Stanley Weintraub on the World War I Christmas Truce

The Illustrated London News's illustration of the Christmas Truce

The Illustrated London News's illustration of the Christmas Truce: "British and German Soldiers Arm-in-Arm Exchanging Headgear: A Christmas Truce between Opposing Trenches" The subcaption reads "Saxons and Anglo-Saxons fraternizing on the field of battle at the season of peace and goodwill: Officers and men from the German and British trenches meet and greet one another—A German officer photographing a group of foes and friends." (CC0)

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Stanley Weintraub, the author of “Silent Night: The Story of the World War One Christmas Truce" told "To The Best Of Our Knowledge" that in 1914, over the week leading up to Christmas day, the opposing troops sang carols to each other, played ball and exchanged gifts, in spite of their generals’ wishes. But the Christmas Truce was a one-time-only event.