It was these meetings that reminded British soldiers and German soldiers of the common humanity they shared in the face of such terrible bloodshed.
During the Christmas season in the First World War, 1914, there were many unofficial ceasefires that saw both sides crossing trenches to exchange greetings, talk and play football.
A treasure trove of accounts has been found in the original Daily Mail editions, showing just how much temporary goodwill was extended.
An extraordinary letter by an officer from Scotland described the story of how on Christmas Day soldiers from opposite sides were forced to fight for a hare that had “burst into view” between the trenches.
The officer described the scene as “like a football match” and said that the Germans won the game, which he claimed was the reason they ‘captured’ the prize.
Movingly, he added: ‘But more was secured than a hare – a sudden friendship had been struck up, the truce of God had been called, and for the rest of Christmas Day not a shot was fired along our section.’
A German soldier wrote another account to his British wife, whom he had been living with, about how they took pictures on the day of Peace’.
According to him, the truce started when Germans began singing and lighting candles on Christmas Eve. Then one British soldier was given a challenge to enter their trench to receive a bottle wine.
The third letter contained a personal telling how the Germans appeared to be “very nice chaps” who had also told him they were getting ‘awfully bored’ by the war.
On January 6, 1915, an image gallery was published that included ‘exclusive photographs of the informal Christmas truce. These images showed French and German soldiers meeting up and exchanging champagne bottles.
It was these meetings that brought together British and German soldiers to remind them of each other’s humanity amid the chaos. Unofficial ceasefires were common during the period of Christmas 1914. They saw soldiers from both countries cross the trenches in order to communicate, exchange greetings, and even play soccer. A treasure trove of account from the Daily Mail’s original issues shows just how much temporary goodwill went. Above: British troops and German soldiers during the 1914 ceasefire
In original Daily Mail copies, a wealth of accounts about the 1914 Christmas truce among British and German soldiers have been found. A British officer wrote an incredible letter, which describes how soldiers on opposite sides tried to chase the hare that had “burst into view” between their trenches. The officer described the scene as “like a football match” and said that the Germans won the game, who then ‘captured their prize’.
In 1915, the Daily Mail published a letter that described the chase of the Hare.
A Scottish officer wrote it: “Christmas will forever be inscribed on the memories of many British soldiers who were there in trenches as one the most extraordinary day of their lives.”
“For that day, British and Germans stopped fighting for an intermission, went out in the open between their firing lines and buried their deceased, then held a brief service to honor their memories.”
An unnamed German man explained how the unarmed Germans first appeared when British troops held a funeral for their fallen comrades.
He claimed that the commanding officer of his unit then stepped out from their trench to “see for himself”.
The chaplain crossed No Man’s Land’s ditch to shout: “Does anybody speak English?”
Gilbert Holliday (painting and soldier) has drawn an illustration of British and German troops following a similar ‘hare hunting’. It depicts them chasing the hare in No Man’s Land 1914.
A gallery of images published January 6th, 1915 also featured ‘exclusive photos from the unofficial Christmas truce. The images featured French and German troops meeting to exchange gifts, which included champagne bottles.
A private responded, and we were astonished to see our chaplain crossing the ditch and saluting the German commander with his staff. Then, we began to speak with them.
He said, “Almost simultaneously, a hare appeared in view and ran alongside the trenches,” he added.
“All at once Germans came running from their trenches. British ran from theirs. And a miracle happened.
A second account was written by a German soldier for a British lady he had stayed with prior to the outbreak of war. It described how both sides took photos on the “day of peace”.
It was like watching a football match with the hare and grey-tunicked Germans on one side and the kilted “Jocks” on the other.
“The Germans won the game, and they took home the prize.”
After that, both sides grabbed spades and began digging for their deceased.
He then told the Scottish officer how his German counterpart had informed him of how he’d encountered a British soldier trying to obtain a photograph from his pocket.
He said, “He went up to help the dying officer. The thing in his pocket was a picture of his wife.”
He said, “I held it up before him. And he sat looking at it until he was dead a few seconds later.”
He concluded his letter with a poignant statement: “It was an unforgettable sight to see officers, men, who had been fighting, as I write, are fighting against each other as fiercely and as ever, nakedheaded, reverent and keeping sacred truce, as they did homage for the memory of those killed on Christmas Day 1914.”
A German soldier, who was a lodger, wrote to Mrs L M Marshall of Canonbury to inform her that he’d’met your countrymen’ over the Christmas period.
The letter, published in the Daily Mail on January 6, 1915, reads: ‘To-day – Christmas – I met your fellow countrymen. There were many photographs taken. We had a wonderful day and I was happy to send them Merry Christmas.
“I will be seeing you again after the war, even if it is too long.”
“I am grateful for the wonderful Christmas time we shared last year. I am certain that this Christmas was very interesting. Even with the many hardships I’ve endured, I’m quite healthy.
“Many warm regards” to you all. Karl, I am yours truly.
Published on January 4, 1915, the third letter mentioned was written by a private in the Queen’s Westminsters – an infantry regiment in the Territorial Army.
The Christmas truces of 1914 have been widely recalled ever since.
German soldiers can be seen singing Christmas songs in their trench near a Christmas Tree, 1914
Illustrated London News January 9 1915 featured the truce of British and German soldiers
He said, “It’s a very memorable Christmas Day in the trenches because we were able to have a truce against the enemy beginning at 8 o’clock Christmas Eve.
It was in good condition when we left Boxing Day morning. Not a single shot was fired. We sneaked around until five o’clock.
No lead was flying. To shake hands with them and to exchange greetings, we went half-way up the hill and found ten Germans lying in a trench in front.
“We assisted them in burying these and I could have had one, but it was not something that I wanted to take off a corpse.
They tried to enter our outpost trench from some time back, but they were killed by the snuffer one night.
The Germans appear to be nice guys, although they admitted that they are extremely tired of it.
The truce was formed in this manner: Germans lit candles and began to sing around Christmas Eve at 7.30. A challenger challenged us all, asking for wine.
“One of our coworkers accepted the challenge.
“That was the start of it all. We were collecting souvenirs in the trenches almost every Christmas Day.
“I keep as fit and healthy as possible. All that’s needed is some luck for us to get through safe.