War.
Terrible war. Women become widows and children orphans. Wars are filled with action, drama, and strange battles and even moments of peace. Throughout history, numerous truces took place during wars, but none as famous as the one during the War to End All Wars. Some of these truces will one day be seen as myths rather than recollections of true events. That is why it is important to keep these stories alive so that the memories of the soldiers never fade away, and that their remembrance is never forgotten. This story is a one of a kind truce. This story takes place all the way back on 24-26 December 1914 in France. This is the Christmas Truce.
It had been eight months since the Great War had begun. Germany had attacked France by advancing through Belgium. Due to Belgium's neutrality being violated, the United Kingdom declared war on Germany and allies. After the Allies were able to stop the Germans outside of Paris, the Germans retreated to the Aisne Valley and dug trenches. During the Battle of Aisne, the Germans repulsed the Allied attacks, and they started digging trenches as well. During the Race to the Sea, the Allies and Central Powers tried outflanking each other and after several weeks of fighting, the Allies had to retreat from the Aisne and move to Flanders. By the time November rolled around, both sides had dug significant trenches along the frontlines. By the time of Christmas, the war was in a stale mate and the two sides were anxiously waiting for the war to continue like before.
It was half past eight on Christmas Eve in the Western Front where Corporal Franz Barkhorn was stationed. The air was freezing. Every now and then the wind was breezing through the trenches, and the wood creaked and groaned like grandma's old rocking chair. The snow sparkled with ice crystals hardened so that the newly fallen snow bounce on the top every time a breeze stirs the air. A cold breeze blew through Franz's hair. Tiny specs of ice floated down from the sky and landed on his forehead. A single soldier in the army had come from the sky to cover the land in an icy grip. The microscopic frost floating on the winter breeze tickled his red nose, drawing out an unwelcome sneeze. He covered his blue lips with his gloved hands to keep it warm from the ice cold temperature. He grabbed his journal and broken pencil which lay next to the tree he sat against and started writing. Keeping himself busy usually made him forget about the freezing weather.
It has been a few hours since fighting stopped for the time being. We had fought hard. We lost many brothers and I'm sure the British as well. It could be a matter of seconds before the British start firing artillery shells into our trenches, but I do hope and pray that we stop fighting just so that we can celebrate Christmas. Everybody thought that the war would be over by Christmas but sadly such hopes have died alongside the young men in the clingy mud and cold of the trenches. Christmas is supposed to be a time of peace and celebration, not fighting a war in trenches.
"Corporal Barkhorn," asked a German Private.
"Yes, Private Schmidt?"
"A lot of us were wondering if we could start putting up the Christmas decorations."
"We could get that going right away. I just have something to do and then I will join you in spreading the Christmas cheer."
Franz stood up from the ground, using the tree to help himself up. He took off his cap and wiped the snow off. He strutted through the trenches to where he could use the scope to see across no man's land. He gave one look into the scope. He saw British soldiers moving along the trenches and could faintly hear them speaking to one another. He gave a big sigh.
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Sergeant Charlie Wilkins stood up from the muddy floor of the British trenches. He mowed his fingers through his long and dirty hair. He shook his head for all the snow to come off. He opened the Christmas card written to each soldier by Princess Mary. He remembered his time with friends when they always talked about the royal family when there was still peace in Europe as he read it. He took out a picture of his wife and his smile stretched from ear to ear. Charlie married a few days before he was sent to the front lines for in case he never came back. The two of them were deeply in love.
"Sergeant Wilkins," said a soldier.
"Yes, Private Hardy," he said as he looked up from the picture of his wife.
"Your letter from home, sir."
Private Hardy handed Charlie the white envelope with his name on.
"Thank you very much, Sam," Charlie smiled.
"It's a pleasure, sir."
Private Sam Hardy saluted him and went on his way. Sam had been a close friend of his during the war. The two had formed a close bond during their first battle after which Charlie had been promoted for valiant actions.
Charlie tore open the envelope and removed the letter from its host. He read it aloud.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTBoQ7M4i2
Dear Charlie
I hope all is well on the frontlines. I do hope you haven't lost many friends along the way. The pope and the women of Britain and Germany have been campaigning for peace. I know you were very eager to go to war, but we really miss our husbands, brothers, and sons and would not like to bury you so soon. I do hope the war ends soon so that you can see your daughter at her birth. Yes, you will be a father soon. I have decided to let you name her. I know how much you talked about having a son, so I do hope you can survive the war so that we can try for another and hopefully this time it will be a boy who can continue your family name for generations to come.
Hope you have a lovely Christmas. Hope they at least treat you boys good on the beautiful day that is Christmas.
Love232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdncjvrvej
Wendy Wilkins
Charlie chuckled. Tears of joy streamed down his cheeks as he imagines his daughter in his arms the moment he arrives back in England. He knew exactly what he would name his daughter, Elizabeth Genevieve Wilkins. Elizabeth was the name of his birth mother who had to give him up for adoptions due to his father gambling away everything they had. Genevieve is the name of the woman who adopted and raised him. His birth mother was in constant contact with him after he was adopted and regularly sent some money she had made as a waitress.
Charlie grabbed the plum pudding that was given to him a few hours prior. Just as he was about to open it, he heard a voice from across no man's land.
"Britte! Can you hear?" shouted the German.
"Jesus Christ. What is going on?" asked Charlie running towards Sam.
"I don't know sir. It seems like one of them is trying to speak to us. I think you should reply with something."
"Can you hear, Britte?"
The words of the enemy echoed through no man's land.
"Yes, I can hear you. What do you want?" shouted Charlie.
"Tomorrow, you no shoot, we no shoot," replied the German.
"Deal."
Charlie had just made a deal with the Germans to spare the lives of their men for Christmas Day.
"Are you sure it isn't a trap, sir?" asked Sam.
"I pray to God that it is not. I swear if they lied to us, we will way be waiting for them. It is one thing to break a truce, it is another to break a truce on Christmas."
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"What did the British say," asked one of the soldiers.
"We will lay down our guns for Christmas," smiled Franz.
Many of the soldiers were relieved that they could enjoy Christmas without having to kill someone.
"Boys, it is time to put up some Christmas decorations."
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"Sergeant Charlie, sir. You better come and look at this," said Sam.
"What is it now. I just sat down to eat my pudding. Why does everyone feel the need to interrupt me when I touch my pudding?"
"It is the Germans, sir. They are putting up Christmas decorations. I don't like this. It could be a diversion for some dirty trick.
"I doubt it."232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqt4MWIWYF
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The Germans had finished decorating their trenches with Christmas candles, trees, and other decorations. A large group of Germans sat in a large opening in their trench. Some of the Germans slowly but surely followed Franz as he took the hands of the Germans next to him and started singing.
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0jjdxbaO7
Alles schläft; einsam wacht232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWtEuV2cfM
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVK5dF5TH6F
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp048jYh3n5
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9Yo3nJStm
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaRyUWDDkQ
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUVSYrGGF1
Hirten erst kundgemacht232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HSPEt0kqF
Durch der Engel Halleluja,232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGMgoCH5zY
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hnqglGFFS
Christ, der Retter ist da!232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAMryfWY1R
Christ, der Retter ist da!232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMJhYTrRid
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTDCr5mvjd
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgpqK5eBf3
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46iiq9INcF
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGGxfEz07d
Christ, in deiner Geburt!232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9ZY9XDd37
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
"Do you hear that, Corporal Barkhorn?" asked one of the soldiers
"Yes, I do," smiled Franz.
The German soldiers were hearing cheers and the sound of clapping from the British trenches.
After a moment, the Germans could hear the British singing the English translation of the carol they had just sang.
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Silent night, holy night!232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQgZhz3HoT
All is calm, all is bright.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjX7jgESgr
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNqAcz2bUj
Holy infant so tender and mild,232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAitOX9WGj
Sleep in heavenly peace,232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYnzEUPcqM
Sleep in heavenly peace232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38ZUdJtk7B
Silent night, holy night!232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFuSqTSubB
Shepherds quake at the sight.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzSAbSlaaI
Glories stream from heaven afar232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyrj24oBi5
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabRi3aAouS
Christ the Savior is born!232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iEgqjaaKD
Christ the Savior is born232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogpBumpb7z
Silent night, holy night!232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0KtVr8z7c
Son of God love's pure light.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVh06eeKPlO
Radiant beams from Thy holy face232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2vmSsmpDq
With dawn of redeeming grace,232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWlqlhxOpN
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qT1zxFdFQ
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
"Can you hear that, sir? The Germans are cheering for us as well. Looks like they were actually telling the truth earlier with the truce for tomorrow."
"Told you they were, Sam," smirked Charlie.
"Looks like you can finally eat your pudding, sir," smiled Sam.
"I sure can, but third time might not be the charm. I'll keep it for Christmas Day. I'm heading off to bed.
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It was an eerie morning. Overnight the skies had cleared, and mother nature had stopped sending down armies of snowflakes. A few soldiers were on duty that morning in the British trenches. Many decided to lay in or smoked together and played whatever games they could with what they had. Charlie thought of his wife and family at home. This would be the first time he would be away from his family for Christmas.
"Merry Christmas Britte" shouted Franz from the German trenches.
"Merry Christmas Germans!" shouted some of the British soldiers back.
Other German soldiers soon followed Franz and an echo of the words 'Merry Christmas' were heard along the British and German lines.
Over in the German trenches, one man was not happy with the fraternizing with the British.
"How dare you be nice to those filthy monsters!" shouted a German soldier.
"Oh, piss off, Corporal Hitler. Nothing wrong with wishing anybody a Merry Christmas.
"You will all be court martialed, you hear me!" shouted the delusional corporal as he took out a notebook to write the names of those that were shouting 'Merry Christmas' to the British.
"Don't worry about him. He has always been like this. No need to worry about being court martialed," said Franz.
Suddenly the German at the scope started shouting.
"The British are coming! The British are coming!"
"Grab your guns! The bastards lied to us!" shouted Franz.
He scowled as he poked his head above the trenches. A look of shock glazes over his face as he realized it wasn't an attack.
"STOP!"
"There's just one soldier!" shouted Private Schmidt.
Franz dropped his gun. He grabbed hold of the ladder to no man's land and started to slowly climb up
"CORPORAL BARKHORN, NO!" shouted one of the Germans.
The British soldier that had climbed out of the trench was none other than Charlie. His hat was in one of his hands and his hands were in the air as if he were surrendering.
"Come back Sergeant Wilkins!" shouted Sam, who now stood on the ladder with half his body above the trenches.
The two of them slowly made their way to each other with hands in the air. Charlie reached out his hand.
"My name is Charlie, Charlie Wilkins
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4DUcQs8lU
"My name is Franz Barkhorn.
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"Pleased to meet you Franz," smiled Charlie232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIc1lxe0IWD
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"Same."
Fear was plastered over both their faces as they shook hands with their enemy.
"You have a family back home?" asked Charlie.
"Ja. A wife and a son."
Franz pulled out a picture of his wife and son
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"This is Petra, my wife and this is my son, Jürgen. He is five years old. Do you have a family?"
"I do."
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Charlie reached for the picture of his wife. Franz looked over Charlie's shoulder. Sam had come out of the trenches with hands in the air. Charlie spotted three Germans climbing into no man's land. Soon more Germans and British soldiers were leaving the trenches and entering no man's land.
"What are you doing!" shouted Corporal Hitler.
"Celebrating Christmas, Corporal. Might not be something you care about, but we sure do," said Private Schmidt.
"Stop fraternizing with the enemy!"
"Fuck off Hitler!"
No man's land was filled with German and British soldiers shaking hands and showing their belongings to one another.
"As I was saying, this is my wife, Wendy. I found out yesterday that she is expecting our first child, a daughter. I decided that I would like to call her Elizabeth Genevieve Wilkins."
"Those are beautiful names," said Franz.
"Thank you. Your son has a terrific name," smiled Charlie.
A soccer ball plowed through no man's land as a British soldier threw it from the British trenches. A soccer match broke out between the Germans and the British soldiers.
"Get your free haircuts here, people!" shouted Private Schmidt.
In his hands were a pair of automatic clippers and in front of him his customers would kneel on a piece of clothing while he snipped away.
"I do indeed need a haircut," chuckled Charlie, "You want to join me?"
"Ja," smiled Franz.
"Sam!" shouted Charlie.
"Yes, Sergeant."
"Fetch me the presents we received yesterday and for the love of God please bring me my pudding."
"Yes, sir," saluted Sam.
"You are a sergeant?" asked Franz.
"Yes I am. What is your rank?"
"I am a corporal."
Franz and Charlie made their way to Private Schmidt's hair salon in no man's land.
"I'll be right back. I want to go fetch something," said Franz.
Franz ran back to the German trenches. A few minutes later he returned with a large bar of chocolate, a roll of salami and a bottle of cognac. Sam also returned soon after with a box of cigars, a packet of sweets and the plum pudding that Charlie had craved since the night before.
"Thank you very much Sam. Here you go," said Charlie as he handed Franz the plum pudding.
"It is because of you guys shouting and singing last night that I couldn't eat this and as a token of respect, I would like you to have it."
"Thank you very much, Charlie. I would like you to have this chocolate and cognac. You can have this beautiful roll of salami," said Franz as he handed Sam the meat.
"Thank you very much."
Charlie kneeled before Schmidt and the German Private cut the British Sergeant's hair. Sam and Franz soon followed Charlie and got their hair cut.
Moments later the three newfound friends sat in no man's land and opened their snacks.
"So, why do you think you are fighting the war, Franz," asked Sam with a mouthful of pudding.
"The Kaiser's army is obviously fighting for freedom."
"That's impossible. We are fighting for freedom," replied Sam.
"It is probably just propaganda our leaders use to make us fight in the bloody wars they start. Let's not fight over that right now. It's Christmas. It is a time of peace, love and respect," said Charlie.
"Now that you mention respect, I have something for you."
Franz reached into his pocket and removed a Victorian Cross tied to letters.
"Where did you find this?" chocked Charlie.
"A British soldier had died in our trench during our last battle. Perhaps you could give the Victorian Cross to the soldier's loved ones back in Britain."
"Thank you very much. Did you find a name on the body?"
"We couldn't find any name other than these letters we refused to open. They are so muddy, we can't make out any name on them."
"Thank you once again. In return I would like to give you something of mine, to say thank you for returning his award."
Charlie reached into his pocket and removed his very first medal he received during the war.
"As a token of gratitude, I would like you to have this medal of mine. I received it during the first few weeks of the war."
"Thank you very much, Charlie."
"Sergeant Wilkins, would you guys want to join us for a game of soccer?" asked a British private.
"We would love that. We are going to kick your German ass, Franz," chuckled Charlie.
"We will see about that," laughed Franz.
Sam, Franz, and Charlie joined the soccer game that was happening in no man's land.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjzH68gfQJ
The soccer game went on for about two hours. At the half time mark, the Germans were in the lead with 2-1. After the British scored their fourth goal, making the score 4-3, one of the British soldiers accidentally kicked the ball too hard and it landed in the German trenches with a thud. The ball had hit a German.
"You bastards!" screamed the German.
"Don't worry! It's just Corporal Hitler. He is one of the most negative people in the Kaiser's army. He won't dare come out here. His head is so far up his fucking ass, that lump in his throat is his bloody nose."
The two teams hear a gunshot. Hitler had shot and destroyed the soccer ball.
"I will kill that fucking bastard," said the British soldier to whom the ball belonged, "That was my son's soccer ball he told me to keep for him!"
"We'll get you a new one once the war is over," said Charlie.
"Now that the game is over, what do we do?" asked Franz.
"I have an idea. Let's hold a memorial for our brothers who lost their lives in this war. We can sing carols, talk about their lives, and celebrate them. We'll drink beer and take photos so that this event can never be forgotten!"
The German and British soldiers took the bodies of their fellow soldiers that had passed and buried them in single graves where they had played soccer. The Germans and British soldiers constructed a large wooden cross from unused wood from their trenches and placed it in the middle of the "graveyard." One of the British and German soldiers carved the words "Christmas Truce 1914" onto the middle of the cross in their native language. Soldiers from both sides gathered together and read a passage from the 23rd Psalm: "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures...Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."
After they finished reading the verse, the British and Germans started singing Silent Night and Stile Nacht in memory of their fallen brothers.
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5RYrZ2Ak7
All is calm, all is bright.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5WmciEyfq
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qGBwq5Xki
Holy infant so tender and mild,232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkT2k0bS6nI
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVpoXWDQq5
Sleep in heavenly peace232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUPPjT5F4V
Silent night, holy night!232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt2Fdree2r
Hirten erst kundgemacht232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5Fld3C8Gq
Glories stream from heaven afar232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNVCaiwe2K
Durch der Engel Halleluja,232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sqcOZfhZy
Christ the Savior is born!232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLpa4oEyyt
Christ, der Retter ist da!232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRF0GZWeshO
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKDX9rRAdZ
Son of God love's pure light.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8RSEcL3ZO
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIqPsoAiyw
With dawn of redeeming grace,232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWXbtNtt4q
Christ, in deiner Geburt!232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhXa0P1qLQ
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVzCMx4y29
232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu9cYT00vz
The men cheered as they finished singing a mixture of German and English. The Germans popped their cognac and shared with the British. Throughout the next few hours, the Germans and British soldiers would share stories of their fallen brothers, of themselves and take plenty of photos so that the memories made that day would never be forgotten.
Out of a British trench a flare is shot.
"Sergeant Wilkins! Come here at once!"
"Shit, that's the general. I better get going. Goodbye Corporal Barkhorn. It was nice getting to know a fellow soldier from the other side."
"It was a pleasure meeting you as well, Sergeant Wilkins."
Charlie climbed down the ladder into the British trenches and found a British general waiting for him with an angry look on his face.
"How DARE you fraternize with the enemy, corporal! You are committing treason against the British Empire! I will have you court martialed! Get your men back in these trenches or I will have them executed by firing squad!"
"Yes, general."
Charlie climbed up the ladder and shot up a flare. Sam sighed and greeted the German with which he was talking.
"Come on men. It is time for us to go now. The truce is over."
"I believe it is our time to go back as well."
Franz reached for his flare gun and shot into the air. The British and Germans slowly moved back to their trenches after saying goodbye to the friends they had just made on the beautiful Christmas day.
"General, I speak for myself and most likely some of my men. We refuse to continue fighting in this war. The Germans are not the monsters you make us believe they are. They are just like us. They are our brothers in arms."
"Sergeant Charlie Wilkins, you are hereby declared a traitor of the British Empire! You will not continue fighting in this war and I will make sure that you are executed for desertion!"
"We won't fight either, general!" said Sam.
"You wouldn't dare!"
"We won't fight either, "shouted more British soldiers.
"The British Empire wouldn't dare execute this many men just because we celebrated Christmas. You will cause a revolution and just maybe, it would be powerful and large enough like the one in France. You wouldn't want that to happen now, would you general? For all you know, we might rise up with our wives and end this war right here and now on Christmas day."
"You will do no such thing, sergeant! If none of you will fight, we will just take you off the frontlines and send in new men to kill those Krauts. Get ready to leave this place by nightfall!232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEbfZ2xGKo
The general left the men and Sam turned to Charlie.
"What do we do now, Sergeant?
"We end the truce with the Germans."
Charlie took his gun and fired three shots into the air. The Germans followed soon with three shots. The Christmas Truce had come to an end. Charlie grabbed a white flag and quickly wrote something on it. He raised the flag and the words 'Merry Christmas' fluttered in the air. Franz raised a flag with the words 'Danke.' The two newly found friends stood on the ladders to no man's land and gave a salute to one another.
A 19 year old soldier named Henry Williamson came to Charlie with a piece of paper.
"Sergeant Wilkins?"
"Yes Williamson?"
"I was wondering if you could read my letter about today. I would like to send it to my mother so that she can know what we did today."
"I would gladly read it"
Dear Mother,
I am writing from the trenches. It is 11 o'clock in the morning. Beside me is a coke fire, opposite me a 'dug-out' (wet) with straw in it. The ground is sloppy in the actual trench, but frozen elsewhere. In my mouth is a pipe presented by the Princess Mary. In the pipe is tobacco. Of course, you say. But wait. In the pipe is German tobacco. Haha, you say, from a prisoner or found in a captured trench. Oh dear, no! From a German soldier. Yes, a live German soldier from his own trench. Yesterday the British & Germans met & shook hands in the Ground between the trenches, & exchanged souvenirs, & shook hands. Yes, all day Xmas day, & as I write. Marvelous, isn't it? Yes.
Your son232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmBtxrBU70
Henry
"It's beautiful Williamson," smiled Charlie, "You should maybe look into making a career out of writing."
"Thank you very much Sergeant Wilkins!
That night, the British soldiers who participated in the Christmas Truce were pulled from the frontlines and sent back to Britain to undergo extensive training to prevent them from fraternizing with the enemy again. Early on the morning of the twenty sixth of December, the two sides fired at each other once again and the moment of peace in a never ending war ended. Charlie and Sam both returned to the front lines the following year. Sam would become one of the 420,000 British casualties during the Battle of the Somme. Charlie would survive the war and live to tell the tale of the day he became friends with his enemy. He would later pass on at the age of ninety-eight in his sleep. Private Harry Williamson would survive the war and become a successful writer as well as a Nazi sympathizer before, during and after the Second World War. Corporal Hitler would go on to become the Fuhrer of Germany and one of the evilest men in world history. Private Schmidt would also survive the war and open a small barber shop in Berlin. He would later track down and become good friends with Charlie after the war. He would pass on at the age of eighty-five. Franz would not survive the war. He would be killed in 1917 in one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history when British tunnelling units planted and detonated mines, creating nineteen large craters and killing 10,000 German soldiers in the blast.232Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iYCT0KVfv
"For those few precious moments there was "peace on earth good will toward men" on that battlefield. There's something about Christmas that changes people. As impressive as that event was, it can all be traced back to an even more powerful event that occurred 2,000 years ago in the town of Bethlehem. If we could find it in our hearts to celebrate the Spirit of Christmas every day of the year, rather than just one, the world would be a far better place."
– Jay Hardy
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