The True Story of the Christmas Truce: British and German Eyewitness Accounts from World War I [Hardcover]

One of them shouted A Merry Christmas English. Were not shooting tonight. . . . [then] they stuck up a light. Not to be outdone, so did we. Then up went another. So, we shoved up another. Soon the lines looked like an illuminated fete. Rifleman Leslie WalkingtonOn Christmas Eve 1914, a group of German soldiers laid down their arms, lit lanterns and started to sing Christmas carols. The British troops in nearby trenches responded by singing songs of their own. The next day, men from both sides met in No Mans Land. They shook hands, took photos and exchanged food and souvenirs. Some even played improvised football games, kicking around empty bully-beef cans and using helmets for goalposts. Both sides also saw the lull in fighting as a chance to bury the bodies of their comrades.In some parts of the front, the truce lasted a few hours. In others, it continued to the New Year. But everywhere, sooner or later, the fighting resumed. Today, the Christmas Truce is seen as a poignant symbol of hope in a war that many people regard as unnecessary and futile. But what was the real story of those remarkable few days?In this fascinating new book, historian Anthony Richards has brought together hundreds of first-hand reminiscences from those who were there  including previously unpublished German accounts  to cast fresh light on this extraordinary episode.Draws on interviews, letters and diaries from generals and frontline soldiers, statesmen and civilians with first-hand experience of the Christmas TruceVividly brings to life and commemorates one of the most incredible events of the First World WarThe author is an archivist at the Imperial War Museum and has written several books on both World WarsIncludes never-before-published accounts and newly translated German accounts to give a fresh and rounded pictureFeature photos taken by the men during the truce, as well as pictures of gifts they exchanged Richards does a fine job of weaving analysis into the interesting firstlӀ