Christmas in the Trenches

**OFCJAX** · 11th December 07, 04:34 PM

Good stuff.

Reminded me of the Garth Brooks song (on Sevens)called "Belleau Wood." Of particular intrest to Marines, as that is where we earned the "Devil Dog" title from the Germans.

**davedove** · 12th December 07, 05:46 AM

I can't seem to open this so it may be the same thing. Be sure to check out the story of the Christmas Truce from WWI. It's a true story or how some British and German troops came together across No Man's Land to celebrate Christmas together in the middle of war.

**pipesndrumsnun** · 12th December 07, 06:12 AM

BEAUTIFUL!!

**James MacMillan** · 12th December 07, 06:34 AM

It truly was a different time.

Not like now.

**macwilkin** · 12th December 07, 06:41 AM

Originally Posted by James MacMillan

It truly was a different time. The enemy wore uniforms, and shared the same general moral beliefs. The fighting was fierce and the death toll horrendous. There was no evening news, or instant internet connection to bare the horrors of conflict. There was not a news cameraman behind every third soldier. Support for the cause was wide-spread. Soldiers could not talk to their wives or sweethearts ten minutes after an engagement.

Not like now.

Let's keep the thread "on-topic", please.

Thanks!

Todd

**macwilkin** · 12th December 07, 06:44 AM

Originally Posted by davedove

I can't seem to open this so it may be the same thing. Be sure to check out the story of the Christmas Truce from WWI. It's a true story or how some British and German troops came together across No Man's Land to celebrate Christmas together in the middle of war.

Yep, the very same Dave.

Next time you're at the rental place, or looking on Netflix, be sure to pick up the movie "Joyeux Noel", which is about the 1914 Christmas Truce, as seen through the eyes of a French, German, and Scots officer. The Scottish Regiment portrayed in the Royal Scots Fusiliers.

Regards,

Todd

**Galician** · 12th December 07, 08:01 AM

That spontaneous truce between the warring factions has always had meaning for me, in showing how much it takes to overcome the instinct for peacemaking people have.

It also shows how brutal the conflict became after that initial Christmas celebration.

**Nerts** · 12th December 07, 10:31 AM

I was at a choir concert over the weekend and they did a wonderful verion of this song with multiple people playing the different 'parts'.

Now I'm not usually a choir kind of guy, but I just loved this piece!

E.

**BoldHighlander** · 20th January 08, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Yep, the very same Dave.

Next time you're at the rental place, or looking on Netflix, be sure to pick up the movie "Joyeux Noel", which is about the 1914 Christmas Truce, as seen through the eyes of a French, German, and Scots officer. The Scottish Regiment portrayed in the Royal Scots Fusiliers.

Regards,

Todd

Picked this one up from Blockbuster right around Christmas (still haven't returned it). I've always been intriqued with the story of the Christmas Truce.

While the Royal Scots are wearing trousers, you do get to briefly see kilts in the trenches in the scenes of Christmas Eve. There are a group of pipers (Argylls - you can just make out the bonnet badges) wearing kilt aprons over their kilts.

**macwilkin** · 12th December 07, 06:42 AM

Originally Posted by OFCJAX

Good stuff.

Reminded me of the Garth Brooks song (on Sevens)called "Belleau Wood." Of particular intrest to Marines, as that is where we earned the "Devil Dog" title from the Germans.

You might want to read this article:

http://german.about.com/od/culture/a/germyth13.htm

Food for thought, if nothing else. My great-Uncle Dave was at Belleau Wood with the Marines.

T.