The Christmas Truce of the First World War

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The Christmas Truce of the First World War, was a series of widespread but unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front around Christmas 1914.  In the week leading up to the holiday, French, German and British soldiers crossed trenches to exchange seasonal greetings and talk.  In some areas, soldiers from both sides ventured into no man's land on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to mingle and exchange food and souvenirs.  There were joint burial ceremonies and prisoner swaps, while several meetings ended in carol-singing.  Men played games of football with one another, giving one of the most memorable images of the truce.  This shows us that even amidst terrible violence, people are, at heart good, and if given a chance, will choose to do good.  We need more of this.




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