Pic: Christmas in the trenches Dec 20th 1914
It was December 25, 1914, only 5 months into World War I. German, British, and French soldiers, already sick and tired of the senseless killing, disobeyed their superiors and fraternized with “the enemy” along two-thirds of the Western Front (a crime punishable by death in times of war). German troops held Christmas trees up out of the trenches with signs, “Merry Christmas.”
“You no shoot, we no shoot.” Thousands of troops streamed across a no-man’s land strewn with rotting corpses. They sang Christmas carols, exchanged photographs of loved ones back home, shared rations, played football, even roasted some pigs. Soldiers embraced men they had been trying to kill a few short hours before. They agreed to warn each other if the top brass forced them to fire their weapons, and to aim high.
A shudder ran through the high command on either side. Here was disaster in the making: soldiers declaring their brotherhood with each other and refusing to fight. Generals on both sides declared this spontaneous peacemaking to be treasonous and subject to court-martial. By March 1915 the fraternization movement had been eradicated and the killing machine put back in full operation. By the time of the armistice in 1918, fifteen million would be slaughtered.
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will be as one……..
LIVING IN THIS MOMENT 
May it be so… ❤
Amen Eliza 🙏🏻💕
May Mr. Lennon’s vision manifest for humanity. And may you and your family have a blessed and meaning Christmas!
Thank you Eric. May you also have a beautiful and abundant Christmas and New Year 🙏🏻🌈🌲
Straight to the heart of it all. 💘
The only place to be 💕💚💕🌲💕
Love it❣️
Beautiful and a wonderful post to read Karen. What war and all this unnecessary killings. So nice to see them coming together as brothers for a real Christmas. Thanks for the share.
It really is possible and this story always gives me hope that we can have a future without war. Thank you Kamal 🙏🏻💚💕
Yes absolutely true and agree totally with your words Karen. A world free of wars and tension
A brief time of incredible beauty. The way it should always be.
It really was Emilie! Such a great reminder it is possible 💚💕
Beautiful. True brotherhood and humanity in action. 💕
I agree Shobhna. A beautiful example of this. 💕💚
I have always loved this story! If only the ceasefire had lasted . . .
I agree Kristine. They had a unique and precious opportunity to listen to these young men and make change. It’s heartbreaking to think of all the lives that were taken. 😞
😢
💕😘
Karen, I have read this over and over and have seen this story elsewhere some years ago. I love the true humanity of the experience – at great risk. However, I feel it is also a cautionary tale about the power of the killing machine. It is alive and well today and has no regard for humanity. As we enter the holiday season, my prayer for peace is broader and deeper…that hearts will be changed, and that all who may be a part of any killing machine on the planet will remember their own humanity which may help them see it in others. “War is not healthy for children or other living things.”
War brings forth no fruit. I agree Carrie. Thank you 💚💕
The perfect Lennon lyrics to go with what is a Christmas story with much hope. Athough the truce didn’t last it does show that the power of a potential brotherhood could give respite from the horrors of the killing and fighting, however brief it was … I enjoyed your post very much …
It was a short respite, but a powerful reminder that deep down we all need connection and love, not killing and fighting. Thank you for being here 🙏🏻🌈
Oh, the joy and beauty and humanity of the fraternizing…a wisdom some simply were not capable of grasping. Thank you for sharing, Karen.
Yes so true Vicki 🌈🙏🏻