It was just 100 years ago that it happened – 100 years ago
this very night! In some places on that night, men slept in their warm beds
amid dreams of beautifully decorated trees and gaily wrapped gifts. But things
were very different in central Europe; for on this night 100 years ago, a
conflict was raging. Today we call it the First World War.
On this very night in 1914, men in central Europe awaited
not the voices of loved ones calling “Merry Christmas,” but the explosions of
hand grenades and artillery shells. Two great armies faced each other across a
front that extended along the French-Belgian border. The troops lived in soggy
trenches that were filled with mud. British and German alike were cold, wet,
and miserable. Between the two lines of trenches was 50 to 100 yards of “No Man’s
Land.” Snipers had orders to shoot anything that moved in No Man’s Land. In
preparation for Christmas, the British troops had received cigarettes, plum
puddings, chocolates, and a greeting card from King George V. German troops had
received a pipe and tobacco, sausages, beer, and a card containing the profile
of Crown Prince Frederick Wilhelm. In some places along the line, they had even
received bundles of Christmas trees! But no one on either side expected to be
able to celebrate the holiday.
On Christmas Eve, the shooting slowed down, and finally
stopped altogether. No one ordered that cease fire; the troops simply stopped
shooting. The silence was almost eerie. Men tensed, awaiting an attack. And
then, somewhere along the German lines, a lone voice began to sing. “Stille
nacht, heilige nacht…” Others joined in. When the
song was over, silence fell again; but it didn’t last long. From the British
lines, the song resumed – in English, this time: “Silent night, holy night, all
is calm, all is bright…” Soon British and German had joined together in singing,
up and down the lines. A German voice cried out, “Here comes a gift!” The
British dove for cover, expecting a grenade; but what fell into their trench
was a boot filled with sausages. The British responded in kind by sending back
a plum pudding and chocolates.
When Christmas Day dawned, a white flag appeared over the German
trenches. The British suspected a trap; but a German voice called out, “We
good. We no shoot.” Men from both sides climbed nervously out into No Man’s
Land, leaving their weapons behind. German and British met and exchanged handshakes
and greetings. They swapped pipes, tobacco and cigarettes, sausages and plum
puddings, and even personal items that they had with them. One German soldier
cut a button off his uniform and gave it to a Brit. In some places, soccer
games broke out. In other places, soldiers from opposing armies sat down in
middle of the mud and worshipped together.
When the military commanders heard of such scandalous
behavior, they ordered the troops to resume hostilities immediately; and, after
a few days, the shooting resumed. But for one brief moment – on Christmas Eve
just 100 years ago tonight – the power of love defeated the world’s violence at
its worst. John Buchanan writes, “The Christmas truce is almost too good to be
true; and yet, it is no more unrealistic than an angel announcing that a
newborn baby is the Savior.” His birth means that peace is always possible,
even in the midst of the worst that we can do to one another. God’s light still
shines in the darkness… and the darkness has not overcome it. Thanks be to God!
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