ALL WAR AND NO PLAY?
On Christmas Eve 1914, the English and German troops know it will be the worst holiday ever.
The English soldiers hear a sound from beyond the barb wire, coming from the German trenches.
It is singing; the song is “Silent Night”. The English troops join in.
After the final note, a German voice yells into the cold darkness: “Tomorrow is Christmas; if you don’t fight, we won’t.”
The English agree, unsure if it’s a trap. When the morning dawns, there is no sound of bullets or grenades, and something arrives from the German lines.
Beer; German beer for the English soldiers.
The English send back plum pudding.
Soon smoke is spotted between the trenches. Gunfire? Did a bomb explode? No, the English and German troops are sharing cigars and exchanging gifts.
Cautious from months of combat, an English soldier senses something rolling toward him.
A soccer ball. A game is played, and, from what we know, the Germans win 3 to 2.
Both sides say goodbye and depart for a quiet night’s sleep. And in the morning . . .
. . . the machine guns, explosions, and poison gases resume, and the casualties reach 11-million by the end of World War I.
For years, few knew about the Christmas ceasefire and soccer match -- the generals never wanted it in the newspapers. Because if enemies can become friends so quickly, why have wars?
Why?