Strange Manifestations of Christmas During War
It would seem unusual if not contradictory for us to think that in times of war there would be any semblance of peace, humanity, or religious comfort on Christmas in the midst of conflict. Though many strange incidents have manifested themselves in the fog of battle one could probably deem little if anything that could demonstrate Christian acknowledgement of the birth of our savior in those troubled times, yet there are compelling instances of incomprehensible acts of peace during the horror of war attributable to our
beloved Christmas Day.
Overcoming war
The year is 1914 and World War I had broken out! Across a vast region known in France as "No Man's Land" a horrible stalemate has occurred. The two opposing sides, the British, and French have dug a long line of trenches as have the Germans hundreds of yards apart. The land that separates the two factions is nothing but a deforested battleground of artillery craters, barbed wire, devastated grounds blasted by mortar shells and cannon, along with the dead who lie undiscovered. The stench of death is everywhere. Machine gun crews sit waiting for an offensive as battle weary soldiers crouch in trenches with water at ankle depth, rodent infestations, and the constant impending prospect of death hanging in the smoke-filled air.
A bizarre twist
On Christmas Eve something inexplicable happens! battle hardened soldiers of both sides emerge from their trenches. They sing Christmas hymns and call out to their enemies on the other side of the battleground. They begin kicking around soccer balls, greeting their enemy with blessings, and eventually exchanging photos of their families with each other. As opposed to the orders of their superiors, the Germans, French, and English troops even offer simple Christmas gifts to one another. Despite the orders from their commanders who make their deadly plans in safe and hospitable quarters far from the battlefield, the horrors of war are temporarily abandoned by young men who instead choose to embrace all of mankind and celebrate Christmas. It is all but an outright miracle that first year of World War I. No order was given. No policy provided for such a show of humanity, yet this expression of brotherly love on the battlefield did indeed occur.
New realization
The year is 1944. Europe is in the grip of a desperate war of liberation by the Allied forces and the German Army who has just unleashed an unexpected offensive catching the American troops by surprise on the eve of Christmas. As weary American soldiers and their allies anticipate a war that is over by Christmas in Berlin, Hitler and his plans do not allow for such a scenario. Instead, a blitzkrieg is launched against a victor who has driven back the Germans since D-Day on June 6th. Now with Armored columns of Panzer and Tiger Tanks leading the way for thousands of German infantry following, all dreams of the end to hostilities by Christmas 1944 are shattered! The record snowfall has neutralized Allied air superiority so American and British attack aircraft are unable to operate under such cloudy conditions. Hitler's minions now take full advantage! The front lines in the Ardennes forest are overwhelmed.
Unlikely confrontation
Yet, somehow God reaches through the carnage. An American patrol lost behind the rapidly changing enemy lines end up piercing through the darkness of the chilling night and happen upon the household of a French woman and her son. They politely ask for shelter from the cold and she is accommodating enough to allow them to enter, lay down their arms, and sit to a Christmas Eve meal. The exhausted and hungry American GI's happily comply. However, not long after the Americans have arrived there is another knock on the women's door. Now, a German formation of troops stands at her door asking for relief from the harsh winter cold.They too are hungry and tired. They too are Christians who are aware of Christmas eve.
No killing allowed!
Stunned as this brave women informs the German soldiers there are Americans here and there will be no violence on this sacred holy night. The German soldiers are willing to comply. They lay down their weapons, calmly greet the Americans seated at the woman's table and she feeds them the best that she can. The Americans and Germans are civil toward each other obviously wishing the war to be over. Among the Germans is a corpsman who inspects the wounds of a suffering American soldier and treats him. Bandaging and applying a disinfectant to the American soldier's injuries. That night after a peaceful and respectful Christmas Eve the soldiers depart with no ill will toward to one another and the confusing incident is bloodlessly resolved. Years later one of the American soldiers seeks to re-unite with the boy who lived with his mother and they joyfully meet again! The event is celebrated on the TV show "Unsolved Mysteries" hosted by actor and World War II veteran Robert Stack decades later! One must ask how this poor woman was able to accommodate two patrols of American and German troops at her dining table, but these are the miracles that sometimes grace us with their majesty on an occasion we know as Christmas.
Saving the Innocent
As American forces pushed for the liberation of island chains in the Pacific theater of World War II where bitter sea battles and beach landings had exacted terrible casualties, American service men reached out to natives on these islands indoctrinated by the Japanese to think they would be slaughtered by the invading American forces. Instead Americans offered them food, water, and peaceful surrender if they were Japanese troops. Some of the Japanese would surrender peacefully knowing American doctrine was more humane, but the more hardened captives would often have a grenade hidden on them and kill all those around them not only themselves-as many Americans as they could. Natives of Saipan and Okinawa had to be reassured by their American liberators that no harm would come to them but in some instances as American US Marines pleaded with local villagers they actually jumped off cliffs to their deaths having been propagandized by Japanese lies under their brutal occupation! Many an Asian child was restored from assured death by starvation to being fed and medically treated by American doctors and Corpsman after these bloody Pacific amphibious assaults! Soon the Chinese, Japanese, and Taiwan peoples would learn of the humanity of Christian faith especially on Christmas Day.
Under God rebuilding came
The grace of Christianity would not just extend in isolated incidents before the war had ended. In the aftermath of World War II in Europe millions of people starved and suffered homelessness as Joseph Stalin cut off Eastern Europe and proclaimed the evils of free enterprise while starving and restricting his very own people! During Christmas of the following year 1946 thousands of air lifts were achieved using DC-3 Cargo planes to drop off basic food stuffs and other much needed supplies to those whose lives hung in the balance! The war of propaganda over Communism and free markets was waged as the US and its allies attempted to care for the starving and afflicted in the aftermath of the worst world conflict of all time! Christmas played a part in spreading the generosity of America to the masses of the afflicted in nations ravaged by the war. As Christmas unfolded over a war torn European continent. Care and goodwill were there. Had the scenario been different and Axis Forces had won history would have been quite tragically different. Little if any humanity would have been shown much less the celebration of Christmas.
Comment
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Comment by Doc Vega on January 2, 2020 at 10:29am
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James, you know 20 years ago the fact that our founders were not only exceptional men destined to erect the greatest nation ever, but were guided by Christian principles and the Bible. Today we now have a former president Obama who regarded American influence in the world as toxic and holding down the progress of 3rd world shit hole banana republics. Without the kindness of Christian charity would we ever have helped rebuild Europe and Japan after the war? Hell NO!
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Thanks cheeki kea.
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Comment by James Roberts on December 30, 2019 at 7:56pm
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Thanks for posting, Doc! So important!
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Comment by cheeki kea on December 30, 2019 at 6:07am
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Nice to know that there's some hope and joy at Christmas, even in times of war.
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