1914 Christmas and World War I

In 1983, Paul McCartney released the LP “Pipes of Peace.”  The title song was about a special moment on Christmas Day 1914 when German and U.K. troops shared some wine and even played a little soccer in the battlefield.

The Dallas Morning News‘ Christmas Day editorial recalled that moment from years ago:

One hundred years ago today, something of a battlefield miracle occurred amid one of the world’s bloodiest conflicts. Soldiers on both sides of the Great War’s front lines let down their guard and allowed faith in the goodness of their fellow man to prevail over hatred and distrust. Warring soldiers put down their weapons, emerged from their trenches and sang “Silent Night” together.

It began with a simple call by Pope Benedict XV on Dec. 7, 1914, “that the guns may fall silent at least upon the night the angels sang.”

The pope’s words were deemed by many to have resonated throughout the cold trenches of Flanders, where Germans and Britons were locked in mortal struggle.

It was as if both sides grasped the hypocrisy of Christians killing fellow Christians on a day devoted to the peaceful message of Christ’s birth. No account from the witnesses recalls anyone articulating such thoughts. Yet all seemed to grasp the opportunity presented by this special day. 

Those who were present in Flanders described an unusual silence that morning as the smoke cleared from incessant artillery and machine-gun fire. British troops heard the faint sound of a German band playing familiar Christmas tunes. One side broke out in a carol, answered by one from the other side. Back and forth, growing louder and more boisterous with each exchange.

Then came a German’s voice: “We good. We no shoot,” recounted British soldiers Frank and Maurice Wray, of the London Rifle Brigade. Soldiers from both sides cautiously approached one another across a no-man’s land, unsure whether this might be a setup for a surprise attack.  

What each encountered was nothing more than a few lonely soldiers, anxious to set aside the fighting and celebrate Christmas with their fellow man. Some chatted. Others exchanged small gifts of food, cigarettes, beer or mementos. They sang more songs. A few tried to improvise a soccer match.  

Up and down the front lines, word spread of the unofficial Christmas truce. An estimated 100,000 troops joined in.

Of course, the world knows about the awful fighting and millions of deaths that followed. But, for today at least, let’s focus on the message of hope that emerged from a battlefield far away and long ago.

“So Christmas, the celebration of love, made sure that the hated enemies turned into friends for a short time,” German Lt. Kurt Zehmisch wrote in his diary that day. “This Christmas will remain unforgettable.”

As any war veteran can tell, war is always hell.  However, World War I was especially hellish.

First, most leaders thought that the war would be quick.  It’s not the first time that we’ve seen that.  Everyone should check the books The Guns of August and All Quiet on the Western Front.  

Second, the machine gun and airplane brought unseen damage to the battlefield.  This was not your dad’s war if I can use that expression.  The old infantry rules did not apply.  (My friend Barry Jacobsen wrote a great post on World War I entitled “If World War I was a bar fight.”)

Third, chemicals were used against troops.

The war eventually ended in 1918, but part II started twenty years later.  It was even more deadly the second time around.

Merry Christmas to all of the AT staff and readers.

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1917: We remember Father Flanagan and Boys Town

It's one of my favorite stories, and movies, too.   

On this day in 1917, Father Edward J. Flanagan, a 31-year-old Irish priest, opened the doors to what we would later call "Boys Town".

Years later, the story was made into a movie.  What a great movie it was!

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October 23, 1983: Beirut and many Marines dead

US presidents can not control what happens in other countries.  Nevertheless, they have to react to them or get that "famous 3 am phone call" about this crisis or that.

On this day in 1983, President Reagan was getting ready for reelection and talking about the economic recovery underway.   However, he woke up learning of a major terrorist attack in Beirut:  The explosion killed 220 Marines, 18 sailors and three soldiers!

It was a terrible day for President Reagan and the nation.  It was also one of the early signs of terrorism.

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“Shane” the 3rd best Western ever?

Had a little time and watched “Shane”, a movie that I had seen bits and pieces of many times before.    

It was great.    

Shane is played by Alan Ladd.  He meets Joe Starrett (Van Heflin) and his wife, Marian (Jean Arthur) who are small farmers in Wyoming.    He learns that there is a campaign of intimidation against the farmers.    

What a great movie.    The rest is up to you.    Watch it!  

“Shane” is # 3  in the American Film Institute’s Top 10 Westerns.     By the way, # 2 is “High noon”, another one of my favorites.

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1983: Reagan and “the evil empire”

Let’s remember one of President Reagan’s greatest moments.   

It happened during a speech on this week in 1983.  He spoke at a convention of the National Association of Evangelicals in Florida and drew a sharp contrast between freedom and communism.   

President Reagan had done it before in a 1982 speech at the British House of Commons.

This is what he said:   

And this brings me to my final point today. During my first press conference as president, in answer to a direct question, I pointed out that, as good Marxist-Leninists, the Soviet leaders have openly and publicly declared that the only morality they recognize is that which will further their cause, which is world revolution. I think I should point out I was only quoting Lenin, their guiding spirit, who said in 1920 that they repudiate all morality that proceeds from supernatural ideas–that’s their name for religion–or ideas that are outside class conceptions. Morality is entirely subordinate to the interests of class war. And everything is moral that is necessary for the annihilation of the old exploiting social order and for uniting the proletariat. 

President Reagan was known as “the great communicator”.    This is because he spoke from the heart, as he did in 1983! 

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"The evil empire" many years later

It was one of President Reagan’s greatest moments.   

It happened during a speech on this day in 1983.  He spoke at a convention of the National Association of Evangelicals in Florida.   He drew a sharp contrast between freedom and communism.   

President Reagan had done it before in a 1982 speech at the British House of Commons.

This is what he said:   

And this brings me to my final point today. During my first press conference as president, in answer to a direct question, I pointed out that, as good Marxist-Leninists, the Soviet leaders have openly and publicly declared that the only morality they recognize is that which will further their cause, which is world revolution. I think I should point out I was only quoting Lenin, their guiding spirit, who said in 1920 that they repudiate all morality that proceeds from supernatural ideas–that’s their name for religion–or ideas that are outside class conceptions. Morality is entirely subordinate to the interests of class war. And everything is moral that is necessary for the annihilation of the old exploiting social order and for uniting the proletariat.

President Reagan was known as “the great communicator”.    This is because he spoke from the heart, as he did on this day in 1983!  

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1983: Brooks Robinson and Juan Marichal elected to the Hall of Fame

Brooks Robinson and Juan Marichal were elected to The Hall of Fame on this day in 1983.     

Robinson broke into the majors with the Orioles in 1955.   He played his last game in 1977.   Along the way, he won 17 Gold Gloves for his work as a third baseman.   He was a great clutch hitter, a very tough out when the game was on the line:   .267 career average, 268 HR & 1,357 RBI, 2,484 hits in 2, 986 games.    He hit .303 in the post season with 22 RBI in 39 games.   Robinson was the 1964 AL MVP and 1970 World Series MVP. 

Marichal pitched his first game in 1960 and played until 1975.   He pitched primarily with the Giants but did finish his career with Boston.    Marichal's numbers were spectacular:  243 wins, 244 complete games, 52 shutouts, and a 2.89 ERA.   He did not win the Cy Young Award in large part because he was competing with Koufax so many times.

Two of my favorite players!

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