight
As we lay there in our trenches
The silence broke in two
By a German soldier singing
A song that we all knew

Though I did not know the language
The song was “Silent Night”

Then I heard my buddy whisper,
“All is calm and all is bright”
Then the fear and doubt surrounded me
‘Cause I’d die if I was wrong
But I stood up in my trench
And I began to sing along

Then across the frozen battlefield
Another’s voice joined in
Until one by one each man became
A singer of the hymn

Then I thought that I was dreaming
For right there in my sight
Stood the German soldier
‘Neath the falling flakes of white
And he raised his hand and smiled at me
As if he seemed to say
Here’s hoping we both live
To see us find a better way

Then the devil’s clock struck midnight
And the skies lit up again
And the battlefield where heaven stood
Was blown to hell again

But for just one fleeting moment
The answer seemed so clear
Heaven’s not beyond the clouds
It’s just beyond the fear

No, heaven’s not beyond the clouds
It’s for us to find it here

]]> By: Tink http://www.damninteresting.com/the-christmas-truce-of-1914/#comment-10125 Tink Mon, 13 Nov 2006 03:54:10 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=247#comment-10125 <p>They just found an original letter from one of these men to his mother describing this event. I think it is up for auction on Amazon or donated to a museum. It was on Yahoo News source a few days ago (see todays date above), noted as near or on veterans day... The letter was signed "Boy". Addressed to "Mater", so I don't know if this is an English or German expression for Mother.</p> They just found an original letter from one of these men to his mother describing this event. I think it is up for auction on Amazon or donated to a museum. It was on Yahoo News source a few days ago (see todays date above), noted as near or on veterans day… The letter was signed “Boy”. Addressed to “Mater”, so I don’t know if this is an English or German expression for Mother.

]]> By: Scrappy http://www.damninteresting.com/the-christmas-truce-of-1914/#comment-1195 Scrappy Sat, 07 Jan 2006 04:43:13 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=247#comment-1195 <p>that sounded like a sac episode. I do not think that man is compationate at all, except in respect to self preservation, or self interested compasion.</p><p> I agree that man wants the the best for himself, still that is self intrested, or ego centric world view. With that statement I must say, that a man put in such circumstance as war, will do the odd thing of coming forward as brother to those who will slay him. Thus, self intrest must take a chance on the "goodness" of others for that sake; that others are just as good as us, and we can be a fraternity. War will not be stopped by anything any man or group of men do. It happens. Still this is a sweet article.</p> that sounded like a sac episode. I do not think that man is compationate at all, except in respect to self preservation, or self interested compasion.

I agree that man wants the the best for himself, still that is self intrested, or ego centric world view. With that statement I must say, that a man put in such circumstance as war, will do the odd thing of coming forward as brother to those who will slay him. Thus, self intrest must take a chance on the “goodness” of others for that sake; that others are just as good as us, and we can be a fraternity.

War will not be stopped by anything any man or group of men do. It happens. Still this is a sweet article.

]]> By: Anonymous User http://www.damninteresting.com/the-christmas-truce-of-1914/#comment-1025 Anonymous User Thu, 29 Dec 2005 17:10:57 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=247#comment-1025 <p>i've heard about the 1914 truce before and it always moved me. what it shows me is that people can break out of their roboticism and start acting like civilised entities. what perpetuates war isn't that mankind is inherently evil (i dislike the terms good and evil) it's because most of mankind has been conditioned to follow orders. the causes of war are kings, priests and politicians. people who are so screwed up i can only feel pity for them. those soldiers in the trenches, both allied and german just wanted to get back to their families and live a good life.</p><p>except the embittered lousy artist who went on to show that even a nobody like mr. hitler, can comman millions.</p><p>i think humans are by their very nature compassionate but they've had it beaten out of them. there is only one way to stop war.</p><p>"THINK FOR YOURSELF AND QUESTION AUTHORITY!"</p> i’ve heard about the 1914 truce before and it always moved me. what it shows me is that people can break out of their roboticism and start acting like civilised entities.
what perpetuates war isn’t that mankind is inherently evil (i dislike the terms good and evil) it’s because most of mankind has been conditioned to follow orders. the causes of war are kings, priests and politicians. people who are so screwed up i can only feel pity for them. those soldiers in the trenches, both allied and german just wanted to get back to their families and live a good life.

except the embittered lousy artist who went on to show that even a nobody like mr. hitler, can comman millions.

i think humans are by their very nature compassionate but they’ve had it beaten out of them. there is only one way to stop war.

“THINK FOR YOURSELF AND QUESTION AUTHORITY!”

]]> By: Scrappy http://www.damninteresting.com/the-christmas-truce-of-1914/#comment-958 Scrappy Sun, 25 Dec 2005 22:49:11 +0000 http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=247#comment-958 <p>Merry Christmas :)</p><p> Cheers big ears</p> Merry Christmas :)

Cheers big ears

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