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ONETINSOLDIER

The christmas truce

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December 25th, 1914. Somewhere in nomans land, amongst the death and destruction, mankind, or at least a small part of it came to its senses. Men from opposing sides slowly walked out into the kill zone, shook hands, exchanged gifts of food and cigarettes, and even had a game of soccer.

What was it that made them attempt this? Do we have it in our hearts to do this today? Could we? Sadly, its a more innocent time that I think is long lost,,,,

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December 25th, 1914. Somewhere in nomans land, amongst the death and destruction, mankind, or at least a small part of it came to its senses. Men from opposing sides slowly walked out into the kill zone, shook hands, exchanged gifts of food and cigarettes, and even had a game of soccer.

What was it that made them attempt this? Do we have it in our hearts to do this today? Could we? Sadly, its a more innocent time that I think is long lost,,,,

 

 

An advert for a good movie about this subject: "Joyeux Noël" ("Merry Christmas"), nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 78th Academy Awards 2006, starring Gary Lewis, Diane Kruger and Guillaume Canet ("The Beach"), amongst excellent actors.

 

A German, a French and a Scottish units fight and bleed in the same snowy sector around a ruined farm in Northern France, December 1914. On Christmas Eve, all sides take advantage of the presence of a famous German tenor, serving as a common private, his Danish girlfriend singer on tour (Diane Kruger), and an open-minded Scottish Roman Catholic priest (Gary Lewis). Although Jewish, even the German lieutenant enjoys the Christmas spirit of this improvised party. For some days, the boys enjoy the priest's Christmas songs and the tenor's recitals, plant Christmas trees, freely come and go from one trench to another, play soccer between the lines, exchange goods and gifts...

 

Of course, all of the participants get punished (the German unit being transferred to the Russian front, the Scottish priest being replaced by another preaching the infamous London Archbishop's sermon of hatred, etc).

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Although some say the events of the film are not historically accurate, I still think it's a great movie. To all the CombatACE members: if you can buy, rent or borrow this movie do so and watch it. Goes a longer way than most cartoon and/or religious movies in showing what "Peace on earth, good will to men" is all about.

 

Do try to get a non dubbed version. The original German/French/English version gives the movie a truly universal feeling, as it were...

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