Christmas in the Trenches 1914

This cross marks the site where Greman and English soldiers
forgot about being enemies and celebrated Christmas in 1914

The year is 1914 and World war I has been going on for 4 months, soldiers from Germany and Britain, living in mud filled trenches suffering from the cold weather, the chill of the icy rain pouring down on them, with the rain comes the constant shell bombardment from both sides, snipers picking off their targets death is everywhere hope is nowhere.

Suddenly around 10pm after the guns had fallen silent, singing could be heard from the German trenches,

Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht!
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hoch heilige Paar.
Holder Knab' im lockigen Haar,
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!.

It was Christmas eve, with the fighting and dying ging on all around them the British had forgotten what day it was and the German soldiers were singing carols, and after a while the British joined in singing in English, for the first time in four months there was hope in the air.

Day light came on Christmas morning, the soldiers from both trenches lay aside their arms got out of the trenches and walked into no man's land, about half way between the trenches, they shook hands and exchanged cigarettes and chocolate whilst wishing each other a merry Christmas.

A soccer ball was produced and both sides played soccer this went on for a while,slowly both sides dispersed back to their own respective trenches. The men shaking hands and wishing eachother a final "Merry Christmas"

The next day the shelling started again, the killing and death resumed. The war was back on. The miracle of peace and goodwill to all men never meant so much as it did on Christmas day in 1914.

Quotes By Napoleon Bonapart

“If they want peace, nations should avoid the pin-pricks that precede cannon shots.”
“If you want a thing done well, do it yourself.”
“Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever.”
“A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets.”
“Ability is nothing without opportunity.”
“Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools.”
“There are only two forces in the world, the sword and the spirit. In the long run the sword will always be conquered by the spirit.”
“All men are equal before God: wisdom, talents, and virtue are the only difference between them.”
“Governments keep their promises only when they are forced, or when it is to their advantage to do so.”
“The sovereignty of the people is inalienable.”
“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”
“Next to a battle lost, the saddest thing is a battle won.”
“The throne is an over decorated piece of furniture. What makes it special is my will but most importantly my intellect.”

General George S. Patton Quotations

General George S. Patton, Jr., the most successful U.S. field commander of any war

“Prepare for the unknown by studying how others in the past have coped with the unforeseeable and the unpredictable”.


“Americans play to win at all times. I wouldn't give a hoot and hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost nor ever lose a war.”

“I don't measure a man's success by how high he climbs but how high he bounces when he hits bottom.”


“Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory”.


“Better to fight for something than live for nothing.”


“If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.”

Robert E. Lee's Definition of a Gentleman

The forbearing use of power does not only form a touchstone, but the manner in which an individual enjoys certain advantages over others is a test of a true gentleman.

The power which the strong have over the weak, the employer over the employed, the educated over the unlettered, the experienced over the confiding, even the clever over the silly--the forbearing or inoffensive use of all this power or authority, or a total abstinence from it when the case admits it, will show the gentleman in a plain light

The gentleman does not needlessly and unnecessarily remind an offender of a wrong he may have committed against him. He cannot only forgive, he can forget; and he strives for that nobleness of self and mildness of character which impart sufficient strength to let the past be but the past. A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.