Book "Silent Night"

[Gibbs505]

This book is the story of the Great War Christmas truce. The unofficial truce spread acroos the lines and the men even met each other in noi-mans-land.

A great read about an often overlooked part of the Great War.

Author: Stanley Weintraub

ISBN: 684 87281 1 {hc}, 0 452 28367 1 {pbk}

[Pete04]

My Grandfather said he traded "gifts". I don't know were he was at the time and I can't rememder what he gave, but he told me the "kraut" gave him some "black bread" and it was "gawd awfull". I'm sure they were just regular guys on both sides.

[Gibbs505]

If you could trace his unit back, it might, just might, be mentioned in the book!
A lot are and, yes, the exchange of gifts was mentioned. A 'hot property' was the german "Pickelhauble" helmut!

[Badger]

Along similar lines, my wife picked me up a DVD flick called Joyeux Noel.

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In 1914, World War I, the bloodiest war ever at that time in human history, was well under way. However on Christmas Eve, numerous sections of the Western Front called an informal, and unauthorized, truce where the various front-line soldiers of the conflict peacefully met each other in No Man's Land to share a precious pause in the carnage with a fleeting brotherhood. This film dramatizes one such section as the French, British and German sides partake in the unique event, even though they are aware that their superiors will not tolerate its occurrence.

Reviews: Joyeux Noel Posted on Wednesday, 07 December 2005 @ 07:42:15 by Tim Milfull (http://reviews.media-culture.org.au/article.php?sid=1369)

I think it's French made and subtitled, except for the English soldiers, who of course are speaking English.

Although I'm sure a lot of people would find it corney, both of us enjoyed the movie, which is of course loosely based upon the true events of Christmas in the trenches during 1914, that first year of the war. I think you can get it from Amazon.com

Regards,
Badger

[Gibbs505]

Interesting movie there!

pete, if all you grandfather got was some black bread, I think he kade a poor trade!:D
On the other hand, if he was in in 1914, then he was really lucky to have survived as one of the "Old Contempibles"!

[Pete04]

He said they stood around and smoked. His ticket out was getting shot and then blown up at Vimy.
Pete