DIY Christmas Truce
Christmas tree(s) or something similar go up on the German line. “Do you like our tree(s), Tommy?” “Merry Christmas, Tommy.” “Peace today, Tommy. No shooting today. Nor tomorrow, Tommy.” “We sing you a carol, Tommy. And then you sing one back. And then we meet in the middle, yes?” Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, Alles schlaft; einsam wacht Nur das traute hochheilige Paar. Holder Knabbe im lockigen Haar, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
British response:
General murmurs of “What’s goin on?” “Can we trust old Fritz?” “I bet it’s a trap”. “No come on let’s give it a go. Let’s sing ‘em a carol”. Good King Wenceslas. “We like your trees, Fritz.” “Merry Christmas to you, Fritz” “We agree, Fritz. No shooting today. Nor tomorrow. And we’re going to sing you a carol too” “And then we meet in No Man’s Land, Fritz.” Good King Wenceslas last looked out on the feast of Stephen, When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even, Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel, When a poor man came in sight, gathering winter fuel, “Hither page and stand by me if thou know’st it telling, Yonder peasant who is he? Where and what his dwelling?” “Sire, he lives a good league hence underneath the mountain, Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes fountain.
German response: Soldiers advance into the middle. British response: British soldiers meet and both sides exchange addresses; take pictures; drink, eat and smoke. A German shouts: “Fussball, Tommy. We play fussball.” A kickabout but many stand and watch and cheer. British onlookers sing It’s a long way to Tipperary, It’s a long way to go, It’s a long way to Tipperary, To the sweetest girl I know, Goodbye Piccadilly! Farewell Leicester Square! It’s a long long way to Tipperary, but my heart’s right there!
And German onlookers sing “Oh Tannenbaum”: Oh Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree How lovely are your branches! In beauty green will always grow Through summer sun and winter snow. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, How lovely are your branches! O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, Wie true sind deine blatter, Du grunst nicht nur zur sommerzeit, nein auch im winter wenn es schneit O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum Wie true sind deine blatter.
Match perforated with an officer’s whistle; an officer tells each side that the unofficial truce is over; fraternisation means disobeying orders and will result in a court martial. Soldiers begrudgingly return to their trenches. A GERMAN SHOUTS “Today we have peace. Tomorrow you fight for your country; I fight for mine. Good Luck.” BRITISH SOLDIER SHOUTS BACK: “I do not wish to hurt you but (Bang!) I feel I must. It is a Christian virtue to lay you in the dust. Zip that bullet got you, you’re really better off dead. I’m sorry that I shot you … Pray let me hold your head”
All sing In the bleak mid-winter Frosty wind made moan Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter Long ago.
And then retire back indoors or have a drink outside.
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