It is truly one of the greatest stories and one of the saddest commentaries on leaders. It's the Christmas Truce in World War I where British and German soldiers, in 1914, put down their guns on the holiday, played some soccer and in general, agreed to live another day. Leaders on both sides feared what it might do to their war effort and switched units. Never again was there any type of peace or at least humanity of that level across Europe during the Great War.
They finished their carol and we thought that we ought to retaliate in some way, so we sang 'The first Noël', and when we finished that they all began clapping; and then they struck up another favourite of theirs, 'O Tannenbaum'. And so it went on. First the Germans would sing one of their carols and then we would sing one of ours, until when we started up 'O Come All Ye Faithful' the Germans immediately joined in singing the same hymn to the Latin words 'Adeste Fidéles'. And I thought, well, this was really a most extraordinary thing – two nations both singing the same carol in the middle of a war.
Hard to fathom, but of course, it was short in duration. So why is this a post tonight? Well….
WHAT: Illinois Military Museum Living Historians tell the story of World War I’s 1914 Christmas truce and the Great War that changed Illinois and the world. Dr. Chris McDonald, Lincoln Land Community College professor of political science, provides a short talk about the Christmas truce. Holiday carols by the Sound Celebration.
WHEN: Tuesday December 18, 2012 at 6 p.m.
WHERE:Illinois State Military Museum
1301 N. MacArthur Blvd
Springfield, Illinois 62702
- Free coffee, hot cider or cocoa
- The Museum is a collection site for the Toys for Tots program and will accept donations of unwrapped toys for local distribution this Christmas.
- Admission and parking are free.
For further information, please contact the Illinois State Military Museum at 217-761-3910.