Christmas Truce (World War I) war movies

Christmas Truce 24 December 1914

Event known as the Christmas truce wasn’t a battle - quite opposite - but it is one of the most remarkable and one of the most remembered moments of World War I.

When the Christmas 1914 was close the war was going on for few months and still many of the soldiers believed that it would be over soon. During the week that lead to the Christmas all along the Western Front officers of both sides of the conflict declared unofficial ceasefire for the time of the holiday. During that time, especially since the trenches of both sides were usually less than 100 meters away, soldiers often crossed the no man’s land to exchange seasonal greetings, food, souvenirs or just talk. On the Christmas Eve several football matches were played on no man’s land and the soldiers sung the Christmas carols together. Even during following days there were examples of contact between the soldiers and officers, who created a bond during that days.

Those events were quite shock to the headquarters, so for many days after the Christmas 1914 no informations about the trouce were published in media. In following years, by orders, it was strictly prohibited to fraternise in any way with the enemies. Later during the war, when the losses were running high, the conditions in trenches getting worse, most of the men were no longer in the mood for repetition of Christmas 1914, but it is still remembered as example of how completely senseless World War I was - the hostilities were among the politicians and generals far from the muddy trenches, soldiers felt they are fighting with people like themselves.

Oh! What a Lovely War 1969

Film adaptation of popular stage play that showed all the insanity behind World War I by presenting the songs that were popular at that time, the atmosphere among soldiers on the front and their families back home.

Merry Christmas 2005

During Christmas 1914 officers on the frontline decide to have informal truce for the time of holiday. What started as gentleman’s agreement ended up in most extraordinary event of World War 1.