World War I took the lives of 60 million people. While Germany and Britain were both enemies, the individuals fighting were not. The Christmas Truce in 1914 is evidence that both sides bared no grudges against the men they were fighting with.
The Christmas Truce may never have happened if both British and German troops didn't sing Christmas carols to each other across the lines. In fact, at one point, even a brass band joined the Germans in their singing.
German soldiers were the first to emerge from their trenches and approach Allied lines, calling out “Merry Christmas” in English. Allied soldiers initially believed it was a trick, but realized they were walking across no man’s land unarmed, and so they left their trenches to shake hands with enemy soldiers.
Many of the soldiers chose to exchange presents, such as cigarettes and plum puddings, in the hope they would bring joy to their enemies during the festive holiday. It was documented on both sides that the soldiers partook in a game of good-natured football during the ceasefire.
Some soldiers chose to use the unofficial ceasefire to retrieve the bodies of their fallen friends who’d lost their lives on no man’s land.
A few units arranged Christmas truces in 1915, the following year, but they were not as widespread as the Christmas Truce of 1914. This was due to strongly-worded orders from the high commands from both sides that it would be seen as fraternization with the enemy.
It's believed to be the last case of chivalry between enemies during warfare. No more examples of other truces in other wars have been documented (although there have been some unofficial accounts during WW2 and we all know how Tet turned out). In the face of war, humanity prevailed, even if it was for one season only. #stayzero #zerofoxtrot #christmas #war