MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!

Dmitry · 26th December 2009, 11:36 PM

I reiterate my Christmas wished to all here! May we never meet on the field of battle!

katana · 27th December 2009, 12:49 AM

Hi Dimetry
I quote you from the e-mail received from the forum (with your post)....which has now disappeared from the forum website. I only do this because you brought up an interesting point....

"Well, Jim, what happened to the quality of those men, the brotherhood, in all the Christmases following 1914? No similar occurrences on a significant scale came about........"

Dimetry the reason was that this never occurred again "on a significant scale" was because the Generals had decided that from then on continual Artillary bombardment of enemy trenches (Christmas Eve onwards) would prevent communication between the opposing lines of trenches...and thus further unofficial ceasefires. They were not always successful....unofficial truces occured between

".........British and German troops stationed along the Western Front during Christmas 1914 and, to a lesser extent, in 1915. In 1915 there was a similar Christmas truce between German and French troops, and during Easter 1916 a truce also existed on the Eastern Front.........."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_truce

Regards David

Jim McDougall · 27th December 2009, 01:54 AM

Actually the reason I brought this up was simply to show that even in the atmosphere of war, there can be moments of humanity. It seems that the point spoke for itself..it wasn't a revelation...simply a Christmas miracle.
There will always be those who do not see things the same.
It wasn't intended to provoke a debate, just wanted to say something special on Christmas Eve.
Thank you David, Anandalal and Stu for the kind input and Dmitry for the holiday wishes.
I would say that about wraps it up for this topic.

Dmitry · 27th December 2009, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Actually the reason I brought this up was simply to show that even in the atmosphere of war, there can be moments of humanity. .

I did remove what I posted, because this is not a political forum, and I didn't want to escalate this any further..
But since you insist - indeed, there were 'moments of humanity', followed by spreading poisonous gas on one's fellow-Christians.

In my book the whole Christmas cease fire is nothing but a load of bull. These same soldiers were more than happy to kill one another the next morning.

Your story would have a moral, if the belligerents just dropped their weapons and walked home. Otherwise the X-mas cease fire is pretty meaningless, especially in the pedagogical aspect of it. What did the humankind learn from it, really? Nada. It became a cute Christmas yarn, nothing else.

Merry Christmas, all!

Jim McDougall · 27th December 2009, 02:43 AM

Thanks again for sharing your valuable perspective. With that I really dont think we need any further views on this, and you're right, this is not a political forum. I had hoped to share something I thought special with others on a very quiet Christmas Eve, and you have certainly illustrated why such miracles are sadly quite out of reach, there was no political issuance intended.
I think its best to leave this thread and go back to weapons OK.

Dmitry · 27th December 2009, 03:38 AM

Hey, let's not waste this opportunity!

Since we're on the subject of Christmas and War - check out these WWI Christmas cards.
Not much love for the fellow man noted...I especially love the aerial bomb Merry Christmas present, and the shooting star, i.e. a rocket lighting up the sky, so the machine gunners can have a pretty clear sight of the Huns on Christmas Eve!

The Russian card is kinda cute - "Our hero is home just in time for the holidays, sporting his medals". The little boy is a Full Cavalier of the Cross of St.George, Imperial Russian highest enlisted man's honor. Wounded, but very lightly.

Jim McDougall · 27th December 2009, 04:45 AM

Old wartime postcards are a fascinating field of collecting that is offers interesting possibilities to augment the collecting of arms!

Excellent examples, and I understand these often served well as propoganda during wartime.
Thanks for sharing those here, all very cute. Well done.

fernando · 4th January 2010, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmitry

... In my book the whole Christmas cease fire is nothing but a load of bull. These same soldiers were more than happy to kill one another the next morning....

Sinister book. Has the author interviewed the soldiers?

Dmitry · 5th January 2010, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Sinister book. Has the author interviewed the soldiers?

No, but the author is aware of 16 million dead and 21 million wounded. That is why the author collects swords and not Phosgene canisters.

Jim McDougall · 5th January 2010, 02:35 AM

Well even that didn't work!!! Christmas is over, not that this thread is even about Christmas Eve, as it began. As I mentioned before, what developed here thanks to the insistance in turning the thread into an editorial column is far from what was intended. For me, a lesson learned, even a message well intended can be distorted, which as previously noted, clearly displays the polarities in the spectrum of 'humanity'.
I left this open far too long hoping that good will would prevail. I was wrong,
THANKS

Thread closed

27th December 2009, 03:38 AM	#6
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	Hey, let's not waste this opportunity! Since we're on the subject of Christmas and War - check out these WWI Christmas cards. Not much love for the fellow man noted...I especially love the aerial bomb Merry Christmas present, and the shooting star, i.e. a rocket lighting up the sky, so the machine gunners can have a pretty clear sight of the Huns on Christmas Eve! The Russian card is kinda cute - "Our hero is home just in time for the holidays, sporting his medals". The little boy is a Full Cavalier of the Cross of St.George, Imperial Russian highest enlisted man's honor. Wounded, but very lightly. Attached Images

5th January 2010, 02:35 AM	#10
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Well even that didn't work!!! Christmas is over, not that this thread is even about Christmas Eve, as it began. As I mentioned before, what developed here thanks to the insistance in turning the thread into an editorial column is far from what was intended. For me, a lesson learned, even a message well intended can be distorted, which as previously noted, clearly displays the polarities in the spectrum of 'humanity'. I left this open far too long hoping that good will would prevail. I was wrong, THANKS Thread closed Last edited by Jim McDougall; 5th January 2010 at 02:37 AM. Reason: Thread closed due to content of discussion

26th December 2009, 11:36 PM	#1
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	I reiterate my Christmas wished to all here! May we never meet on the field of battle!

27th December 2009, 12:49 AM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Hi Dimetry I quote you from the e-mail received from the forum (with your post)....which has now disappeared from the forum website. I only do this because you brought up an interesting point.... "Well, Jim, what happened to the quality of those men, the brotherhood, in all the Christmases following 1914? No similar occurrences on a significant scale came about........" Dimetry the reason was that this never occurred again "on a significant scale" was because the Generals had decided that from then on continual Artillary bombardment of enemy trenches (Christmas Eve onwards) would prevent communication between the opposing lines of trenches...and thus further unofficial ceasefires. They were not always successful....unofficial truces occured between ".........British and German troops stationed along the Western Front during Christmas 1914 and, to a lesser extent, in 1915. In 1915 there was a similar Christmas truce between German and French troops, and during Easter 1916 a truce also existed on the Eastern Front.........." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_truce Regards David

27th December 2009, 01:54 AM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Actually the reason I brought this up was simply to show that even in the atmosphere of war, there can be moments of humanity. It seems that the point spoke for itself..it wasn't a revelation...simply a Christmas miracle. There will always be those who do not see things the same. It wasn't intended to provoke a debate, just wanted to say something special on Christmas Eve. Thank you David, Anandalal and Stu for the kind input and Dmitry for the holiday wishes. I would say that about wraps it up for this topic.

27th December 2009, 02:43 AM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Thanks again for sharing your valuable perspective. With that I really dont think we need any further views on this, and you're right, this is not a political forum. I had hoped to share something I thought special with others on a very quiet Christmas Eve, and you have certainly illustrated why such miracles are sadly quite out of reach, there was no political issuance intended. I think its best to leave this thread and go back to weapons OK.

27th December 2009, 04:45 AM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Old wartime postcards are a fascinating field of collecting that is offers interesting possibilities to augment the collecting of arms! Excellent examples, and I understand these often served well as propoganda during wartime. Thanks for sharing those here, all very cute. Well done.