What Actually Happened Christmas 1914

[aiwac]

Here's a sobering blog post on Xmas 1914 on the Western and Eastern Fronts by Dr. John Schindler.

http://20committee.com/2014/12/24/the-1914-christmas-truce/

On a lighter note, Merry Christmas to all of you, from whom I have learned so much.

[Ken S.]

Some of the German regimental histories that I've been going through suggest the men tried to celebrate it as best they could, those in rest quarters would have a Christmas tree and a some decorations, packages from home were distributed and carols sung. Sometimes the opportuneity was taken to hand out medals to deserving soldiers. However, in the trenches they had to maintain vigilence. For example, according to the history for Res.-Inf.-Regt. Nr. 202 near Ypres, they were expecting an attack on Christimas eve, and at some point one of their machine gunners started firing, and this resulted in the French retaliating. Seven or eight men died as a result. On the 25th a couple more men were killed.

[James A Pratt III]

In his reference to the Eastern front. In "Austria-Hungary's last war 1914-1918" volume 2 online the combat continued with out let up in the Carpathian Mountains 25 December 1914.

[CROONAERT]

In his reference to the Eastern front. In "Austria-Hungary's last war 1914-1918" volume 2 online the combat continued with out let up in the Carpathian Mountains 25 December 1914.

It would ... 25th December is just an ordinary day to many of those who were in combat there. (Christmas Day isn't celebrated until (our) January 7th under the Orthodox calendar).

Dave.

[Coldstreamer]

I have a thread running that quotes some war diary extracts

[Ken S.]

Garde-Fusilier-Regiment's history, for example, states that they were put on alert Christmas eve for a Russian attack based on intercepted messages. Nothing happened. They returned to their quarters on Dec. 25 where they celebrated Christmas in peace.