The Christmas Truce Of 1914
As World War I raged around them, soldiers facing off along one stretch of the fighting decided to hit pause
It was 24 December 1914. The first shots fired during World War I had occurred five months earlier. Now, soldiers from Great Britain and France found themselves facing their German counterparts in a treeless expanse along the French-Belgian border. Life in the trenches was wet and cold. Death from artillery fire, sniper attack or a full-scale assault was a constant threat. Then something remarkable happened.
Peace broke out.
From Thursday, 24 December, to Saturday, 26 December, 1,00,000 troops from both sides laid down their guns to celebrate Christmas. Non-commissioned soldiers and officers alike left their mud-filled trenches and met in between, in an area called No Man’s Land. There, they sang carols, exchanged gifts and conducted the solemn act of burying their dead. At one point, it’s been reported, 100 soldiers from both sides played a game of soccer.
“The Christmas truce was unique, and nothing like it happened again to that scale,” says Anthony Richards of England’s Imperial War Museums. “Immediately after the truce, the high command of both sides stepped in to make sure that fraternization and ceasefires like this would not happen in the same way.”
And it didn’t. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace estimated that 9.7 million soldiers from dozens of nations lost their lives in World War I. But for a brief period, humanity held sway. One witness to this remarkable event was a British captain named Reginald John “Jake” Armes. In a letter to his wife, he described how it unfolded.
It was 24 December 1914. The first shots fired during World War I had occurred five months earlier. Now, soldiers from Great Britain and France found themselves facing their German counterparts in a treeless expanse along the French-Belgian border. Life in the trenches was wet and cold. Death from artillery fire, sniper attack or a full-scale assault was a constant threat. Then something remarkable happened.
Peace broke out.
From Thursday, 24 December, to Saturday, 26 December, 1,00,000 troops from both sides laid down their guns to celebrate Christmas. Non-commissioned soldiers and officers alike left their mud-filled trenches and met in between, in an area called No Man’s Land. There, they sang carols, exchanged gifts and conducted the solemn act of burying their dead. At one point, it’s been reported, 100 soldiers from both sides played a game of soccer.
“The Christmas truce was unique, and nothing like it happened again to that scale,” says Anthony Richards of England’s Imperial War Museums. “Immediately after the truce, the high command of both sides stepped in to make sure that fraternization and ceasefires like this would not happen in the same way.”
And it didn’t. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace estimated that 9.7 million soldiers from dozens of nations lost their lives in World War I. But for a brief period, humanity held sway. One witness to this remarkable event was a British captain named Reginald John “Jake” Armes. In a letter to his wife, he described how it unfolded.
24/12/14
I have just been through one of the most extraordinary scenes imaginable. To-night is Xmas Eve and I came up into the trenches this evening for my tour of duty in them. Firing was going on all the time and the enemy’s machine guns were at it hard, firing at us. Then about seven the firing stopped.
I was in my dug-out reading a paper, and the mail was being dished out. It was reported that the Germans had lighted their trenches up all along our front. We had been calling to one another, for some time, Xmas wishes and other things. I went out and they shouted “No shooting!” and then somehow the scene became a peaceful one. All our men got out of their trenches and sat on the parapet, the Germans did the same, and they talked to one another in English and broken English. I got on top of the trench and talked German and asked them to sing a German Volkslied [folk song], which they did, then our men sang quite well and each side clapped and cheered the other.
I asked a German who sang a solo to sing one of Schumann’s songs, so he sang ‘The Two Grenadiers’ splendidly. Our men were a good audience and really enjoyed his singing. Then Pope [Lieut. Vyvyan Vavasour Pope] and I walked across and held a conversation with the German officer in command.
One of his men introduced us properly. He asked my name and then presented me to his officer. I gave the latter permission to bury some German dead who are lying in between us, and we agreed to have no shooting until 12 midnight to-morrow. We talked together, 10 or more Germans gathered round. I was almost in their lines within a yard or so. We saluted each other, he thanked me for permission to bury his dead, and we fixed up how many men were to do it, and that otherwise both sides must remain in their trenches.
Then we wished one another goodnight and a good night’s rest, and a happy Xmas, and parted with a salute. I got back to the trench. The Germans sang ‘Die Wacht Am Rhein’ [a German patriotic anthem]. It sounded well. Then our men sang quite well ‘Christians Awake’. It sounded so well, and with a goodnight we all got back into our trenches. It was a curious scene: a lovely moonlit night, the German trenches with small lights on them, and the men on both sides gathered in groups on the parapets.
At times we heard the guns in the distance and an occasional rifle shot. I can hear them now, but about us is absolute quiet. I allowed one or two men to go out and meet a German or two halfway. They exchanged cigars, [had] a smoke and talked. The officer I spoke to hopes we shall do the same on New Year’s Day. I said, “Yes, if I am here.”
I felt I must sit down and write the story of this Xmas Eve before I went to lie down. Of course no precautions are relaxed, but I think they mean to play the game. All the same, I think I shall be awake all night so as to be on the safe side. It is weird to think that to-morrow night we shall be at it hard again. If one gets through this show it will be an Xmas time to live in one’s memory. The German who sang had a really fine voice.
Am just off for a walk around the trenches to see all is well. Goodnight.
Xmas Day
We had an absolutely quiet night in front of us though just to our right and left there was sniping going on. In my trenches and in those of the enemy opposite to us were only nice big fires blazing and occasional songs and conversation. This morning at the Reveille the Germans sent out parties to bury their dead. Our men went out to help, and then we all on both sides met in the middle, and in groups began to talk and exchange gifts of tobacco, etc. All this morning we have been fraternizing, singing songs. I have been within a yard in fact to their trenches, have spoken to and exchanged greetings with a Colonel, Staff Officers and several Company Officers. All were very nice and we fixed up that the men should not go near their opponents’ trenches, but remain about midway between the lines. The whole thing is extraordinary. The men were all so natural and friendly. Several photos were taken: a group of German officers, a German officer and myself, and a group of British and German soldiers.
The Germans are Saxons, a good-looking lot, only wishing for peace in a manly way, and they seem in no way at their last gasp. I was astonished at the easy way in which our men and theirs got on with each other.
We have just knocked off for dinner, and have arranged to meet again afterwards until dusk … until 9 p.m., when War begins again. I wonder who will start the shooting! They say “Fire in the air and we will,” and such things, but of course it will start and tomorrow we shall be at it hard killing one another. It is an extraordinary state of affairs which allows of a ‘Peace Day’. I have never seen men so pleased to have a day off as both sides.
Their opera singer is going to give us a song or two tonight and perhaps I may give them one. Try and imagine two lines of trenches in peace, only 50 yards apart, the men of either side have never seen each other except perhaps a head now and again, and have never been outside in front of their trenches. Then suddenly one day men stream out and nest in friendly talk in the middle. One fellow, a married man, wanted so much a photo of Betty [Armes’s baby daughter] and Nancy [unknown] in bed, which I had, and I gave him it as I had two: It seems he showed it all round, as several Germans told me afterwards about it. He gave me a photo of himself and family taken the other day which he had just got.
Well must finish now so as to get this off to-day. Have just finished dinner. Pork chop. Plum pudding. Mince pies. Ginger, and bottle of wine and a cigar, and have drunk to all at home and especially to you, my darling one. Must go outside now to supervise the meetings of the men and the Germans.
Will try and write more in a day or two. Keep this letter carefully and send copies to all. I think they will be interested. It did feel funny walking over alone towards the enemy’s trenches to meet someone half-way, and then to arrange a Xmas peace. It will be a thing to remember all one’s life.
Kiss the babies and give them my love. Write me a long letter and tell me all the news. I hope the photos come out all right. Probably you will see them in some paper.
Yours, Jake
Editor’s Note: Capt. Armes survived the trench warfare and returned to his family after the war.
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