In the first letter a man named Dick is writing home to his mother explaining to her what has happened in about the last week. He explains his time waiting in the trenches for the artillery to commence on the Germans. He then explains that when they push forward that they are met with machine guns firing at them. Some get hit with shrapnel but that was the least of their worries. He says how it was terribly awkward for him since he was untouched when the mere boys serving with him had it much worse. He then makes the decision to try and get out of the trenches and at one point has to start crawling in order to avoid getting shot. Once he makes it he rests with the others, waiting for reports to come in. Dick then goes into talking about the
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His letter was written to his mother describing how on Christmas the British and the Germans walked out into no man's land to wish each other a Merry Christmas and to play football. They also took time to bury their dead. Joint burial services were held for German and British soldiers. Former enemies even posed for pictures to commemorate the occasion. Some also took the chance to improve their dugout with a fireplace and straw. The men exchanged cigarettes and autographs and were just happy to get up and stretch without being shot at. Everyone was glad that there was peace for a short time and that there was no sound of gunfire. He goes on to tell how they have another truce on New Year’s Day since the Germans want to see how the pictures came out. The truce even held when a British soldier shot into the air by accident. Military leaders on both sides were enraged by the apparent softening of attitudes, which was quickly stamped out. If anyone was defying then they faced court martial and execution and the fighting started again. He goes on to say how nothing like this has ever happened before and they decided that there was not to be any cease of hostile feelings towards one another. The Christmas Day truce letter brings the good and bad together. It was nice that they could put aside their differences for one day and make peace. But they knew it wouldn’t last long and they would have to go back to fighting. This letter really shows how brutal the war was since it continued for four more years after this
His letter was written to his mother describing how on Christmas the British and the Germans walked out into no man's land to wish each other a Merry Christmas and to play football. They also took time to bury their dead. Joint burial services were held for German and British soldiers. Former enemies even posed for pictures to commemorate the occasion. Some also took the chance to improve their dugout with a fireplace and straw. The men exchanged cigarettes and autographs and were just happy to get up and stretch without being shot at. Everyone was glad that there was peace for a short time and that there was no sound of gunfire. He goes on to tell how they have another truce on New Year’s Day since the Germans want to see how the pictures came out. The truce even held when a British soldier shot into the air by accident. Military leaders on both sides were enraged by the apparent softening of attitudes, which was quickly stamped out. If anyone was defying then they faced court martial and execution and the fighting started again. He goes on to say how nothing like this has ever happened before and they decided that there was not to be any cease of hostile feelings towards one another. The Christmas Day truce letter brings the good and bad together. It was nice that they could put aside their differences for one day and make peace. But they knew it wouldn’t last long and they would have to go back to fighting. This letter really shows how brutal the war was since it continued for four more years after this