“Christmas in the Trenches”
by John McCutcheon, illustrated by Henri Sorensen.
Peachtree Publishers, Atlanta, 2006, 32 pages, Grades 1-3.
Nations usually declare war when there is no hope for negotiating peace.
When war is declared, patriotism normally rises to fevered heights. A common refrain is “the troops will be home by Christmas.” Governments tell their people that the war will be short and that they will be triumph.
When World War I broke out in July 1914, people in all European countries cheered the departing armies. Women kissed the new warriors as they marched off to the departing trains. Never in most men’s lives had they felt so important and valuable.
Unfortunately, these illusions for both men and women will soon be destroyed. War is a brutal, terrible experience with massive suffering on all sides. The opposing soldiers are usually pictured to be barbarians which allows each side to attack the other. World War I, the war to supposedly end all wars, is the epitome of the tragedy of war.
But one event occurs on Christmas Day 1914, that shows the power of love and friendship over death and hatred. This remarkable event is told by John McCutcheon in the fine picture book, “Christmas in the Trenches.”
After months of constant battle with enormous causalities, the German and Austrian armies faced the combined forces of Great Britain and France. Hunkered down in trenches like prairie dogs, the soldiers of each side rarely raise their heads above the tops of the trenches. In front of the trenches were huge masses of barbed wire with buried land mines. Beyond this lay No Man’s Land, a stretch of ground ranging from several hundred yards to a half mile. Since all of No Man’s Land is in the field of fire, virtually every soldier caught in this deadly area is killed.
As both sides faced each other on Christmas Eve 1914, familiar songs could be heard from the German trenches. As the warriors reflect, the Allied soldiers begin singing the same songs in English. Suddenly, the German begin singing “Stille Nacht.” The British soldiers respond with the corresponding song “Silent Night.” Finally, peace begins to descend over the hell on earth system of trenches. As the British soldiers look up, a German soldier climbs out of his trench with a Christmas tree filled with burning candles. How can you shoot a man holding a Christmas tree filled with candles?
Soon soldiers from both sides are jumping out of their trenches and greeting the others in No Man’s Land. Each side sees the humanity in the “enemy” and they trade cigarettes, candy and food packages. When someone kicks a soccer ball into No Man’s Land, an enjoyable thought occurs to many. Both sides begin to sense the angels’ statement about peace on earth.
What happens between the two armies? It seems that common soldiers have figured out the solution to this hideous conflict. What have they learned about each other? Why are the armies able to stop the destruction of World War I on Christmas 1914? To find out, go to the library and read this fine book, “Christmas in the Trenches,” by John McCutcheon.
The Christmas Truce of 1914 is one of the finest moments of World War I. The High Commands of both sides feared that the Christmas season would bring out compassion in their armies and make them not want to continue the fight. The generals “solve” the compassion problems subsequently by ordering military offensives during the Christmas season. But the Christmas Truce of 1914 shows that a beautiful song like “Silent Night” can bring Our Lord into the hearts of warring soldiers and change them. I hope you get a chance to read this fine book.
