Much of the First World War was fought from deeply dug trenches topped with barbed wire. In winter, the men squelched in mud or staggered along its frozen ruts in the bitter cold. They scarcely dared to put their heads over the top as they were likely to be shot by the enemy.

On the first Christmas Eve in the war, to their surprise the British soldiers saw lights in the enemy trenches and the German soldiers started singing 'Silent Night'. The British soldiers replied by singing 'The First Nowell'. For over an hour the singing went on then the men agreed on a truce.

With tremendous courage one German soldier walked across to the British trenches. He would have been an easy target if someone had decided to break the truce. Other Germans followed, their hands in their pockets to show they had no weapons. The men from both sides met together, laughing and joking. The next day was Christmas Day. Not a shot was fired, the men had agreed amongst themselves that there would be peace for one day. Instead they organized a football match. Many new friendships were made.

Sadly Christmas Day was soon over and the men were ordered back to their trenches. On Boxing Day, the fighting recommenced and continued for another three years. If the reconciliation which the men had started had been allowed to continue, nine million lives would have been saved.

This material is reproduced from Christianity Topic Book 1 (© 1991) by permission of the Publisher, Religious and Moral Education Press, Norwich NR3 3BH.