In December 1914, an unofficial Christmas truce on the Western Front allows soldiers from opposing sides of the First World War to gain insight into each other's way of life. (The Movie "Joyeux Noel" is based on actual events, but is not historically accurate, it is FICTIONALIZED). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_truce In 1914, World War I, the bloodiest war ever at that time in human history, was well under way. However on Christmas Eve, numerous sections of the Western Front called an informal, and unauthorized, truce where the various front-line soldiers of the conflict peacefully met each other in No Man's Land to share a precious pause in the carnage with a fleeting brotherhood. This film dramatizes one such section as the French, Scottish and German sides partake in the unique event, even though they are aware that their superiors will not tolerate its occurrence. It is a fictionalized account of an actual event that took place in December 1914 when Wilhelm, German Crown Prince, sent the lead singer of the Berlin Imperial Opera company on a solo visit to the front line. Singing by the tenor, Walter Kirchhoff, to the 120th and 124th Württemberg regiments led French soldiers in their trenches to stand up and applaud. FAIR USE STATEMENT This video may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This material is being made available within this transformative or derivative work for the purpose of education, commentary and criticism and is believed to be "fair use" in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107. For more information go to: www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
dazzathecameraman I've heard about such things happening in the western desert in 41 between small groups of Brits and Italians even Germans and one incident in 44 during the battle of bulge. But never on that scale Amazing !
I used to live in Maastricht, Holland many years ago. The Netherlands was neutral during WWI. But that didn't stop the Germans from transiting through it from time to time. There was a small German cemetery I used to pass very often that was from the war. It was very much over-grown and neglected. This was at the end of 1980, so there were still a lot of people who remembered very clearly how the Dutch had been treated during WWII, so in a country where just about everything else you laid eyes upon was as neat as a pin, this forlorn, neglected burial ground for German soldiers of the Great War, stood out like a sore thumb. I cant say I blame people much for feeling the way they did. Holland suffered terribly at the hands of the Germans in WWII. I heard many first-hand accounts from those who lived it. Still, those guys buried there deserved better, I always thought. This film is one of my favorite movies. It always reminds me of that little cemetery and the uselessness of war and killing. Yes, there is bad in the world. Great evil, in fact. But the vast majority of people, especially those in the national armies of all nations are, for the most part, just trying to survive so they can hopefully find a peaceful life later. I had a great uncle come home from WWI shell-shocked as it was called. If things had been left up to the soldiers in 1914, I think the war would have ended then and there. Too bad it didn't. For it continued on 20 years later to an even more deadly conclusion. C'est la vie...
I love two moments here: 1. How everybody was stunned by a woman on the frontline. As they would. 2. The two soldiers arguing about the name of the cat. Adorable af.
While not universal in all cases, there are plenty of interviews with soldiers from different wars where many of them have said "I didn't have anything against them personally, they simply wore the uniform of another army. If we had met under different circumstances, we might have been friends."
Young men kill other young men they neither know nor hate because old men who know and hate each other don't want to settle their differences themselves.
I like how Felix/Nestor was clearly playing both sides to get his food. He must have been thinking, "So many staff to take care of. What would they do without me?"
I can't for the life of me remember what it is, but I swear there's a subtext to the cat being named Felix/Nestor Like, the names mean the same thing in French or German or something like that. Wish I could remember
@@cyber_rachel7427 I saw one other comment saying one name came from a word meaning happy and the other one from a Greek word meaning warriors, so 'happy warriors' is kinda symbolic.
Ceasefire starts because of the respect and humanity of these brave soldiers. 2 seconds later… The ceasefire ends in a bloody fistfight because the soldiers couldn’t agree on the name of a cat.
The girls part of your joke is a actually quite true. Several of the combatants actually had their militaries run government-sponsored brothels to keep the soldiers occupied and just a little more happy. Many, many men visited the brothels, you can search up the approximate amount.
Rebecca I have read many stories about men in wars getting syphillis and/or other diseases. It was so common that there was a campaign about safe sexual intercourse.
@@mrgreenfr6216 you do know that in the military there are many women who go around sleeping with everyone right... If you were military you should know this but if you aren't than I see why you think its man on man 🤣
@@anthonynavarro7633 first : it's a god damn joke Second : the french government asked for the soldier to stop asking sex to prostitue because many of them were spy
My mother's father was forced into ww2 , he was german but not a fighter , he was a artist , he died just a couple weeks before the war ended , leaving his wife and two young daughters behind. And the same happened to many other nationalities, always the worker that fights the leaders war
That's true my Great Grandad was a stretcher bearer in the first world war and came back to stand in a soup kitchen, they said you come home fit for a king..
Oh I'm sorry ....my Great Uncle too ..although single ..no wife but gf left behind don't know how serious they were....He was only 26 yrs old but Man enough to be a Captain in USARMY.🇺🇸🤎brought his Men too safety but was shot in the back ....in Germany...😞my Precious Daddy loved him so...50 yrs later Daddy reTraced Uncle Bob's .journey ..if coarse found American cemetery in Europe ..his grave .even found farmhouse STILL standing were Uncle was killed... incredible ....we are Free because of heroic Men like this ...🇺🇸❄️...Merry Christmas ...now we celebrate Christmas our beloved Saviour s birth,....wish for no war.......ever...!!! Just love
This is why common holidays are important. Both sides were in a festive mood and were reminded of home and happier times, and they were both looking to celebrate the same occasion. Had only one side been celebrating, it's likely there would have been an attack to capitalize on the lower guard, but since both sides were just wanting to enjoy the night, they did and they were able to appreciate each other's desire for a merry Christmas.
It gets bigger: this was not official, and the frontline ran from Switzerland to the English Chanel, so every regiment or batallion had to have one brave soul to be the first. Some did not survive....
While thats a thing that is sometimes ironically done, its not what's said here. He doesn't say "**Herr** Felix!" but "**Ja** Felix!", which in this context is used as an exclamation of mild (pleasant) surprise. The other times it's "(Das is') **der** Felix", which is just an article (basicly the masculin version of 'the') and simply emphasizes that this specific cat, is in fact Felix.
The best film I've ever seen about the 1914 Christmas truce. A little known fact. In some parts of 500 mile line a Christmas truce lasted 8 months. It wasn't until August 1915 the opposing armies top brass found out & immediately put a stop to it. Finding this out really warms my heart. R.I.P. Lads.
When you’re a British soldier fighting German soldiers in France because an Austrian guy was killed by a Serbian. These people really had no place fighting in this hell of a war
@@pufferfish0278 that's because the Brits didnn't want a power on the continent threatening their economy. You think countries fight wars for freedom ? Lmao
"I will celebrate Christmas without my family for the first time in 42 years this year. When I watched this video, I cried like a little child. I hope to make up for it next year. Unfortunately, my parents are older, and my father is seriously ill. It's taking a toll on me. Thank you for sharing this video! It emphasizes how important Christmas is for us humans and gives hope that the future won't be as bleak as it currently seems. It's still 10 days away, but Merry Christmas to all of you, no matter where you're from, regardless of age, and whatever religion you belong to. Christmas is a celebration for everyone!"
Imagine the war being over after this event. Everybody laying down arms and setting aside differences. That would've the most heartwarming thing in human history. Coming from a german here.
Sadly, many did not support this truce. I suppose it's understandable when you consider the people who were filled with sadness and anger over their homes being invaded, watching their allies make temporary peace with the enemy while they fought.
Christmas trees were not as common back in the day. It was mostly a German tradition, so the British and French were not really fond of it and thought it might be a secret attack signal.
Humans have a history of blood and war. But this? This is one of the most beautiful moments we ever created. In the midst of the bloodiest war we had ever know... a moment of unity and peace. A moment remembering... We are all human.
Crawl...crawl...crawl Wha- When truce starts: loudly OH FFS Loud laughter from all sides Edit: OMG THaNKS FOR- Jk guys I honestly just wish u have a good day
@@diothil2920 i believe soldiers from both sides were moved to different fronts throughout the land because they refused to fight each other. So well they all got replaced by a new batch of soldiers.
Forever will be my favourite Christmas story. No elves saving Christmas, no princesses falling in love Hallmark crap... this. This. A very real human once-in-forever event. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
What was crazy was that both sides moved those troops out to other areas afterward because they didn't want to kill the other side anymore. Hard to kill people that are no longer strangers.
@@justinscholfield5068 at the end the real villains are those "leaders" in both parties that are secure in their respective countries sending their own kind to death
@Josip Marušić “No, a soldier only engages in war when he thinks those that he loves are at risk.” Yeah, no shit. What the fuck do you think “because he loves what’s behind him” means? XD
why do we exist yep, the War of the Oaken Bucket, fought in 1325 between the rival city-states of Bologna and Modena. In truth, the war was fought because Modena stole Zappolino from Bologna, won the following Battle of Zappolino, and took the bucket as a trophy, where it still resides in Modena to this day.
The blank stares of each frontier when the other would play music or cheer, were pure reactions that the enemy were humans as well, with families and fears, fighting for a bigger purpose. Magestic scene.
I remember hearing about this event back in school years ago. People still had a sense of humanity back then. Something like this definitely wouldn't happen today. What these men, boys mostly, endured is a fate worse than death. At least death could give you respite against all the blood and carnage of the war. World War 1 was a war where people still had a patriotic vision of service, only to find that war isn't noble. It's a disgusting habit that humanity keeps falling into. But learning about the truce pushed back at the cynic inside me. Almost into December at the time of making this comment, but happy holidays and Merry Christmas to anyone reading. Hopefully these lads and the ones 30 years after have endured the worst of our world's growing pains.
One British soldier witnessing the truce in all its glory, broke down in tears. When they asked him what's wrong, he said: "I dont cry because of how beautiful this Christmas peace is. I cry because tomorrow we'll be back shooting each other like its nothing and forget this beautiful event ever happened." And he was right...8 days later he would sadly die during an artillery strike.
Beautiful. And yet, war is as immoral, as it is still neccesary, and most likely inevitable. And it speaks volumes that this can still stir one's heart, over a century after the fact. Maybe it is because it is the recurrence of goodness and humanity in times most desperate. Horrible to think our species needs horror (Mostly self-made, at this time in civilization...) to find its best qualities.
This brought tears to my eyes seriously. I am prior service I am not a combat vet but served none the less. I had many members of my family serve since ww1 and I could only imagine what these men went thru. Being complete enemies the day before and celebrating the next. This proves ppl can put differences aside for the good of humanity. So why can’t we today ?????? Screw governments - they are the problem. Bless you all. Luv your lives the way you want
We're still being f...d over by our so-called leaders. No uniforms this time, politicians wear expensive suits and talk instead of ordering artillery barrages and trench raids, but the structure of power is still the same. Few rule, the masses obey. As long as this continues, peace or rather, happiness and well-being for everybody is impossible. Look what happened during the past 5 years alone! The so-called enemy now is "climate change" and "racism, discrimination of women, LGBTGXYZ...", and people chose sides and don't get tired of hating each other, albeit only verbally and online, but still, what it is, is discord and hatred. Which serves our leaders well, because it keeps us busy. Imagine, the entire frontline in 1914 had just stopped fighting like that one night. What could the high command of both sides have possibly have done to keep them from simply going home? Shoot everbody? Sadly, people don't realize who the real enemy is.
My Great Grandfather fought in the 1st World War as a British Royal Scots Grey and would tell my grandmother stores about his experience's in the war and one of them being about this 1 day peace between the Germans and British and French were they played football, sang Christmas's carols and swapped sigars. He would end up badly damaging a lung in a large gass attack by the Germans and wanted to enlist to fight the Germans again in WW2 however with only 1 useable lung was sent to be a home defense regiment in Britain and would end up seening some small action and would end up surviving both wars.
Well according to a French officer, he was. The cat Felix/Nestor is based off would later be executed for espionage because the French and German soldiers used him to pass notes between the lines.
In my 8th class book India there's a chapter based on this," The best christmas gift ever" Here a soldier tells her wife in letter about that night how both side soldiers played football, her husband is not discussed in book while she reads letter that means he didnt make it back from war, she was nearly 90 years old at that time when a guy founds that letter and gives back to her, a very good chapter, It has been 6 or 7 years when I was in class 8 love those times.❤
It's christmas eve 2022 and I am watching this with a big smile and a lot of pride. I am half English and half German with a name from the alsace, let us never have another world war!
First he sings Silent Night in German to his fellows in the trench, but then he crosses no man's land singing O Come All Ye Faithful in Latin, a language common to all Westerners. True to the lyrics, the song brings everyone together. I cried.
@@LegalShield3000 the Latin version of O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles) is common throughout Christian churches, including in the United States, especially so in the 1910s.
@@fellspawn7927 actually morrocans were commonly used by french colonizers since they are fearless and effective than regular french italy was liberated by morrocans not all but they did help they also faught in vietnam and during WW2
Atheist here. We don't hate Christmas. There is no war on Christmas. Everyone likes letting their hair down, celebrating with friends, good food and drink, etc. Calm down.
None of those would be able to. Sentry’s were trained to shoot at all who attempted a ceasefire. Unfortunately, this would be the only like ceasefire in the Great War.
Not even lying. The hardest parts of my deployment were the nice moments. I only did 13 months in Afghanistan, and I'm not a badass by any means. I survived, but anytime something "nice" happened, I just thought the entire time "we are just going back to war after this." We tried to have a weekly "meal" together where we cooked actual, real fresh food. It didn't always happen because of either missions or because we didn't actually have the food to prepare, but I hated those meals with a passion. I appreciated what the intent was, but I 100% preferred just doing business as usual. I hope it helped some people, but it was always worse for me going back to work AFTER taking a break. I just couldn't sit there pretending that we weren't still in a warzone and that we'd still be there the next day if we weren't killed.
Back in the days were people would honor their words...Simple men and women who had nothing to divide between them...Somewhere there, at the beginning of the last century, a few hours where humanity was at its best.
@@christianlindemann4907 your English is almost perfect. If you had said speak instead of speach, I wouldnt have even known. Be more confident in yourself man. Portuguese is a beautiful language too. Merry Christmas.
@@GrandLordGeek They, officers and enlisted alike, were all ordered to kill each other by people who were not there. And that is still true in the present, although moments like these don't happen anymore today.
@@Mrx.123 he is absolutely right. Why does murder become justified when the president or chancellor or who ever is leading the country thinks it is. Still murder when humans die. No one deserves to die because of someone else’s believe.
It's a tragedy the Christmas truce didn't end the war. It would have saved these poor soldiers and the entire world a heap of trouble and grief. We are still reaping the bitter fruit of this stupid war today.
"No one would criticize us for laying down our arms on Christmas Eve." Very right. It is one of the most remembered and respected stories of opposing armies in military history.
Very wrong you mean... Are you one of those people that says literally when they mean the exact opposite? Many soldiers were reprimanded and the generals threatened to shoot anyone who did it again. This Christmas truce was never repeated over the next 3 years...
Where did you hear that? Like it or not they fought after the truce. They can’t just leave and be replaced in the trench’s without finishing the job. So this is false.
@@bigbirdloc8819 This is actually true. But the soldiers who didn't want to fight the Germans was sent to other fronts and some of them really wanted to stay in the fight especially Gefreiter Adolf Hitler but the ones who was already sent to the other fronts and still didn't want to fight well they were sent the fire squad. They were small agreements between soldiers the most famous is Private Henry Tandey and again Gefreiter Hitler where Pvt. Henry sparred Hitlers life. They didn't want to fight but they were given orders by rich assholes. The Great Wars nickname is actually the opposite The war to start all wars.
@@bigbirdloc8819 it's true, most soldiers didn't want to fight those they became friends with, so they were sent to new fronts and other to the old front so they wouldn't have to care about killing that 1 friends, some did have to kill their own friend thou :(
No this was a very real thing. Unites had to be pulled from the line on both sides. Truces happened a lot in the early years of the war. As for links, just google it. You will find a ton of info on the many Christmas truces throughout the war.
Love the bickering over the cat. It highlights all the interactions they might have had. I love that they gave little snippets of the individuals, it made it come to life all the more.
Vielleicht können wir immernoch die waffen niederlegen ...Oh I'm sorry maybe someday you will forgiven us germans for what my leaders have done in the past
I remember one night, back in early 2007, I was in Iraq with the 7th Scots. On this tour, rocket and mortar attacks on the COB just outside Basrah were almost a nightly event. One particular night we were getting it really bad... It was one of those nights where the insurgents would fire off a few rounds, relocate to dodge the counterfire, then 15-20 minutes later they'd fire off a few more, rinse repeat... This particular night it had been going on for a couple of hours, I was sitting in a corner of the shelter, just trying to get some sleep since I hadn't had a lot of sleep that week... Which isn't easy with armor and helmet on and mortars dropping outside every few minutes... To say we were in a miserable place is kind of an understatement, but then I heard the pipes. Someone in a nearby shelter just started playing them. I spent the next hour or so just sitting in a dark sandbag shelter, listening to bagpipe music between sporadic mortars exploding until we finally got the all clear... It was probably one of the most surreal nights of my life. A memory that will stick with me forever.
I went to Dunkerken when I was 17, in summer of 83 . On a bike tour crossing it on my way to Calais, catching the ferry to Dover. I went into the Monument-Museum and was gobsmacked what I saw on the Photos. Immediately I understood the tense "Hello" around me as I checked in on a Campside nearby before. Meeting a bunch of Dutch elderly people, - when they heard I was German. My English wasn't very good back then... Anyway: Like an idiot I walked into the Museum and realized that I knew a whole lot of stuff about Hitler and WWII, but very little about the first War, and where it really took place. I mean the actual ground, the area... Since then, I never went to a place outside my Country without inform myself beforehand. I never forgot how ashamed I felt about how ignorant I cycled litteraly through Europe's History without even recognize where I am and what it meant back then and right now. I also understood that my mother never left the place or City or area where we grown up. And I didn't want that for me. It was the first trip I did. And it was a big motivator to learn English, get informed. So leaving home and going abroad is very important, bc. You can't see from the outside how it looks when you never leave the circle of common, familiar Ground.... Go out there people. Learn a Language. Don't sit at home your whole life😎😎
i was once told by my old teacher once a story like this during ww1 i never thought that it was true til i stumble with this clip. it was just amazing and there is another story she told that there was a french family having german soldiers together with their french foes spend the night eve together in the same house sharing songs from their motherland telling about christmas...wether its fictional or historically correct, nobody can tell but the story will definitely blow your mind how this almost impossible and how unthinkable it is to happen in the middle of unrelenting tension of war.
I hear the mountain birds The sound of rivers singing A song I’ve often heard It flows through me now So clear and so loud I stand where I am And forever I’m dreaming of home I feel so alone, I’m dreaming of home It’s carried in the air The breeze of early morning I see the land so fair My heart opens wide There’s sadness inside I stand where I am And forever I’m dreaming of home I feel so alone, I’m dreaming of home This is no foreign sky I see no foreign light But far away am I From some peaceful land I’m longing to stand A hand in my hand … forever I’m dreaming of home I feel so alone, I’m dreaming of home.
“This is not the Berlin Opera” “You’re right, it’s better than Berlin” Such a beautiful reenactment of this miracle of an event of history, showing that we are all human
@@lanceelamparo1757 Eh. Charisma from leaders and not having the opportunity to have a ceasefire does that. Remember, they were all told propaganda about one another to ensure they would fight for what they believed was right (Germany felt it was unfair the British and so many others had empires and glory days, whilst they were always killed due to them, so wanted their own empire). Also difference in tech. Communication was much harder during ww1.