Wartime Enemies Become Friends for Christmas Day

Pre discussion questions

What do you think is happening in this picture?

Do you think it is possible for enemies to become friends?

Starting on Christmas Eve, many German and British troops sang Christmas songs to each other across the battle lines. And at some times certain points the British and other countries fighting with Britain (Allies) even heard German brass bands joining with the singing.

At the first light of dawn on Christmas Day, some German soldiers emerged from their hiding. They approached the enemy lines across no-man’s-land. They called out “Merry Christmas” in their enemies’ native English. At first, the Allied soldiers feared it was a trick. But when they saw the Germans had no guns they climbed out of their hiding and shook hands with the enemy soldiers. The men gave each other presents of cigarettes and plum puddings and sang Christmas songs. There was even a record  of German and English soldiers playing a friendly game of soccer.

Some soldiers used this short time ceasefire for a more somber task of taking the bodies of fellow dead soldiers who had died in the no-man’s land between the lines.

The so-called Christmas Truce of 1914 came only five months after the outbreak of war in Europe. And it was one of the last examples of the notion of honor between enemies in warfare. It was never done again—future trying at holiday ceasefires were stopped by senior army officers. But what happened showed that even though war was brutal that the soldier’s essential kindness and humanity endured.

During World War I, the soldiers on the Western Front did not expect to celebrate on the battlefield. But even a world war could not destroy the Christmas spirit.

Try to guess the meaning of the words in bold and match them with their closest meaning from the choices in the right. Some of the answers are very close and have similar meaning. The meaning of these words is how they are used in the reading. Some of these words have different meanings in the dictionary depending on how they are used.

 The answers are below the table.

A=4, B=1, C=8, D=3, E=2, F=7, G=5, H=6

Some example sentences using the new words or phrases from the meaning of how they are used in the reading to help you understand better.

1.      I like to wake up at the dawn, about 6 am, and exercise everyday.

2.      Mr Lee is one of the best emerging future leaders.

3.      The feeling and mood was somber after they heard the sad news.

4.      There has been an outbreak of Avian disease from chickens.

5.      The students had the notion that the teacher would not make the test hard.

6.      In ancient wars soldiers used swords and axes; it was so brutal.

7.      To make a good coffee it is essential that we use good quality coffee beans.

8.      Learning a new skill is hard, but you have to endure if you want to succeed.

Some questions using the new words/phrases. Try to use the words/phrases in your answer.

1.      Do you like to get up at dawn, or are you a night person?

2.      What was one of the best things to emerge in your country from 2016?

3.      When you feel somber, what do you do to cheer up?

4.      Do you think there is less chance of an outbreak of war these days than 100 years ago? Why or why not?

5.      Do you feel the notion to call friends and family during the Christmas New Year’s time?

6.      If war is so brutal, then why do you think we keep having wars?

7.      How essential is it that people from different cultures and countries learn about each other?

8.      Which is easier for you to endure; the hot summer or the cold winter?