You have completed watching the movie Joyeux Noel, which shows many different things. Most of these men did not really know what they were fighting for, they just knew that they had to fight and kill. This movie shows that despite all the atrocities and killing, there can still be civility between the opposing sides.
When we began watching the movie, you were asked to pick one of three sides: German, French, or British (Scottish). Your assignment is to write a short 1 paragraph letter as if you were a soldier from that side that was witness to what happened that Christmas eve. How did you react to what happened? How did it change your perspective on why you were there? Be creative with what you say in the letter, just keep it accurate to the story.
This letter should only be 1-2 paragraphs in length, as well as should be in complete sentences. This "letter" is due posted prior to 8am on Monday.
David Geidel
ReplyDeleteHello mother and father, this is your son Anton Van Vafa
The war has been brutal up to this point but finally on christmas eve we got to have fun, there were games, songs and quite the feast. We had Spink sing for us and it was jolly. Then the enemy started singing and we all joined in. Spink went over the top into no mans land singing! Then the generals had a meeting and it was decided to lay down our arms for the night. We slowly approached the Scotts and the British and we began to mingle. I showed them the picture of Marie and they showed me their girl friends. We then had a mass and Spinks girlfriend/wife sang for us. It was spectacular. The next day we all played together and avoided the artillery strikes. It was unbelievable. I will never forget those days and those men.
Sincerly Anton
David Geidel
Dear Mother,
ReplyDeleteThis war seems to get longer and longer with each passing day. Today is Christmas Day. I can still picture our Christmas tree shimmering with tinsel and candles! Oh how magnificent it was! But this Christmas Eve has been different than all others, not just by being in war but by who my company was for this holiday. Late last night I woke up to the glorious sounds of bagpipes. They were playing a Christmas tune, in which a slow grin spread across my face at its familiarity. After the song came to a closing I heard the most magnificent male operatic voice coming from the German side, which once again I was familiar with. But what happened next I can hardly convey into words. The scottish joined in with the bagpipes!!!
Our lieutenant met with the other lieutenants out in no mans land. There they agreed to stop the war and celebrate together. I was a bit skeptical at first and tightened my grip on my champagne bottle when approached by a german soldier. He offered me a bite of his chocolate bar and I offered him some of my champagne. His name was Friedrich, he knew enough french to get by in conversation, as our conversation grew our friendship did also. The soldiers that I once thought to be practically demons are only just like us! We exchanged our addresses and I have invited him to our house for Christmas after the war is over. I will never forget that Christmas Eve nor the men I have come to know.
Your loving son,
Frank
Rachel Highsmith
Dear Mother,
ReplyDeleteWe just attacked the germans and killed many men in there trenches. But it seems every step we take forward in this war we take two steps back. We are all cold and trying to avoid trench foot but you won't believe what happened yesterday. We heard singing from the German and the Scottish trenches so everyone joined in. The generals of each army met in the middle of no mans land and decided that we would lay down our arms for the night! We all met in the middle and shared our champagne with everyone. A scottish man led a sermon, and i got the best sleep i have gotten since this terrible war started.
Sincerely, Von
Devon Wenger
DeleteDear Father,
ReplyDeleteDays go by slowly in the trenches, and the stench of death fills the air. Morale has been low for us Frenchmen. We needed something good to happen, something to show us that this war doesn't have to be endless dying. It was Christmas Eve and we were hunkered down in blankets waiting for the Germans to attack. We expected the Germans to attack us while we were celebrating, but thats not what happened. We heard singing from across the line. I recognized the tune to be a Christmas song. Soon the Scots bagpipes joined in and then the German singer did something outrageous. He walked up into no mans land and continued singing. The bagpipes joined him and then soon all the French, Scottish and German commanding officers met in no mans land.
It was a remarkable sight! We all agreed on a cease fire for Christmas Eve! I played cards and had champagne with the very men I shot at. All of then attended a mass lead by a Scot. It was the most amazing experience of my life. I never wanted it to end. That night made me realize that it was actual people with families we were fighting against. I showed that there was still some good in this awful war.
Your son,
Pierre LePue
Collin Martin
Dear Mother,
ReplyDeleteThe war seems to be taking forever and it is really cold. The nights are long and no one gets very much sleep at all. We are in trenches and attack the other sides when our general tells us too. A lot of men are getting killed and I am one of the lucky ones that haven't. On Christmas Eve we were all snuggled in blankets listening to one of our men play the bagpipes. We were all weary that the Germans would try to attack us while we were celebrating. All of a sudden a German man started to sing. It caught us all by surprise. We starting playing the bagpipes while the man sang and he did something that was brave. When he was singing he got out of the trench and went out into no mans land. All of the officers went into no mans land and decided to put the weapons down for the night and celebrate together. No one was sure about it at first but everyone eventually calmed down. I met a German by the name of Alan and we shared champagne and talked about our families and wives. That night was an amazing night and it made me realize that the people we were trying to kill were people just like us and lived the same lives as us.
Your son,
Boyd
Tyler McCartney
Dear Family,
ReplyDeleteThis Christmas was a very unusual one. I was just sitting in the trenches with my fellow German soldiers when all of the sudden this man started singing. It took me by surprise. Shortly after that he walked right up to the other trenches and began singing! Then the officials had a meeting and declared that we would have a day of rest and for everyone to cease fire. At first I wasn't comfortable and it took me some time to get used to talking and playing games with enemy soldiers. We enjoyed a riveting game of soccer which my team one. After the the fun and games were over we all returned to our sides. I will never forget the day I spent with those men. Stay safe
Your son,
Leopold
Brady McDermed
Alex Isaacs
ReplyDeleteDear mother
This christmas eve the unbelievable happened. There was a cease fire between the scots and the germans soldiers. We heard singing from the german trenches and bagpipes from the Scottish. This really surprised us and all the captains met and decided to make a truce just for the one night. We all had drinks and played sports and had a good time for christmas this year. I wish i could be back for christmas with you stay safe.
Sincerely
Nester
Dear Mom,
ReplyDeleteI won't be coming home for Christmas, but I am celebrating Christmas on the front. We got order for a cease fire on the front from all of the sides. We got of are trenches and celebrated Christmas. The Germans started the celebration by setting up Christmas trees outside of their trench and had people singing for them. When that was over we had a drink together on the battlefield and tried to talk with each other. When the celebrating was over we went back to our trenches and started shooting each other two days later. It was an interesting Christmas this year.
Your Son,
Charles
Andrew Frazier
Dear Mom and Dad,
ReplyDeleteI'm just ready to come home. I don't like being away for this long. I feel like I'm missing out on a lot. We haven't gone to war yet. I wish I was home to spend Christmas Eve with you and the rest of the family. The Germans, French and Scottish decided to all get together and get along with the time that they had together for Christmas Eve. When we were together, we decided to do a proper bariel for the people that had died. The pastor prayed over the graves. Sprinks sang Christmas songs for us and his wife sang to all of us. It was a different experience getting along with my enemies and I enjoyed it for the time being. I miss you all and hope to see you soon.
Sincerely,
Paul
Kaylee Martinez
It was just a few days before Christmas Eve. All our men were gathered together in our trench trying to keep warm. We were all hoping the others would take a break just to let us celebrate the holiday season. One of our men was returning from a break with his wife. He came back and decided to sing and then we heard bagpipes and we joined together as one. It was at that moment that we were all together in the middle of our trenches celebrating Christmas Eve. Then we made a deal to have a truce until after Christmas. On Christmas we took all of the dead men we had from other groups and returned them and we all burried our men on our own base. It was a great day i will never forget.
ReplyDeleteIt was just a few days before Christmas Eve. All our men were gathered together in our trench trying to keep warm. We were all hoping the others would take a break just to let us celebrate the holiday season. One of our men was returning from a break with his wife. He came back and decided to sing and then we heard bagpipes and we joined together as one. It was at that moment that we were all together in the middle of our trenches celebrating Christmas Eve. Then we made a deal to have a truce until after Christmas. On Christmas we took all of the dead men we had from other groups and returned them and we all burried our men on our own base. It was a great day i will never forget.
ReplyDelete~Meghana
Dear Father and Mother,
ReplyDeleteI have been relocated to go off to fight the Russians. This is all because of what happened on Christmas Eve. It was cold and we were around the trees that were given to us when a fellow solider showed up with his wife. He sung for us with such a pretty voice and not long afterward we heard some bagpipes start up. This man heard them too and was crazy enough to stand up and bring the Scottish a tree. After all the singing and songs were over the Generals all met up and they decided to call a truce for the night. We all joined together and brought our drinks and some chocolate and exchanged them around the troops. After the shock was over we heard a bell ringing and we went to a place where a church service was set up. We said our prayers and a women, the man who sang first's wife, sang a song for us. When it was all over we both went back to our own trenches and slept only to be awakened in the morning by a man digging. Everyone thought it to be an attack but in the end it was settled that everyone would come out of the trenches and gather the dead to be buried. It was such a sad sight but it was wonderful how we could all gather together for a common goal. I no longer think that these people we are fighting against are terrible and ruthless killing machines. I really rather not be in this war anymore. I know you guys at home do not understand but it is so horrid and if the people we are fighting against are so nice what is the point of fighting with them? We are all here now only because we have to be. My heart is no longer in the war and I wont ever forget that Christmas Eve in the trenches. Please forgive me.
Your loving solider,
Mikala Heddin
Dear Grandfather,
ReplyDeleteI remember of the tales of heroism you used to tell as my cousins and I gathered around the hearth of our shabby hovel with eyes widened and mouths agape. Arms waving, you would try to imitate the deafening explosions that, by luck, you avoided. Inching ever closer, we would listen with wonder at the bravery of charging towards enemy lines. Secretly, we would all promise to ourselves to one day be like you and return from war with stories of our own to tell. Hearing of an opportunity to enlist awakened my childlike enthusiasm. I immediately volunteered, needing no further encouragement from Damien (but receiving some anyway). Proudly, we marched onward; feeling a purpose for our lives for the first time. Oh, how our attitudes changed. Warfare must be different now. The way I see it, there's only two possibilities: you exaggerated to hold the attention of rowdy children, or the world has indeed become a darker place. Within 5 minutes of our first charge to enemy lines, we lost half of our men. Stiff as boards, they dropped. In an instant, all that a man's life has built up to is wasted away. It is a hard truth to accept. We are fragile. I hear that a man on our side lived only because his alarm clock shielded him from a fatal wound. Constantly, to maintain courage ("the only thing keeping us alive"), our general would demonize the Germans. He claimed that, because of them, we would continue fighting on Christmas. Our general could not have been any more wrong. Noisily (as they always are when drinking), the Scottish began to sing Christmas songs. Joining them were bagpipes; sounding eerily similar to the cry of a dying animal. Yet, even such a sound was greatly appreciated after the never-ending silent nights of the bitter winter. After a song's ending chord died out, a German soldier was spotted slowly walking out of their trench. I gripped my weapon tightly, expecting a trap. To my surprise, he began to sing. I blinked and rubbed my eyes, still confused on whether or not I was dreaming. As the German sang, the Scottish bagpipes joined in as well; adding to the melody that reminded us all of the homes we had abandoned. When the song had ended, I returned from my trance to find that the our general was meeting with the Germans and the Scottish. When he returned, he informed us of an agreement of momentary cease-fire. Merriment and the pouring of alcohol followed shortly afterward. There was no segregation. I even found myself showing pictures of Isabelle to men who I would have considered my enemies only a couple hours earlier. In return, they would show me those whom they fought for back home. I noticed a bitter taste in my mouth and despite how much I drank, it wouldn't go away. I realized that these men were just like me. This war has the power to end lives that have the potential to do great things. I don't care if you frown upon my "cowardice" in this battle. I will not glorify the horrors of watching good men die to my children. I'm sorry if I have brought shame to you in saying this. My only hope is that you understand.
Best regards,
Malachi Wallace
Dearest Bratja,
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid our actions these past few days are going to have dire consequences. We celebrated Christmas with our enemies. When it was all over i couldn't bring myself to want to fight them anymore. I had gotten to know these men. Three days ago I would have been happy to hear of one of their deaths but now it fills me with regret. these are men that I would have been friends with had the circumstances been different. I cant even remember why we are fighting anymore. We are going to be moved to the Russian front soon... Perhaps this is for the best. I could never bring myself to fight these men again. I fear how the Russian front will go however.
Your Bratja,
Jacob Collins