The Christmas Truce

Along much of the Western Front, particularly in the British and German sectors in Flanders, soldiers spontaneously ceased fire and fraternized across No Man's Land on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. German troops lit candles and sang carols; Allied soldiers joined in. In some sectors, men exchanged rations, cigarettes, and gifts, and informal football matches were played. High command on both sides subsequently forbade such fraternization, and the truce was never repeated on the same scale.