December 2024

"Here we were laughing and chatting with men
whom only a few hours before we were trying to kill!"
~ John Ferguson, British soldier

Good morning,

Christmas – a day of the year that's unlike any other.

World War I (1914-1918) introduced new horrors of combat, including trench warfare, rapid-firing machine guns and chemical weaponry. As a result, it became one of the deadliest conflicts in history – over 30 million military killed or wounded, and another eight million civilians died. In addition, the forced movement of large people groups contributed greatly to the Spanish flu pandemic, killing millions more.

The war's deadliest theater was the famed Western Front – a 400-mile stretch, weaving from the English Channel to Switzerland, running through France and Belgium.

By December 1914, all hopes for a quick resolve had completely vanished. Morale on both sides hit rock bottom. Weeks of heavy rain had turned their trenches – and the area that separated them, known as No Man's Land – into a cold, muddy, miserable mess.

In hopes of boosting German morale, Emperor William II sent miniature tannenbäume (Christmas trees) to the German front.

And then … Christmas came.

Time Magazine, on the 100th anniversary of that date, retold this story based on daily journals from the field, previously sealed military documents and letters sent home from both sides of the war. It was, as one soldier wrote, "The weirdest and craziest Christmas I've ever seen."

On about noon, December 24, the guns slowly went quiet. What came next is known as The Christmas Truce.

Around midnight on Christmas Eve, the sound of laughter and German singing wafted across the 100-feet of No Man's Land. As the British troops peeked over their parapet, they saw small Christmas trees, illuminated by candles, stretching all along the German trenches. Then, the singing of Stille Nacht (Silent Night).

After the Germans sang, the Brits responded by singing Silent Night in English. Then more carols, with each side singing alternately to the other. After each carol, applause and cheers would descend from the enemy's trench. This went on late into the night.

On Christmas morning, soldiers awoke to shouts of "MERRY CHRISTMAS," offered from one enemy bunker to the other.

Soon, the unimaginable happened.

In broken English, a shout came from the German bunker, "Come out. You no shoot, we no shoot." Suddenly, an unarmed German officer led his troop from their muddy trench to the middle of No Man's Land. Slowly, the Brits followed suit.

It was instant harmony – smiles and handshakes, sharing foods and drinks, exchanging news on the war, offering chocolates as Christmas gifts and uniform buttons as souvenirs. One soldier set up a makeshift barbershop, charging only a few cigarettes per haircut. Someone produced a soccer ball and it was game on. (The Germans won 3-2!)

According to Time Magazine, these impromptu and unauthorized cease-fires spread up and down the Western Front, and involved over 100,000 soldiers.

However, this act of "peace on earth, good will toward men" did not please everyone. High command on both sides quickly labeled "fraternizing with the enemy" as treason. A 25-year old German corporal scolded his troops. "Such a thing should not happen in wartime! Have you no German sense of honor?" That corporal's name was Adolf Hitler.

One hundred and ten years have passed since the Christmas Truce of 1914, yet much today has remained the same. We still have wars and great numbers of displaced peoples. We have senseless deaths, a call to halt Christmas celebrations, and even a pandemic.

And to this world, God gave the Christmas story. "A Savior has been born, who is Christ the Lord," (Lk 2.11) "And His name will be called … the Prince of Peace." (Is 9.6) He is the panacea for a world at war, and the wars within the human heart.

As pastors, we've been chosen to unwrap God's "indescribable gift" (2Cor 9.15). Enjoy every moment as you tell His story once again.

Merry Christmas,