You have completed watching the movie Joyeux Noel, which shows many different things. Most of these men did not really know what they were fighting for, they just knew that they had to fight and kill. This movie shows that despite all the atrocities and killing, there can still be civility between the opposing sides.
When we began watching the movie, you were asked to pick one of three sides: German, French, or British (Scottish). Your assignment is to write a short 1 paragraph letter as if you were a soldier from that side that was witness to what happened that Christmas eve. How did you react to what happened? How did it change your perspective on why you were there? Be creative with what you say in the letter, just keep it accurate to the story.
This letter should only be 1-2 paragraphs in length, as well as should be in complete sentences. This "letter" is due posted prior to 8am on Monday.
It was a weird day, Christmas Eve. I mean, everyday is kind of weird during the war because it’s not normal to go out and shoot somebody just so you can fight for your side. The weather is rubbish, and so are the conditions we have to be in 24/7. But Christmas Eve, a German messenger walked across no mans land, only to negotiate a temporary ceasefire. After the lieutenants all shared drinks, a football match broke out between all of the sides. There is something appealing about the idea that nations could settle their differences in sport, rather than war. People were exchanging laughter, presents, and stories of loved ones back home. We recovered almost 70 bodies in no mans land and gave them a proper burial. I thought that was nice.
ReplyDeleteBe home soon,
Sgt Clement Barker
Aryzona Becker
Dearest Mother
ReplyDeleteI am writing you this on christmas eve but you will probably read sometime after. Christmas was a good time we had a temporary truce, at first we just were singing song with a bagpipe then some german started to sing then we all played a song together then had a truce for christmas. it was nice we showed pictures of our wifes and we shared a drink. It was nice for a change.
Your son, Andrew
Mère,
ReplyDeleteThe most mind boggling thing happened here on the front. Throughout most of the day things were quiet, as usual, and cold. But night was completely different. The scottish regimen was celebrating Christmas. They had a couple of those awful sounding pipes going and were singing christmas carols and drinking! You could hear it all across the front! And then, for any which reason, someone in the German trenches began to sing. He had a beautiful voice, it’s surprising they’re drafting men with such talent. After he finished his first song is when things really got unbelievable. The Scottish started playing their pipes along to the German. suddenly, a bunch of little christmas trees started being lifted above the top of the Germans’ trenches. Then, the German singer started to walk into the land between the trenches! We all thought he must’ve been crazy! The Scots started to follow him up, too. It was incredible, I couldn’t believe such a thing could happen! Our Lieutenant, and the Scottish and Germans’ joined at the middle. They negotiated a cease fire for Christmas! Nearly everyone from each of the trenches managed to ignore the hostilities and awful nature of this war for a night of celebrating, it was wonderful. A Scottish minister gave a wonderful sermon, as well. We also learned that the farm cat had been visiting the German trench too. This night put this whole war into perspective. I wish it could end and I could return home to you and père.
With warm regards,
your son
- Brendan Heaton. French soldier writing to his mother.
Dear Mother,
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and the rest of the family. I hope you are all doing well. You'd think that the war here would be dreadful, but aside from the weather, it is just the opposite. Last night the so called "enemies" joined us in singing songs and prayer. We also played games and shared pictures of our families. I have befriended many of the Germans and French men. It makes fighting this war much more difficult, because for one I cannot kill a friend, and now we aren't exactly sure why we are fighting this war. There are great men on this field and I feel as though it would sadden us all to lose one of them. I never would've pictured this war to turn out the way it has.
I miss you all dearly. Hopefully I can return home soon.
Love,
Bailey
(British soldier)
Dear Mom and Dad,
ReplyDeleteA lot has happened since I last wrote to you. I hope you and the family had a good Christmas, for me Christmas Eve was good but yet interesting. We were just going to spend Christmas Eve with our troops, and have a nice meal and talk but something happened. What we thought was our enemies turned out were not. We were all just eating our dinner laughing when we heard someone start singing and start walking out into no mans land. After that all the general’s got together and talked about having ceasefire, which happened. The German and the British joined us in the middle of no mans land. First we were all scared to talk to each other, but then after a few minuets we were all laughing and having a good time. We shared drinks, showed each other our families, and had some singing. We had a service as well, it was really great. We also picked up all the bodies that were in no mans land and had a proper burial for them.
Hope to see you soon!
Love,
Your Son
-Lindsay Jaso
Dear Mom and Dad,
ReplyDeleteToday was Christmas Eve and it was cold and snowing. Much of the fighting has been intense and difficult. I’ve seen a lot of brutal things that you might find unbelievable. Today however, was an extraordinary day. I still find it hard to believe that it actually happened. We were all gathered in our trenches preparing to start another bloody battle, when all of a sudden people started singing and praising God for the day that we had been given. Eventually, everyone started joining in. Our leaders, along with the French leaders, met with the German leaders in the middle of the battlefield. They all agreed that for the day we would have a ceasefire. After they met, we all gathered on the battlefield for a time of worship and fellowship. We played games, sang songs, ate food together and talked about our families back home. We became friends. It was uncomfortable at first because we didn’t know whether we could trust them or not, but then it became easier to be face to face with our “enemy”. Later in the day we were able to collect the bodies of the fallen soldiers that lay in the battlefield. We had proper burial services with the priest and a time of reminiscing about the person.
This day was such a wonderful break from the day to day fighting that we’ve seen. It really made us all think twice about why we are fighting each other.
I hope the war ends soon and I can return home to see you.
You loving son,
Pierre Jones
(English Soldier)
Kelsey Unruh
Dear Mother,
ReplyDeleteI do hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Out here on the front, it was not as bad as you might’ve thought. In fact, it was quite pleasant. We were worried the German’s might attack us, even though it was Christmas, but we were quite wrong. While sitting in our trench one of our men started playing his bagpipes. Not too long after we heard a beautiful voice singing. The man singing was from the German side and he eventually got out of his trench and started walking towards us. After the courageous action he took, everyone left their trenches and joined together. All of the sides agreed to cease-fire for Christmas along with the next day. During this time I got to know a few good German men. We showed one another our families and exchanged stories. By doing so, I’ve realized they are good people, and just people like us. After tonight I don’t think I could bear to take any of their lives. They have families just like I have you, and I will not be able to bring myself to destroy their lives, as well as their family’s. I believe that every soldier here feels the same way. I hope you can understand.
Much love,
Johnny
(Kaeli-Scottish)
Dear Dad,
ReplyDeleteIt’s freezing cold out here on the front. The snow has now collected and we haven’t gained hardly any ground since we began the war. Despite the weather and conditions in the trenches, my Christmas Eve was surprisingly peaceful. Everyone was sitting in their trenches waiting for the other side to attack when we heard the Scottish playing their bagpipes and singing and later joined by the Germans. The craziest thing is that no one fired artillery or shot at anyone. Finally, all the generals got out of the trenches and agreed that we would have a ceasefire for Christmas Eve. Everyone got out of their trenches and we began mingling like we were at a party back home, sharing stories and showing pictures of wives and family. We shared whiskey and wine and even had a joint service together. It was hard at the end of the night going back to our trench knowing that we will have to fire at these men tomorrow. I’m still here and alive and I hope to see you soon.
Love,
Your son
- Caylee Richardson (French soldier)
Dear mom,
ReplyDeleteThis Christmas Eve wasn’t as bad as I had imagined. It actually was quite calm all sides decided to cease-fire. We joined together and shared are music and family pictures. We shared stories of the war and spent the evening sharing food and singing beautiful songs from each side. The Irish let us try there bag pipes out. Lets just say we should leave that to the Irish. Even though I enjoyed this quite time of games and friendly time. I feel as though this night made it very hard for me to want to fight. How could I shot at these people I just befriended.
We shall see
Erin
French
Dearest Mother,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the gloves, it is cold here but eventually you get used to the cold. I have the strangest event to tell you that happened on Christmas Eve. We actually celebrated but you would not suspect with whom. This is how it all began, The Scotts were playing this instrument which I think they call them bagpipes, all of a sudden a German soldier began to sing and the Scotts joined in with the bagpipes. Not soon long after this singing soldier appeared out of his trench and put a small Christmas tree in the middle. Can you believe that? It was amazing how he was brave enough to come out. My comrades were at first nervous but soon the commanders from each side met in the middle and decided to celebrate Christmas together. We played soccer, shared drinks, and talked about our families. Some of them men even made plans to meet together after the war was over. You would not believe how inspiring this site was and at night a Scottish preacher gave all of us a sermon. This was a nice change from all of the death we have seen so far. I hope to be home soon and see your face again.
With all of my love,
Phillip
Aubrey (French)
My Dearest Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI would first like to thank you for the wonderful Christmas package you sent me filled with the necessities I requested and my favorite chocolates. I also enjoyed the photograph of our beautiful baby girl, Anna; I carry it with me wherever I go. Unfortunately I believe this war is going to be worse than I thought. Some men have predicted that the war won’t last but a month more, and some have said it will last three more years. But our officers informed us this morning that it will be a difficult and long war.
Although the circumstances here in the trenches have not improved, the relationship with the Germans has. On Christmas Eve my trench of men began to sing festive songs and others joined in, this eventually led to a cease-fire for the evening, decided by our officers. Throughout the night we all shared our photographs of our wives and children and even shared our food and drinks. A sermon was held and we sang a few songs as well. Christmas morning was spent burying the dead that were left in no-man’s-land and playing a game of soccer. It was nice to have this truce on Christmas because I realized we are all alike in many ways, but it has made the following days difficult because I know we are all required to fight and kill the men we have all just befriended.
Merry Christmas, and may God bless and watch over you and Anna
With sincerest love,
Henry Lamin
Sydney (British soldier)
My dearest Mother,
ReplyDeleteToday as you know was Christmas Eve and what an odd day it was. We were sitting in the trenches doing our best to make the holiday pleasant when the weirdest thing happened we heard the bagpipes start to play and soldiers start to sing. And before I knew it my commanding officer gave an order to get out of the trenches and enter no man's land. It was by far the most preposterous thing to ask of us, but an order none the less. So as we all got out it was sick the way everyone was interacting with the enemy acting as though we were at a party not in the middle of a battle zone. People were sharing addresses and drinks. I felt sick watching my fellow man playing soccer with the men that we had killed their brothers and the men that two days from now would be trying to kill us. The only thing that kept my mood pleasant was knowing that I would be able to tell you about this and that you would know my Christmas Eve was a safe one. I would also like to tell you with pride that I didn't make friends with one of those soulless rats.
With Love and Pride,
Michael.
Michaela (French Soldier)
Mother Dearest,
ReplyDeleteI write to inform you of an unexpected Christmas Eve here in the trenches. Between us, the French, and Germans a cease fire for the evening was established. Slowly, soldiers compiled together in no man’s land, brought together by music and singing. I was apprehensive about the situation, but after no time I found myself drinking and socializing with the enemy. Can you believe it?! A priest even conducted mass for all who wished to attend. How refreshing it was to escape the war even if only for a few hours. These men are no different than myself, men that witness bloodshed day in and day out.... disregarding their morals for a freedom they might never live to see. How can I kill these men that I have grown a bond with? Dare I say war is not the solution to our worlds problems? By no means am I disregarding my patriotism, but maybe if others understood the atrocities of war we would no longer partake in one. I wish you and all the rest a very merry Christmas.
With love, your son
-Anna Keller
Mom and Dad,
ReplyDeleteI wish I could say that Christmas was terrible and that we all fought on Christmas, but the complete opposite happened. On Christmas Eve we all came together and decided to have a cease fire for the rest of the evening and for Christmas. Eventually we all got together and played games and some people even sang music, but you know that I don't sing so of course I didn't sing. It was kind of weird at first though to be doing all these activities with the people we are supposed to be fighting and our supposed "enemy." It was a nice change to not have to worry about getting shot or shooting at someone and just relax and have fun with everybody, even if it was just for a little bit. But then as I started to think about having to go back to war after Christmas I knew that it was going to be weird and hard to have to shoot at these men that I just spent a night socializing with. On Christmas we all took the day and helped each other and had a proper burial for all our fallen soldiers. But like I said it was hard going back to war with my new friends that I had made and had shared pictures of my family and sang together. I am glad that we had a cease fire on Christmas but at the same time it just made things more complicated to be in the war. Merry Christmas. Hope to see you soon!
-Bryce Bruner
Dear Mom and Dad,
ReplyDeleteIt has been awhile since I have I’ve written to you guys, anyways it’s Christmas Eve and the boys and I are still over here fighting for the German side. It is still snowing and freezing here up on the fronts but this time we aren’t fighting with each other. The strangest thing has happened, we all agreed on a truce for just Christmas Eve. During this truce we all sat together and shared wine with each other, we praised god and sang songs. We showed each other a picture of our wives and we had a conversation with each and every one of us. We even had time to bury our loved ones that we have lost, it was weird because no one of us were sure if we could trust each other but later on we all became friends. It was really hard for me to go back the next day knowing that I would to kill my “friends” that I was just sharing wine with last night.’
Well ill see what happens when this truce is over, but for now I’m going to enjoy myself. I hope you and the family have a safe and wonderful Christmas.
Sincerely
Your Son
Lex
(German Soldier)
Dear Mama,
ReplyDeleteSomething strange has been going on these past few days Mama. All the soldiers, and I mean all the soldiers, came together this Christmas. All sides met and celebrated Christmas. It was a miracle. Everyone forgot their issues just for this day. It was the most amazing experience I have ever partaken in Mama, I wish you could’ve seen it. It was indescribable. I cant see myself hurting any of these men Mama, they have become more than the enemy, they have become a friend to me and I cant imagine harming them. I’m so conflicted, but it doesn’t seem right. They just want to go home and see their families, and how could I take ones life and prevent them for that chance. It just seems horrible.
From Son
Scottish
Tate
Dear Mother,
ReplyDeleteSorry I have been unable to write lately but since it is the Christmas season so they allowed us to send one letter. Christmas was not as bad as I thought because there was a cease-fire and all the men gathered together and celebrated the Holidays. Most of the men enjoyed the company of the other men but others dreaded going back to war and killing the men they just befriended. I need to go I am about to leave for no mans land.
Love,
Braden (French)
Dear Mother,
ReplyDeleteI’m sorry it took me so long to write I haven’t had any spare time. The reason I am writing to you now is because the unexpected happened on the battlefield, and there has been a truce on Christmas. It was a bittersweet moment for all sides. We all came together to exchange pictures, music, and wine. It was a peaceful time for all and it was nice to forget the war and the fighting for one night. Know that I am safe for now, and have had the best Christmas I could have for my situation.
Best wishes,
Your Son
Anna (German)