1914 Sainsbury's Ad Christmas 2014 REACTION

Very touching!
Video: • 1914 | Sainsbury's Ad ...

[@ScriptoniteReacts]

Oh I love that you did this one. As others have said, it’s actually a true story from World War 1. We all learn about it in school across Europe (I assumed just England until I find out from French and German friends that they were taught about it too). I can’t watch it without bawling my eyes out 😭❤️. Wonderful to share this bit of our history with you Mum 🥰🌹

[@AmericanMumReacts]

Scriptonite Reacts ☺️

[@greeniemelb]

We also have learnt about it in Australia.

[@spaceoddity3958]

It's actually based on a true story.

[@RajBlake7]

@@AmericanMumReacts As Black Adder sums it up (please look him up), two opposing armies advanced more in one Christmas piss up (sorry, British language used to it's fullest) ...

[@balkanmadnessmadeinaustria5837]

Yeah, and we won the Football Game, the war should have ended that Christmas day, but our war thirsty german high command and the british high command didnt want to Stop it, politics at it's finest. Well this truce happened on many places at the Western Front, but in the end everything was for nothing, we Just kept Killing and Gassing and burning each Other with Flame throwers

[@HA1LILPALAZZO]

Sainsburys sold that chocolate bar in 1914 and for the advert they sold it again. This time though all the proceeds from the sales of the chocolate went to the Royal British Legion for helping veterans and wounded

[@STANDREW2]

"Stille Nacht" was originally a German song adopted by the British and translated into English. Both sides sang it.

[@paulkellerman2603]

Polish soldiers also sang "Silent Night" in 1914 on Eastern Front, although they fought in German and Russian army. They had to kill each other for foreign rulers because they didn't have own state.

[@Mordrag01]

"Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht" is only a German-language song. It originally comes from Austria.

[@captainoblivious_yt]

2:05 He says "Halt! Er ist nicht bewaffnet!" which means "Stop! He's unarmed!"

[@madkingxx6702]

Ja das ist richtig

[@adrinette5635]

Oha richtig

[@loquayrocks]

Ich weiss

[@unbearifiedbear1885]

*sips tea

[@reginakniprode246]

this is more than an ad, this is history

[@finnsreptiles9326]

Regina Kniprode it is an ad

[@Superman-iu5dr]

@@finnsreptiles9326 An ad showing the history of what happened on Christmas day 1914. (Hence why it is actually history.)

[@pepebabushki9376]

@@finnsreptiles9326 it is also history.

[@vixotherealone8737]

Knowing that this really happened on Christmas during WWI brings me to tears. They absolutely nailed this advert. Ill buy their stuff out of respect for making this

[@Pilot.0101]

This is the sort of thing we as people need. They use us to fight their wars but really, deep down, none of us hate the others.

[@charleneraymond4036]

This ad makes me cry when I think what it must have been like in real life for them. These kids pretty much, having to kill each other in a war they likely don't fully understand, when at another time in another place they could have been friends. Just fyi they were British and German soldiers on the 2 sides.

[@emmavbijnen]

It is based on the true story of the christmas 1914 during the First World War. It’s a crazy story, I would advice to read up on it, it makes the whole commercial even more emotional.

[@elitegaming4506]

@TheMahMan guy its a well documented event, it definately happened

[@elitegaming4506]

@TheMahMan guy what proof do you want? People werent vlogging back then you know

[@elitegaming4506]

@TheMahMan guy documented evidence is a reliable source.

[@elitegaming4506]

@TheMahMan guy www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/christmas-truce-of-1914

[@elitegaming4506]

@TheMahMan guy whats it with you and evidence? not every historic event has clear cut evidence, there are some things that are so widely accepted that they dont need evidence, such as the deaths of the romanov family. you are arguing against something for no reason

[@garethbattersby]

I know I'm late to the party here, but good reaction. The German soldier first shout "The British are coming!" Then the German soldier (Otto) says "Stop, he has no weapon" When the English soldier is showing him the picture of his girlfriend/Wife the German soldier says "She's pretty" Hope that helps out a little.

[@angelinaduffy4964]

True story. Known as the Christmas Truce xx

[@danbfleetwoodtown5634]

This all actually happened between Great Britain and Germany

[@hexoslaya3696]

More accurately the British and the Germans. The countries didn’t sanction this, the soldiers did.

[@harrismiller6284]

Just goes to show that you don't have to be a politician to get peace, even if it's only for a couple of minutes

[@cam8396]

Great Britain is not a country, its an island

[@bigkuriboh3814]

@@cam8396 at that time the country was generally called Great Britain, now it is mostly called the United Kingdom.

[@cam8396]

@@bigkuriboh3814 no, "great britain" stopped being the name in 1801 when it was changed to the United Kingdom

[@agenttheater5]

2:09 I think he said "Stop! He isn't armed."

[@julianjakobi309]

I'm from Germany and he said it

[@karlpeart1752]

Stop he has no weapon

[@35geordielad]

Best British Christmas ad so far. Well done Sainsbury's.

[@AmericanMumReacts]

We agree!

[@blooelmo]

My sister and I were JUST talking about this ad. One of my very favorite holiday / human ads. Thanks!! And it is based on a true story from ww1. I get so choked up with this one...

[@najmaaustria1841]

Anne Elmo Hi Anne 🤗

[@blooelmo]

Najma Austria hello and a happy day to ya! 🙂

[@drcarp7377]

From the front line trenches during the 1st world war. Apart from the naked commercialism of the advert, it's an important message. When countries are at war with each other, it's the ordinary people who suffer the most. Mostly just boys not long out of diapers really, sent off to fight in a war for their country, against people who they could have easily been friends with under different circumstances. And many of those boys never returned, and lay in a field in an unmarked grave. Just so sad!

[@Liverpoolboy01]

Put Politicians in their place!!!

[@blazeoftherazgrizsquadron9306]

I know I'm a bit late with this but allow me to shed a little light on the subject. This ad depicts the famous Christmas truce of 1914. A day that was far more than the culmination of one single holiday. Even before all this had occurred, the British and German soldiers all along the western front had encountered similar but much smaller instances of armistices between sectors. Eating meals at the same time for a short respite from the fighting, and sometimes ignoring German or English patrols, adopting a "live and let live" mindset when they could. During the winter, both sides primarily focused on waiting out the cold as the winter of that particular year were especially brutal. Rain had caused trenches to flood, trench walls to collapse and bury men underneath them. However when December rolled around, the brass and nobility decided to bring Christmas to the troops, sending bulk loads of cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, chocolates, cognac liquor, salami and other assorted food, medical supplies, and treats for the men; along with personal packages from home. However both sides ran into a similar problem, the gifts had turned into a bit of a nuicense as they had no real place to store it all. Enter Christmas eve, some sectors of the British line overheard a strange ethereal sound coming from the German trenches, they were singing Christmas carols in their native language. Some British officers saw this as a challenge and ordered their troops to drown out the German singing with their own carols. What was once a cacophony of multiple different songs overlapping each other soon became a harmonious tune. Some German soldiers and officers called out to the British which was basically "Tommies, if you no shoot tomorrow, we no shoot." Christmas morning arrives and British soldiers witnessed an unbelievable sight of German soldiers standing and walking around on top of their trenches. Which in normal circumstances was suicide. But soon thereafter, one by one British and German troops came out of the trenches to meet one another in the middle of no-man's land, greeting one another shaking hands, and eventually exchanging gifts bestowed upon them by their respective countries, burying their dead and holding a candlelight mass. There is a bit of debate over whether or not the fabled "football game" actually occurred, but the general consensus is that it did. Unfortunately, not all sectors of the western front had similar experiences, some German soldiers had tried similar acts of good faith only to be cut down by machine gun fire. Eventually, news of these unauthorized ceasefires reached back to command and they responded by dispatching high rankings officers to chastise and threaten their men with severe penalties if they did not restart the fighting. From court martialing all the way up to execution. Some sectors restarted the fight formally by officers of both armies saluting one another and firing their weapons into the air. However there were reports of snipers being dispatched to get the men to fight again. Henceforth the Christmas truce of 1914 came to an end. Unfortunately attempts to try and recreate the truce in the following years ended in mostly failure with similar acts of good will to be met with gunfire. And I probably missed a bit, but that's the majority of the story.

[@SevenSteelHills]

Cheers for the insight dude. Interesting read, and this comment deserves way more likes. 👍🏻

[@eviltwin2322]

It wasn't actually a chocolate ad, it was for the supermarket chain Sainsbury's. They're so well known they didn't need to explain it in the ad, so I can understand how people outside the UK might misunderstand it. This really happened, by the way. Afterwards the soldiers on both sides refused to fight each other and had to be posted to different battle lines.

[@hahatoldyouso]

My favourite and it's true..not the chocolate part but English and Germans stopping momentarily on Christmas Day to play Football and have peace

[@jpw6893]

They did exchange gifts though...who knows which gifts

[@craigmccullough7333]

The Xmas packages that were sent to all the British soldiers did contain a bar of chocolate from Sainsbury's. Sainsbury's did "reissue" a bar made to the same recipe and wrapped in the same packaging as the 1914 bar for Xmas 2014.

[@scottirvine121]

British but yeah

[@TheGiantKillers]

A hugely iconic moment for both the British and German people. On Christmas day 1914, spontaneous ceasefires broke out across the lines in World War One. The Football match or Soccer game as it would be known in the US, has come to be the symbol of this event. The ceasefires greatly unnerved the commands of both the British and German forces who targetted shelling of areas where no fighting was taking place to get the war back on track so to speak. Paul McCartney had a huge UK Xmas hit song in the 1980s with a song called Pipes of Peace, which drew inspiration from the events of 1914. The theme of the video being the same as the advert here.

[@panzerwolf494]

The two main guys didn't swap. The Brit started with the biscuit in his tin. These things tasted bad and were really disliked. He got the chocolate in the care package, and in the end gave it to the German while the Brit once again stared down that disgusting biscuit. It's an amazing story though, and the event, while the rough edges have been sanded down over the decades, is something that truly stands out as amazing and a triumph of what the human spirit can do when given the chance.

[@Captally]

1st. World War trench warfare. "Some sort of battle going on". Absolutely priceless!!!

[@scottirvine121]

Thought the same

[@deputyfriendly1417]

Im half british, My great great grandfather fought in the First World War, he was enlisted for the King's Royal Rifle Corps, he would witness this emotional moment.

[@garygagnon5057]

This was all a true story, my Grand Father who was in the first and second war told me this, many years later l learn this in school, here l was thinking this was a private story between me and my Grand Papa, in that moment l couldn`t be more proud of my Grand Papa, he has gone now, god rest his soul..... he will alway`s be my Hero.

[@debbiegreen1552]

This happened Christmas day in 1914 ,the advert was put out 100yrs later. The photos and letters sent home along with the ball are in the British museum. 100 yrs ago men at war , had more love and compassion than people of today ..... I truely believe we have seen the best of mankind , we are in trouble and are far too selfish to realize it .

[@DGARedRaven]

May their sons rest in peace - knowing that their ancestors finally found... Peace.

[@martinconnors5195]

If this advert doesn't make you emotional, i don't know what will. Always get me in tears. Makes me think of my Ancestor Percy Fromling (ironically of Prussian Extraction 1897-1949) who served in the Royal Engineers in WWI. Luckily he survived The Great War and lived until 1949. Deafened by a German potato-masher grenade, shot in the shoulder by a German Sniper, and partially blinded for life. But he survived. He eventually Died aged 53. This football match actually took place

[@mehlogan3723]

This just shows how powerful football is. ❤️

[@oof5396]

The beautiful game

[@mr.nicevantroll6556]

Wait a minute... You didn't know, that the other language was german?! I mean seriously?... they said: "HAAALT"! XD

[@pepebabushki9376]

Halt is also a world in the English language, meaning stop.

[@sharonmccomb5891]

I'm from UK it really happen they stopped the fighting on Christmas although it wasn't chocolate they swapped it was the coats

[@dafarsher9738]

Humans with the same values fighting for two sides of opposing political and industrial hierarchies, really brings home the futility of war! Touching stuff for a supermarket ad!

[@philipcochran1972]

This is WW1. Silent Night is a German (or is it an Austrian) song. Text, Joseph Mohr. Music, Franz Gruber

[@trevorjohnson4927]

You have a treat with the Paddington bear Christmas advert it's just sublime.

[@-MochiWochi-]

It's one or not the most wholesome scene wars I've ever actually seen.

[@sonampaldensherpa]

You hear 1914 and see English and German solider’s in trenches. And she says it must be some sort of war. 🤦🏻‍♂️ yanks never stop to amaze me 😂

[@sarahjscooper]

I mean the Yanks didn't even decide to help till April 1917.. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[@mr_incognito9305]

@@sarahjscooper literally decided to help when they weren't needed anymore, the food situation in Germany was not going to improve and their allies were collapsing around them by 1917. It was always going to end before 1920.

[@sarahjscooper]

@@mr_incognito9305 amazing how the Americans wanted nothing to do with WWII until Pearl Harbour.. ignoring mass extermination and their closest allies being slaughtered.. yet when they want to go to war.. we come running!

[@joshsheff7189]

Gonna be sad isn't it? Ohh Hell yeah! Made an entire nation cry when it aired in 2014. True story. Futility of war...

[@WishedUponAVlog]

Best Christmas advert ever

[@Chris_GY1]

This advert is based on the Christmas Truce 1914 bars of Belgian chocolate were sold in store a percentage going to The Royal British Legion, the Sainsbury’s store I worked at sold out. The advert was made at trenches built for film and tv somewhere in England.

[@paulcharles5128]

"There was some sort of a battle going on." Sometimes I fear for humanity...shake. My. HEAD

[@stevenjohnson4190]

american education at its finest.

[@paulcharles5128]

@@stevenjohnson4190 indeed.

[@MrPaulMorris]

I think it's worth bearing in mind that the date may not have as much resonance in the US which maintained its neutrality throughout much of the war. The US government did not declare war until 1917. While most of us on this side of the Atlantic will almost automatically think '1914-18' as soon as WW1 (or 'The Great War') is mentioned, having seen it engraved on countless memorials as well as having learnt it in school, I guess the same familiarity may not be the case in the US.

[@stevenjohnson4190]

@@MrPaulMorris according to usa the war didn't start until usa hit involved.. And of course usa won. Single-handedly

[@paulcharles5128]

@@MrPaulMorris I understand what you're saying, but for a grown woman, educated in the US, to call the first World War "some kind of battle going on", is inexcusable. If it was a minor skirmish, or some localised event, then fair enough: but not knowing of WW1? my comment stands; SMH.

[@davidthomas4282]

An advert says more about war than any politician.

[@leerich8758]

Hands down the best Christmas advert.

[@claireduncan4237]

Most iconic advert off all time

[@mr.pac-man386]

Eine wahre geschichte 😍 ich habe gelernt Meine Nachbarn nicht zu hassen, wie meine Vorfahren

[@food_with_Boomer]

If you enjoyed this true story from xmas day, you will love the film called joyeux noel I watched this every xmas day. Its reminds us what our forefathers went through for the freedoms we have today

[@bandlover341]

This ad always gets me it was Christmas and they were essentially kids in a foreign land away from their loved ones fighting in a war that should never have happened and it was Christmas

[@JamesGibson-of7dh]

That was to show that Christmas managed to stop a war for one day to allow the world to have that one moment of peace to allow soldiers on both sides to forget about the fighting and talk with their enemies and share food, stories and jokes it was about sharing with people

[@Lucifer-we5mc]

I almost cried at the end.

[@tonka1983]

Some sort of battle going on lol 😂

[@petavanlieshout9171]

It is very much based on a true story :) Many journal entries tell of parts of the frontlines during WW1, forming a christmas treaty almost where some parts stopped the fighting and coerced together on Christmas Day. Smaller areas even held it off until New Years Day :)

[@stephenlewis3276]

The 11th hour, the 11th day, the 11th month God bless them all X

[@charlottemartin4715]

He said “he’s unarmed”

[@vincygarifuna]

It was the first Christmas and the general thought was we’ll all be home by Christmas

[@jhenderson5276]

Just a by the by, silent night was first played in church on the guitar I think in Austria. If memory serves the song was lost for a number of years and then rediscovered. No doubt the story of it can be found on the net.

[@robertwhite952]

Apparently the soldiers from both sides were moved to different places in the line as the generals thought they would refuse to kill each other.

[@LegoRocker1984]

They were all moved elsewhere and a huge cover up for years. They tried again in WW2 but it didn't happen. That's what made this one so unique and basically a one off.

[@deputyfriendly1417]

German version of Silent Night when they sang it: Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht Alles schlaft, Einsam wacht nur das traute Hochheilige Paar Holder Knabe im, lockigen haar Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh.

[@ipodmcipod3491]

I'd look up the Christmas truce by extra credits cause they do a great job conveying how it really went down. Or the movie joyuex noel, the movie basically revolved around 3 nations all fighting in the truce

[@philippacowhig-morris5583]

Just youtube Christmas Truce.. it is a beautiful story.. Maybe not as glamourous as Sainsburys depicted....Thanks for sharing your reaction...

[@WhackyRavenLand]

A movie reaction to Joyeux Noel, pretty please. A fantastic movie depicting some of the scenes from the Christmas Truce of 1914

[@petavanlieshout9171]

Added from my comment before - Some even had to swap their troops and change posts around because the soldiers refused to fight one another after that.

[@alisonrandall3039]

My great grandad was on the front line when this happened.

[@chaosiscoming9184]

Fun, but pointless Fact: Sainsburys is 10mins from my house :) 20mins if I want to go to a bigger one.. I think I remember this Ad, but thanks for reacting to it, now I get to see a great Sainsburys Ad once more

[@lindamerrett6600]

Beautiful, ❤️

[@timwalther3294]

I highly recomment you watch the video from extra history on that same topic. It shows how it came to this christmas truce.

[@petermizon4344]

THIS IS WHY TRUE HISTORY SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN ALL SCHOOLS ROUND THE WORLD TO AVOID A LOT PROPAGANDA BY POLITICAL PARTIES

[@itsweetabixday7550]

The First World War has a resonance in Europe which isn't reflected in the US. Approximately 4 million German, French and British troops died (aside from numerous other nations involved). Perceived as a futile war by many and the first global war where industrialised nations clashed in a military conflict. This event is a reflection of a true event in December 1914 (but not repeated again after the military command issued strict orders against a repeat).

[@tonychallinor6721]

I used to work in a care home and one of the residents there had joined at 16 and was in the trenches and saw this

[@theresafreeman6222]

My grandfather was part of this in1914 he said it lasted all Christmas Day. The next year they were warned anyone fraternising with the enemy would be shot as a traitor. He used to tell me he would rather have a German any day as you could trust them.

[@mhairihodge1715]

In scotland we learn that this ad is a real story

[@selfaware3940]

Thats a true story, a moment of humanity in the madness.

[@GetDougDimmadomed]

1:27 Silent Night, if I recall correctly, is a German song.

[@agenttheater5]

2:44 He said "She's pretty".

[@ruthie504]

What is so sad is that it shows each side were just ordinary men who went through hell and so many lost in WW1 two being my Great grandfather his son, my grandfather.

[@robertcollins5606]

Not the chocolate but that really happened in 1914. God bless them all. My great- granddad fell in 1918 at the battle of the Somme

[@MichaelHill-we7vt]

The higher military commanders of both Britain and Germany were appalled that their ordinary troops actually decided, on their own initiative, to declare a cease-fire and meet up and fraternise between the trenches. They issued orders that any soldiers who did this in future would be severely punished.......the Christmas Truce of 1914 has become legendary, but it did happen, in many places along the portions of the Western Front..........There's a wonderful movie called "Joyeux Noel" (translation Happy Christmas) which tells a beautiful version of the story.......watch it if you ever get the chance.We watch it as a family every Year at Christmas time.......

[@michaelmiller6924]

We will never fight against our brothers again. Wir werden nie wieder gegen unsere Brüder kämpfen. All wars are civil wars.all people are Brothers. Greetings from Germany

[@charlieshandie]

2:04 he said 'don't shoot! He's got chocolate!"

[@FullTimeDosser]

I'm sorry but how could u not know this is a very real story one of the greatest moments in history

[@traceymorris7300]

Probably because Americans arent taught about anything that didnt involve them.

[@Zippycat444]

100 years from the Christmas it happened..........1914-2014

[@jakeburnside6358]

The Fact this actually happened shows the true face of humanity

[@garybradyhughes]

I assume you've heard this A LOT (probably) but this actually happened, on christmas day, they stopped fighting and played football (soccer) the other details, think Titanic movie and Sainsburys is like trader joes, not chocolate commercial, I know you prob know this four years on, but my fingers needed you to know :)

[@jameshall4383]

My mom is German. He said ‘Halt! He’s unarmed’

[@chrishenderson6452]

The 100 year anniversary of this happening.

[@nighti9647]

At 2:06 the German said "Halt!" means "Stop!" Then another German soldier said "Nein Otto!" means "No Otto!"

[@angel-bh8vn]

I wached this is school the german starts singing then the britains starts singing to and somonne from the britain side serenders and so does a person from the german side so they starts playing football since its christams but then half the army start bombing so the person gives the other side a choclate

[@Steve10578]

Yes, rest assured both sides didn't want to be there, they didn't want to fight and be away from their families and at Christmas of all times and may never see them again but rest assured the ones that actually declare war are with their families and and in a nice warm home that Christmas. In all past, present and sadly but no doubt future wars the declarers of war will be with their families, they will never fight a war they declare.

[@yobama7797]

This really did happen it happened all over the western front where the British were the French and Belgians did not do this because they were being invaded unfortunately a year after 1915 soldiers were court-martialed and killed if they would try to make peace apparently in one sector a British officer ordered a 24hr artillery strike to drown out the noises of the German troops singing

[@loquayrocks]

You ought to watch the video to Paul McCartney' "Pipes of Peace" from 1983, this ad is almost identical

[@tonywilkinson6895]

It did happen.

[@mr.nicevantroll6556]

It's FOOTBALL! Not Soccer...

[@carterdennison1231]

this is a true story but the year after this orders came from high command to shoot any enemys and even friendly's that tried to make another truce so this event was special to 1914

[@Lucifer-we5mc]

This should be the American dream

[@neilsamples]

Some sort of battle going on?…

[@joevatar2652]

I saw jolibee in their and this why i love ww1 they peace when doing chrismas and after chrismas truse they killing but it soo sad becouse why if became your friend the german and you kill your friend it soo sad

[@emmablee6081]

This is the Christmas truce. This was a thing that really happened in world was one between England and Germany

[@overthewebb]

Britain, oh and the Commonwealth. You English people saying England totally ignoring Scots and Welsh and Northern Irish is a joke tbh. You don't even know your own country you live in, your nationality or your passport.Go home and look at your passport, does it say England on it?

[@colonyofrats4193]

Greg W they just meant the English everyone knows it wasn’t just england

[@trevgoodwin7900]

I was told the Brits were from Stockport Manchester infantry

[@robertcollins5606]

I is true. My great granddad fell at the battle of the Somme 1918

[@AmericanMumReacts]

So sorry...

[@haeleth7218]

"Ein Brite kommt!" = "A brit/British soldier is coming!'. "Halt! Er ist nicht bewaffnet" = "Halt/Stop! He is unarmed".

[@tommyhughes2264]

This actually happened.

[@jamgart6880]

No mans land. True story from ww1 on Christmas Day. After this one Christmas they were warned not to do it again or they would be shot. A single moment in a terrible war where the soldiers could just be the ordinary men from ordinary backgrounds that they were. X

[@chris-rfs]

This was based on real events,relating to a xmas truce,12 hours later they were at war again! Very poignant.