#Veterans 

One Man steped out the Trenches, unarmed. 100 Rifles were pointing on him and not a single one fired. This was the only Victory in WW1. A Victory for Humanity.

This is a f... masterpiece. And thank you for not skipping the Credits, because skipping Floor is a act against humanity ^^

My great grandfather was a major in the German Army during ww1. He ordered he's men to never shoot on Christmas day. He said it was the only order he ever gave. He didn't regret.

The Christmas truce of 1914, arguably the most beautiful story of WW1. Another example of humanity shining through the terror of war, even if it didn't last long, and would never be repeated in the years following, it's still a beautiful event. Also.. can we just appreciate how Sabaton managed to turn a war story into an actual Christmas song? it's obviously not a traditional Christmas song, but the bits that give you that "christmas feeling" are definitely there. I never thought I'd see this, especially not from a metal band.

The cross shown at the end was a memorial put up in 1914 during the truce to remember those who lost their lives during the war. It still stands there to this day. The Christmas Truce is such an amazing story and I'm so happy Sabaton made a song about it.

Sabaton: we need a choir to do the outro . Hannes: i know someone

The story I heard that the Germans started singing Christmas carols and the British replied with the same carols in English, then the men began to get out of their trenches when they realized they were all the same. War has always been about the elites feeding lies to the masses to energize them to hate the 'other'. Dehumanizing the enemy is step one in starting a war. Building hate of the 'other' is the classic way of justifying the killing. Whether it's a revolution or an invasion, it starts with a justification built out of lies. Without our habit of believing the lies we are fed, no war, no revolution would be possible. Frederick the Great of Prussia said, and I'm paraphrasing, "If my men could think, I would not have an army." The Christmas truce between the British and the Germans is one of those rare moments in war when individual soldiers took a moment to think. There is another moment in WW II where two soldiers connected and realized the futility of it all. The Germans occupied Crete and invoked a harsh rule on the island. The British decided to send in a small unit of SAS to kidnap the German general responsible for the brutality. While the operation was being put into gear, the Germans replaced the brutal general with a more civil one. With the operation already underway, the British decided to continue and kidnap the new guy instead. As the British officer stood on the beach with his captive German general, waiting for the boat from a British sub to take them back to Britain, he began reciting ancient Greek poetry. When he was about to complete a verse, the German general finished it for him. The two of them realized that except for the uniforms, they probably would have been friends, linked by their love of literature. War is always fought for the benefit of those in charge and never for the benefit of those who fight it.

When many years later they interviewed one of the soldiers who was actually there, he said Silence I remember the silence and its great to see that Sabaton did their research and used his words in the beginning.

The song is beyond incredible but damn do they keep raising the bar with the production value they put into their videos.

13:32 That cross still stands! It was raised by a unit calling themselves The Khaki Chums in St. Yvon, Belgium! It's not too far outside of Ypres.

I went down late in the day on the 24th, struck in the engine I could not press on. My crate nosed over into shell hole, I came to much later. I could do nothing but hide, the madness of no-mans land reigns terror on those caught in it. Darkness fell, and an eternity lay before me as I plotted my way out. But something happened that night, a soul deafening silence fell upon the front, followed soon by a single voice in song. Not believing what I was hearing, I peered over the mangled wings covering my hole. I saw a single man, standing above the trenches, hands behind his back, singing as though his humanity depended on it. It filled me me a chill the night and snow could not give. Then more of his comrades stood to join him, and they walked onward, slowly and un-armed. I heard a heavy Scottish voice say; "Are ye a'right lad?". A highlander with his pipes was standing aside my hole, his hand extended. Without a thought, I responded: "Shaken, but not dead." "It's Christmas, Lad. C'mon." I stood, and took his hand for help from the hole. Around me I saw what could be described as a wonderous occasion. Men of all sides stood in the desolation, talking in what tongues they knew as though there was no war. There was no hate, no blood, no malice, only cordial respect and humanity. I wondered then, what we were fighting these men for. It struck me then, that each of us had a job to do, but tonight we all refused to do that job and simply be human. The voices rose again in song, and the piper played as we walked to the gathering. I couldn't help but feel that there was hope for us afterall, that we are all the same, no matter our uniforms, our rifles, or our futures. Tonight is Christmas, tonight we sing. -Manfred von Schreiber.

100% agree. To put it bluntly, the first guy outta the trench either had the biggest balls in history or was so mentally gone he said "screw it". Wouldn't have been me up that ladder into No Man's Land. Nope. No way in hell. I woulda been the 452nd guy outta the trench.

While we are living the most peaceful time of the history, we got still alot work to do. I know world aint gonna be peaceful during my lifetime, but thats my dream :)

Sabaton are the best history teachers by far. I can't even begin to imagine how it must have felt to be laughing and singing one moment, and then the next you're trying to kill each other again. It breaks my heart to think about it. I'm 50 now but I remember as a child my grandmother telling me about a brother and cousin dieing in WW1, she was 11 when war broke out. They called it 'the war to end all wars' and they said it would be over by Christmas, boy did they get that wrong. To those on both sides that gave their all, LEST WE FORGET ❤️

The cross that is shown at the end is a real monument in France remembering the Christmas Truce

"Why did I just get chills when he said 'come on'?" It ain't gonna be the last time

The fact that they added choir at the end just gave me more chill

"Leaders started this war, we are just brothers and fathers of gods creation condemned to destroy eachother, we will always be brothers, no matter what happens in this war".- Muller Weber, 1914.

I have never found a band that could make me cry... Until I found Sabaton. I am of the hard belief that history teachers should use these songs in class. They're extremely well done and they keep these historical events in our minds, so that we never forget the sacrifices that we're made.

BTW, I have a tenuous link to this event. My paternal grandfather enlisted in the British army in 1913, before the war began. He signed on for a three year enlistment and was honourably discharged in 1916 when his enlistment expired. The British army in 1914 (BEF) was a very small, all volunteer force, compared to the large conscript French and German armies of the time. The British had put the bulk of their efforts into the Royal Navy. Considering the small size of the British army's contribution in 1914, there's a chance that my grandfather was a part of this.

Can you imagine the generals' faces when they walk on over to hear singing and laughter, then look over No-Man's-Land and see all the troops of both sides playing football, singing, and just having a good time?

The true tragedy of war is that someone may not be personally evil but could still be fighting for an evil cause or an evil government, caught up in circumstance for a myriad of reasons. But once the war has started and the other side refuses to yield, they must still be fought and defeated. Even though they might have been your friend under different circumstances.

The song is a wonderful tribute to a very historic, yet sadly not talked about or remembered event. Sabaton did a fantastic job with the song. One thing to add about the actual truce, a majority of the officers and higher up commanders took a lot of punishment for this happening. The units themselves most of them were split up and though there were attempts after for another truce, nothing of this scale ever happened again. Another great visual work about the Christmas Truce is a French film called Joyeaux Noelle, you can find clips about the truce scene on RU-vid. It’s one of my favorite scenes to watch during the holidays.

The attention to detail in the video is outstanding - even the guitar and piano are correct for the period. The acting by the band and others is great as well, but the song, the lyrics and the music (theme from "Carol of the Bells") is amazing. And that memorial cross stands near to Ypres, at one of the many sites along the western front where, briefly and spontaneously, peace broke out. Joakim is an extremely good though under-utilised pianist - he was originally hired as Sabaton's keyboard player but stepped up to frontman when needed, originally on a temporary basis, then after he became permanent, they had talked of replacing him on keyboards, but in his words "The lazy bastards never got around to it". Thank goodness. Floor provided the perfect ending for this masterpiece, and serves as a reminder that all of the men on the front line had wives, children, mothers, fathers and others they would have far rather been with. Many of the units from the frontline during the 1914 Christmas truce had to be replaced, as they took to firing over the heads of their friends in the opposing trenches, so orders were issued from all sides high commands that it was not to be repeated.

Sabaton plus Floor Janssen united.....Can you amaging anything more powerful! within music!!

The cross at the end is a replica of one at Ypres, where both my grandfather, George (RA), and my great uncle Pte. John William Bowness, served. John fell there, Sept 15th 1917, having survived to the grand old age of 21 (he volunteered in 1914). Only plus side of the unholy mess was that my grandfather managed to get his horse home at the end of the war. Generally, they were slaughtered as 'too expensive' to bring home. George towed the big guns to the front of almost all the hell holes of the war, along with his horse - I believe she was called 'Nell' but everyone who'd know for sure is dead, so...

Great reaction as always, I knew you would appreciate this song! I am absolutely loving this song. The passion of Joakims voice and the piano that perfectly blends in after the guitarsolo.. EPIC!!! And then end it with Floors aerial voice, a masterpiece! Btw...are really looking forward to coat of arms AND the history!!

I learned about this true event as a 7 year old boy at my junior school in my history class here in England. It's part of the UK and Germany's history which showed humanity and brotherhood. WW1 is a war that should never happened as both us British and Germany were great friends and very close Allies through history. If it wasn't for Kaizer Wilhelm the second, his bloodthirsty generals and the idiotic Archduke Franz Ferdinand going to Serbia WW1 would never have happened. What a waste of human life for absolutely nothing. British Sabaton fan 💂‍♂️💂‍♂️💂‍♂️💂‍♂️🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇩🇪🇩🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪

The piano was epic for sure, just watched the official video before coming here, amazing song and video, but expected by Sabaton.

Hi there, this song and video got me right in the heart. my Scottish great grandad (royal field artillery)was on the western front when this happened and wrote to my great granny and told her how surreal and emotional it was. There were small pockets of xmas truces in the following years but not on the same scale as in 1914. Some soldiers even exchanged addresses and wrote to each other or their families after the war. Sadly my great grandad was killed in April 1918 ah Ypres, Belgium. My Irish great grandad (royal inniskilling fusiliers ) was killed in the trenches 3 months after this xmas truce 😥 Thank you for this reaction

Full body chills when the piano starts❣️ And again when Floor starts the outtro.

Hey! I've already seen this video a couple of times now and like you said, chills upon chills... I don't know how they manage to do this over and over... Insane talent! Great reaction and great to see you reacting to Sabaton! 🤘

That chorus without instruments, just the singing, brings me to tears every time, especially with the almost crying/screaming guitar moments before. So powerful.

This brings tears to my eyes!

A bit of Humanity in the middle of Inhumanity so beautiful make a old soldier weap

Can we take a minute to reflect on how beautiful a song this is? And Floor? I can't remember her using so dark a colour in her voice in anything she has sung before. Yes, there's a snippet here and there, but nothing like this. Is there any emotion she cannot convey?

they HAVE TO release acoustic version of this

Omgi just realized that Sabaton hbasically plays swedish folk music, but with electric guitarrs.

Our man was spitting big facts when he said there will be an intro that sets the mood for the music

Well done guys - enjoyed the reaction, enjoyed the video and music, appreciate the message they had at the ending of the video.

The song brings a tear to my eye when I think that probably most of those soldiers would never return home from the war

This story was the only moment in history where soldiers dared to step foot in No-Mans-Land the only time in history where there was peace bc they knew they wouldn’t go home by Christmas so they spent Christmas on the battlefield and it’s touching tho I don’t celebrate Christmas it’s still touching

*Master reaction on a masterpiece!* I really enjoyed this one! Have been seeing lot of commentators tonight and most of them - weren't what expected. ( _Subbed of course_ ) Greetings from Sweden 👍🏻⭐⚔❤

Fun fact: joakim really plays the piano. He used to be an organ player as a profession.

We even had a television advertisement in the UK based on this story. Very touching subject. The truce was almost entirely between the British and Germans, on the whole French troops did not do this. Not too surprising as the fighting was taking place in France.

I'm going to a Sabaton Concert this week, I really hope that they play this song !! I would love to hear it live.!!

If I remember correctly, the leadership on both sides split them up after the christmas truce, both to make sure it wouldnt happen again but also since they thought that the soldiers wouldnt fight as hard against each other since suddenly the enemy had a face and a name, and perhaps was even a friend. Cant have that now can we? :P cant have soldiers that rather play soccer than fight against each other in a huge family struggle of European royalty.....

Following the first night of this impromptu truce, some areas of the trenches chose not to fight, instead continuing the peace with games and gifts. After Christmas Day, while many areas of the Western Front returned to war, a few chose to reject their orders and face court-martial rather than kill their new friends.

This music video will give anyone chills

What I have said about this, Christmas/Yule came early. This is just awesome and heartwarming, especially when you consider how heartwarming the Christmas Truce is and then how tragic it is when the fighting resumed. Think of how things would be like if the Christmas Truce ended WW1. Let's all listen to this when Christmas/Yule comes. This is another good sounding tune for the holidays and to remember that one time in history.

Direct hit to the feels.

Sabaton has made alot of powerful songs. But this song and the final solution are the two most powerful songs they have ever made

They actually didn’t fight after this, their lines that did this wouldn’t fight till they were replaced by new troops.

You have an awesome reaction! I'd never heard of Sabaton, but was watching Grit TV, saw "Kid from Texas" with Audie Murphy, didn't know much about him (He's NOT the Singing Cowboy as I had thought.). So I researched him, and my Amazon bill went up during Covid, as I ordered most of his movies, books about him, and his own film "To Hell and Back," based on his book about WW2 "To Hell and Back." Then, one evening, while learning more about him, I saw the info that a Swedish metal band had used some parts of Audie's poem "The Crosses Grow at Anzio." I would have thought it was a gimmick, but it said that Audie's son, Terry, highly approved of the metal version. So, on RU-vid, I watched the Sabaton video and song, and thought, this is so good, I have to hear this song performed live. Fall 2022, Covid restrictions had just been lifted, and Sabaton was playing in Seattle and Portland (2 shows there). There on the stage was a tank with the name "Audie" on it. Then, the band started "Ghost Division." It was so great to be in that little theater, sold out, with Sabaton fans who were also thrilled to be packed into a great concert. I didn't know about Christmas Truce, but drove home "hearing" it. Then I saw the video. Life has changed, and I'm in the Sabaton rabbit hole with no plans to crawl out. Just fantastic music! If you want to see them play in a small venue, look at Sabaton - Fear of the Dark 1st verse + To Hell and Back [Live in Portland]. Sabaton - The Last Stand + Christmas Truce [Live in Portland 9/17/22] The person who took the video also has others, such as Ghost Division, To Hell and Back, Bismark.

What makes it even sadder is Sabaton History channel mentioned it in passing. There was no Christmas truce on the Eastern Front because of the difference in calendars.

In this video, you might notice that the first dude who goes over the top and tries to start the truce - is the same dude who is clearly concussed from the grenade at the start. Music is amazing tho

"Hey Brits! Tonight if you no shoot, we no shoot! No Mama wantz a Telegramm wizz Christmas date on itt!" (Christmas Truce in a nutshell)

When they heard the sound of canon's again. It must have been painful. They finally had a sense peace. They made news friends they could barely even talk with but still had a great time and enjoyed each others company. And they had to go back and kill their new friends...

It's truly tragic and insane that Franz Ferdinand the Arch Duke death led to death of millions, changed the destiny of several nations and started not one but two world wars. P.S Hannes Van Dahl's wife Floor Jansen the lead singer for Nightwish does the vocals for the choir. I also believe The Germans won the football match 2-1.

It's interesting because after there was some instances in both side where they refused to fight afterwards so commanders on both sides put a stop to it and it never happened again.

The very end is ALL Floor Jansen!

Cheers from Sweden. There actually were a christmas truce in ww2 too atleast from what i heard back in the 90's by surviving members of SS Nordland. They were stationed on the baltic coast and at Courland i think at december 24 1944 the battle stopped and swedish volunteer waffen SS soldiers traded for tobacco with russian soldiers. Russians had sometimes had western tobacco mixed with majhorka a herb mix. Thats what i remember was told atleast.

the sad thing is that those same soldiers were then punished by their superiors for fraternisation with enemy, a lot of them were relocated to more dangerous areas of the front line as punishment

The day soldiers realized they have more in common with those on the other side than with their own command...

There is no honor in war, but there is honor in the conduct of those who serve.

Great reaction , thank you. Greetings from Sweden 🇸🇪

Could you as veterans imagine doing that like going to an enemie that maybe killed your best friend and shake his hand?

They have an live and acoustic version of this Sabaton - Christmas Truce / musikhjälpen 2021 🤘

finaly leaving a subscribe

I love this video, watched it several times, but right when you paused it and commented on it going back to pew pew, I just noticed that the lead guy (piano player/singer) is firing his rifle with his eyes closed. I wonder if that was intentional to portray the idea of having to shoot at men you'd just bonded with.

I heard this song at work and I was crying

I'm here y'all can't wait to hear this. Lunch break

You still havent reacted tp "Karolinens Bön" Swedish version with subs, IMO the best Sabaton song!

I love this song and movie, they keep overdoing themselves, beautiful

i love the music video, they just keep get better with them. it be cool if they could do a christmas cd

A moment of sanity in the madness of War.

If my memory does not fail me completely I think they had to relocate the men to other areas after the truce because so many of them refused to fire on their friends across the opposite side of no mans land, instead intentionally firing high overhead.

I found your channel through looking for sabaton reactions and coincidently we are from the same city. The world is a very small place

Grazie, anche il 🎅 🎄

The cross still stands today, although not the original one, near WARNETON on Belgium, a national monument lest we forget!

It was even better than that, they buried their dead and everyone attended the funeral, they exchange prisoners. It didn't really start with someone just walking out of the trench though, it was a German initiative that was transmitted and while the Germans had to make good on that the French and British forces had agreed not to fire on anyone unarmed. It should be noted that there had been several, all dismissed, initiatives before that but those were dismissed by politicians, not the troops in the trenches so when this was transmitted out there was no resistance to the idea because it was transmitted to the people in the trenches. Even in war, peace is always the best idea.

Christmas song of the year!

I maybe miss rembering but i believe it took one entire stretch of trenchs on both sides 3 months afterwards before their officers got them back

Just imagine my generation 100 years ago would be the soldiers in the trenches. Cause I graduated 2014 from high school. Born in 1996 (1896- 1914) is 18 years. And also the same era hitler would have been around our age. A little older obviously but still the same generation.

this is a true story

Suedes viking.... wowww what a song... we was in Usa before columbus.

The germans where singing silent night and then the British decided to start singing it too they played football and exchanged gifts chocolate,cigarettes and alcohol and even clothing iteams also they allowed each other to clear the dead and wounded from no man's land but unfortunately they day after they went right back to slaughtering each other and even some units shot at each other on Christmas day the commanding officers didn't allow it and made there men kill whoever step foot on no man's land while the other units made a truce and played football so sad

There is now an animated story video for this song.

Truce forever,

FLOOORRRR

Goddamn beautiful my only wish is some songs from then about OIF-OEF.

No mans land was the Space between the trenches of both sides in the war by 1914 which this story is about

I think Sabaton are releasing Soldier of Heaven on friday. It look promising the few seconds I've heard it.

WW1 the best honor moment

Some cool Battle between the bands (Sabaton style) Sabaton - 82nd all the way Amaranthe - 82nd all the way Sabaton - Carolus Rex Follow the Cipher - Carolus Rex Manowar - Kingdom Come Sabaton - Kingdom Come Amon Amarth - Twighlight of the thundergod Sabaton - Twighlight of the tundergod

Joakim saves Hannes......COME ON ;)

I don't know if the guy on the left is crying from the video or from the vape

It actualy happened between french and germans soldiers in 14-18 thay made a movie out of this story

Beautiful, but very sad. War never changes.

My question to you as Vets or any vet today, would you be willing to meet and shake the hands of your enemy on a solemn occasion like this? Would oyu be able to have a moment of peace with the very people trying to kill you?