Historian Reacts! SABATON - Christmas Truce (Official Music Video)

It's been quite some time, but I'm back with a highly requested song! Managed to get it in before the end of the Christmas season too!
Original video: • SABATON - Christmas Tr...
I talk a lot so the song actually starts here: 04:10
/ historybuff78
Patreon / historybuff
Donations not needed but will ensure your requests are fulfilled promptly paypal.me/Hist...
/ discord

[@erchl54]

I stayed away from this song until I saw you reacted to it. Thank you very much. The song is very impressive, it hits hard, but your comments make a difference. I am glad I waitted... Cheers. Keep up the good work...

[@HistoryBuff]

Wow, what an amazing compliment! Thanks for the support!

[@Spugedelia77]

@@HistoryBuff I love history, so after seeing this great reaction I subbed. Greetings from Helsinki

[@HistoryBuff]

Awesome!! Welcome!

[@schout33]

Sabaton asked Floor Jansen from Nightwish to sing during the end credits. That was definitely the icing on the cake on an already epic song. She is married to Hannes Van Dahl, the drummer of Sabaton, so it stayed close to the family.

[@HistoryBuff]

Wait, thats Floor at the end!!!??

[@andrewludwig9251]

@@HistoryBuff Yep-- just go to 18:10 and hit pause and look at the center of the screen.

[@schout33]

@@HistoryBuff Just read the credits again. A few seconds after she stops singing her name comes up.

[@HistoryBuff]

I'm so pissed I missed that!

[@schout33]

@@HistoryBuff Do not worry. It can be worse. Some reactors skipped the credits alltogether.

[@JimboLana]

Almost impossible to watch it without tears coming. The ending operatic vocals by Floor Jansen who is Hannes wife.

[@HistoryBuff]

You mean Hannes is Floor's husband?😉

[@JimboLana]

@@HistoryBuff ooops 😉

[@ralfmeyer9086]

Sabaton we need a classical Soprano at the end. Hannes: ups, i have one at Home. 🤘

[@HistoryBuff]

🤣😂🤣😂

[@lionfromthenorth4580]

Nice one! 🤣🤣🤣

[@christophschmedes5975]

Ja die Mitbewohnerin von Hannes is ein Soprano 😁🤘🤘🤘

[@ralfmeyer9086]

@@christophschmedes5975 Hallo Christoph. Noch kann man es ja sagen Frohes neues Jahr, und für dich, und deiner Familie und Freunden. Stay Safe and Healthy. Ich war mir sicher, in der van Dahl Familie gibt es einen classical Sopran. But her Name Floor or Flower, Blume 🤔 hihihi

[@christophschmedes5975]

@@ralfmeyer9086 Na ausser Floor und Freya wohnt ja keiner sonst mit Hannes auf der Van Dahl Farm

[@mikaelengdahl4135]

Adressing your question on how they began to shot at each other again is complicated. The officers had to threaten them in to it (court martial etc) and on many front lines, the men was swapped and thus.... Great reaction btw !!!

[@argantyr5154]

The cross in the end actually exists. It's located somewhere near Ypres in Belgium. It's a memorial for the christmas truce and was put there in 1999. It reads: 1914, The Khaki Chums, Christmas Truce 1999 85 Years Lest We Forget (taken from another user that I have forgotten the name of). Another reactor mentioned that there were 93 people to make this Music Video. The 93 is counting everyone from Makeup artist, to Extras (actors), Sound, light, special effects etc. etc. It was filmed in the Czech Republic

[@isaiahwelch8066]

Something you should know, Historian Reacts, is that at least one German unit which had participated in the Truce had to be moved to another section of the line after the Truce, after his men had told him that they were not going to shoot the men they had made friends with the day before. But I would think it is the hope of that generation that we never forget the lesson of history: That even in the darkest depths of Hell, there is always the light of hope -- if only we have the courage to let that light shine, and have the courage to be open-minded about the things we may not understand. It is presumed, of course, that one of the things I include in that is the idea of learning and understanding both people and cultures which may be different than the ones you or I know. Only when we let ourselves be open-minded and seek understanding can the possibility of true peace exist. This, I think, is why the memorial cross near Ypres, Belgium, that remembers the Christmas Truce says it better than anyone ever could: "Lest We Forget."

[@baskoning9896]

When the valkyies came to collect the souls of the fallen that day, they where amazed to see so little souls had fallen. So they sang a song in stead. (cue in Floor Jansen: 'Aha! Ahahah ahahah ahahaha... ')

[@freas8520]

Thanks for letting the end credits roll, dude! Give credit for all the trench builders. Symbolic blowing up of the piano. No more truce after that Christmas. This will be the next #1 Christmas song from now!

[@pdutchie4924]

This song is sooo beautiful, chills several times. Especially when the piano starts and when Floor sings the outro.

[@petervenkman69]

I may be wrong, but I think the release date for the Christmas Truce was timed for Armistice Day/Remembrance Day/ Veterans Day as much as it did Christmas. I think this is reinforced due to the "Lest We Forget" on the cross at the end which is very much in keeping with that. On top of that the animated story video by Yarn Hub was released closer to Christmas, keeping the 2 releases separate but highlighting the 2 holidays. In the UK trying to depict the Germans as so different was even more silly as our Royal Family are German.

[@xaviernorwood7261]

This video is amazing I watched it probably 5 times in one day. And the song hits soooo hard!

[@HistoryBuff]

Yes it does my friend!

[@thenotsodiscretewolf2098]

Yeah and the story is just insane. Fun fact a few years ago the story was used in an Xmas ad in the uk

[@thedarcbird]

I've teared up say least twice.

[@leechowning2712]

I made a playlist of reactions to this song for Christmas next year. I have almost 150, and I plan to keep adding to it all year. Christmas will be set to random/loop so I can hear this song ALL week long.

[@HistoryBuff]

Dang! 150 reactions!?

[@Ordensburger]

That cross still stands at the exact place it was erected in 1914 at the side of a nowadays field, not the original anymore, but a replica. The location is in the middle of what used to be the no man's land during the first battle of Ypres, it is located near Commines-Warneton (Belgium) not far from the French border, not one day passes without fresh flowers, or even footballs being placed at the base of the cross, remembrance counts! Lest we forget

[@ShvibzikRomanova]

I enjoy watching people's reaction to this song to see if there is anyone that is able to not get teary eyed from it. It's just such a powerful and humbling piece both the melody and the video itself. I wish sabaton would be used more in schools to help kids visualise the horrors of war and get more respect for each other. Loved your reaction and insights btw. I've been watching your sabaton videos and they've been quite entertaining so far, thank you for that.

[@HistoryBuff]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@sjc9121]

Floor Jansen sings there in the end of the song.

[@music2seeconcertphotograph457]

This video gets me every time I watch it (which has been many, many times till now). This truce was probably the most honest and sincere Christmas: A short moment of humanity in an inhuman surrounding. But then, when the fighting continues the next day, it shows the cruelty and madness of mankind in the most obvious way. It's sch a sad moment. And if I am not at least close to tearing up, Floor will give me the rest with her incredible voice at the end.

[@argantyr5154]

The fighting next day, must be what PTSD is made of, that is the fuel of Nightmares.

[@mannistef]

It was amazing that this happened in so many places along the front. Sadly of course the generals made sure that it would not happen again in the following years. And most of the more horrible events of WW1 had yet to happen at this point so it was still possible to see the enemy as normal people.

[@HistoryBuff]

FRIMANN!!!!

[@MetalZoned]

You missed the Floor Jansen appearance in the credits and the outro! All good though man just glad youre releasing videos

[@Vagabound]

Only two weeks after the release of this video a happy new year to you. That video/song is amazing... even that I´m not that big of a Sabaton fan... they sank our Bismarck again and again and again.... every time I watch the video still the same outcome... a bit like Titanic only without the ice lol ;) Anyway hope you and your family are still or again fine and healthy. :)

[@zannebrazeau]

never apologize for tearin up at somethin like this brah it be a emotional video and song and l too loved the carol of the bells in the backround it was funny watchin tommy play the accoustic like it be a electric l also felt bad when they killed the piano

[@stefankaptens4952]

That sigh at 15:40 into the video pretty much sums it up regarding the emotional rollercoaster you're put through in this video. Not sure I've related to a sigh as much before. Thank you for a great video. I like that you brought up how the fighting sides viewed each other by the way. That's an interesting aspect indeed. I believe that this wouldn't have been possible at all if it hadn't been for the fact that the fighting sides were fairly similar when it comes to culture and religion. What they had in common was able to to triumph the propaganda you mentioned. I think you can see that in the collaboration Sabaton did with Yarn hub on No Bullets Fly as well, and also in the song about Bismarck. Despite being on opposite sides, sharing being aviators as well as soldiers at sea, gave them something common to respect each other over. Again, great video. Thank you.

[@HistoryBuff]

Thank you for the kind words! That sigh was why I missed Floors name in the credits

[@alejandroclaude2826]

Instantly subscribed! Levelheaded comments and you are really knowledgeable about history, unlike many reactors that just wing it or make up bullcrap. Keep rocking!

[@HistoryBuff]

Awesome!! Welcome and thank you for the nice remarks!

[@robinkarns7512]

I've watched this video umpteen Jillian times and enjoy it every time. The fact that this actually happened is pretty amazing. And I love it again. 😊

[@chrillebjork5948]

Wow great song... God Blees all Vets...

[@johannessondrup6207]

Loved it! Good reaction. Now do Soldier of heaven next :)

[@henrikvidin]

Thank you for a great reaction to this great video.

[@nope5183]

*"You talking mad shit for someone in crusading distance"*

[@HistoryBuff]

Lol, I'm not sure i know that reference

[@ValerietheLovelyDeadlyItalian]

havent seen your videos in a while, glad to see youre still here and reacting to Sabaton

[@HistoryBuff]

Yea, I took a little break. Since its a hobby, I really need to be in the right mood and situation to make a video.

[@andreasbengtsson4499]

As we say in Sweden... God fortsättning 🥂

[@zappybuzzard7358]

our mustached friend from later on in time (1939-1945) was the one who snitched on the german sides about the truce

[@HistoryBuff]

What!? Seriously!?

[@victorreznov7965]

Thanks for all the work and reactions man! With respect from Russia! (btw we had our orthodox christmass today)

[@HistoryBuff]

Awesome! Merry Christmas my friend!

[@wavedark7842]

Beautiful Reaction

[@LordMekanicus]

I went down late in the day on the 24th, struck in the engine I could not press on. My crate nosed over into shell hole, I came to much later. I could do nothing but hide, the madness of no-mans land reigns terror on those caught in it. Darkness fell, and an eternity lay before me as I plotted my way out. But something happened that night, a soul deafening silence fell upon the front, followed soon by a single voice in song. Not believing what I was hearing, I peered over the mangled wings covering my hole. I saw a single man, standing above the trenches, hands behind his back, singing as though his humanity depended on it. It filled me with a chill the night and snow could not give. Then more of his comrades stood to join him, and they walked onward, slowly and un-armed. I heard a heavy Scottish voice say; "Are ye a'right lad?". A highlander with his pipes was standing aside my hole, his hand extended. Without a thought, I responded: "Shaken, but not dead." "It's Christmas, Lad. C'mon." I stood, and took his hand for help from the hole. Around me I saw what could be described as a wonderous occasion. Men of all sides stood in the desolation, talking in what tongues they knew as though there was no war. There was no hate, no blood, no malice, only cordial respect and humanity. I wondered then, what we were fighting these men for. It struck me then, that each of us had a job to do, but tonight we all refused to do that job and simply be human. The voices rose again in song, and the piper played as we walked to the gatherining. I couldn't help but feel that there was hope for us afterall, that we are all the same, no matter our uniforms, our rifles, or our futures. Tonight is Christmas, tonight we sing. -Manfred von Schreiber.

[@HistoryBuff]

Awesome!! Thank you for that!

[@jeremypacacha1705]

Great reaction and thanks for adding to what happened

[@trifstev8975]

We missed you too. There are still so many Sabaton songs that you can make reactions to. And your only fan from distant and cold Russia is still waiting for these reactions. PS: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, even though I'm a little late, hahaha!

[@HistoryBuff]

Trif!!!

[@arielluzi4548]

Feliz año nuevo Buff! 🎆🥂 Me gusta mas cuándo estás solo. 😀

[@HistoryBuff]

Hey Ariel my friend!! Great to see you!!

[@pink_alligator]

Thanks for including the credits. Not only are they beautiful here, but it also always makes me mad when people don't, like if you're gonna "steal" people's content, at least include their fucking credits or it actually feels like you are pretty much just ripping off people's content

[@HistoryBuff]

Yea, I hear you. In a lot of ways, Reactors are pretty much the bottom feeders of youtube. I think most of us know that but there really is a demand for it. People really love reaction videos. Doesn't change the fact that most provide no original content whatsoever and are simply riding on the coat tails of someone else's hard work. Here's what helps me sleep at night: 1. I usually try to add something of value. A history, music or science lesson. I can't always do that though. Especially for the artists people beg me to cover. 2. I never file a copyright dispute. I figure "why?, its not my hard work". I literally make around $20/month from YT. The only time I ever do is when I need to free up a block. 3. I usually cover lesser known bands and attempt to get them more exposure. Not like my little channel makes a dent but nothing makes me happier than when one of my subs thanks me for introducing them to their new favorite band! Anyways, still doesn't change what reactors are doing. Most bands appreciate the free exposure and added revenue stream.

[@fenrisulfur842]

thats such a perfect review, almost like a tutorial lesson. so good

[@HistoryBuff]

Thank you for the very kind words!

[@ElfenDrago]

there is an animated story version as well

[@rwandaforever6744]

"I have a good feeling for 2022..." - That did not age well unfortunately....

[@HistoryBuff]

😬 There's still time 🤞

[@fnglert]

I like the part where Floor says 'aaa'

[@Nem01]

I understand your comparison to the beeping in the ER. I was tmy grandmothers 24/7 caretaker. At some point you're just used to the sounds.

[@trifstev8975]

Im still here my men. Despite what is happening in the world. :*(

[@fenrisulfur842]

glad someone is in charge, who knows what hes talking about ;)

[@justlittleoldme]

My grandmother's cousin was in the Royal Hampshire's pioneer regiment, it was his job to dig the trenches and lay the barbed wire etc. He was laid to rest in France, 28th march 1918. I get choked up every single time I watch this, and I watch it a lot because they did such a fantastic job of bringing it to life. Lest we forget, on both sides ❤️

[@marxistvalorie]

So close to the end of the war. It's depressing... The brother of my grandfather served for the Austrian army in WW1 and lost his life in one of the many battles of the Isonzo. Lest we forget.

[@HistoryBuff]

Terrible...

[@justlittleoldme]

@@marxistvalorie she also lost a brother the same year, june I think it was. He was a motorcycle messenger, one day he got on a bike and was never seen again. His name is on the memorial wall in Jerusalem.

[@PeTTs0n88]

I'm really curious who does those subtitles (same with En livstid i krig live) in the music video - they're pretty far off from the actual lyrics. Lovely song, melody and lyrics though.

[@Capydachi]

They are auto generated and almost always awful, but sometimes hilarious

[@HistoryBuff]

Yea, that was really weird. I wouldn't say they're auto generated because its not phonetic to what he's saying. It's like its being translated to another language, then someone else translated it back

[@harris3547]

The officers forbide footballs the next year

[@mastercc6492]

Sry, i'm late, happy jul... cheers for the uploade Have a nice day, see ya^^

[@frenkwd1]

I don't think you realised that it was Floor Jansen who sang the outro at the end credits. She is of course the wife of Hannes!! ( de drummer van Sabaton ).

[@willsola3412]

Does it bother anyone else that the closed captions in English are not at all correct? Literally every line has an error in it! Drove me nuts

[@HistoryBuff]

Yea, those were pretty bad.

[@willsola3412]

@@HistoryBuff Glad you found this band, I've listened for years and its been fun watching you discover them! cheers :)

[@vlinder6329]

What an AMAZING 🌟CHRISTMAS🌟 Song by SABATON. The lyrics and the MUSIC inspire You. And the Video, Unbelievable. All Band Members play a Role. Also the HUSBAND from FLOOR JANSEN, The DRUMMER van SABATON, HANNES VAN DAHL. He was the wounded SOLDIER. It's also a piece of history. You can learn a lot. It's very...... EMOTIONAL 😢 And at the end the Voice of FLOOR JANSEN, makes it extra Beautiful...💫 This a Gift for Christmas ☃️🎄🕊️ We are all.... We are all.... We are all.... We are all.... FRIENDS 🤝🤝 For Me The CHRISTMAS SONG of the Year 2021...💫 A little PEACE 🕊 and LOVE ❤️ for Everyone 🌹 WARS are TERRIBLE... Let's all think a little bit about 🌟 CHRISTMAS TRUCE🌟 during the CHRISTMAS Season, this is so often FORGOTTEN!!!! Thank you this was AMAZING. Love and Peace 🕊 Love from the Netherlands ️❤️🤍💙 🇳🇱 🙋🏼‍♀️ A Happy New Year 2022

[@HistoryBuff]

And a very happy new year to you as well!!

[@leechowning2712]

Use that sweater when you get around to listening to Last Stand or Carolians, maybe Lion From the North. Crusading music if there ever was.

[@hex1c]

Do you have a P.O box? I wanna send you some Swedish craft beers.

[@HistoryBuff]

Damn, I dont! I'll look into getting one!

[@HistoryBuff]

Ok, so thanks to you and a few others, I got a PO box. Im not sure if its legal to send alcohol but I won't stop you from finding out. Check my channel description for details!!

[@hex1c]

@@HistoryBuff Sweet! I will send you some when i get my pay check :)

[@BerraLJ]

Well when you look back at the 2020-2022 area in 2040 you will see how we make enemy's of people now to. This song is an amazing one, as expected by Sabaton :)

[@HistoryBuff]

Thats an amazing point! Same exact concept! Today, they want everyone to fit into one extreme of the Right/Left political spectrum and if you don't agree with every talking point, you are thrust to the far opposite side (at least in people's minds). The result is that each side thinks everyone on the other is VASTLY different than themselves in every way. In reality though, I believe over 90% of people are a VEN diagram of beliefs and we are all way more alike than we think, especially in what we ultimately want our lives and society to be.

[@BerraLJ]

@@HistoryBuff Yeah and now the vaxx thing where some people are happy with refusing a group treatment and fine with them being locked out of society, not a good outlook there. Lets hope people realize this leads to no where good.

[@HistoryBuff]

Yea, that's definitely been polarizing

[@BerraLJ]

@@HistoryBuff Very much so yes.

[@thibaultstroobandt9606]

You should definitely check out official music vids by 5 Finger Death Punch. People seem to react in the same emotional way on the images and lyrics

[@HistoryBuff]

I've seen a lot of reactors cover that band and the thumbnails are usually of them crying.

[@SwedishPete]

Captions really ruined it. I know Joakims english isn't perfect but you can still hear what he's saying, come on.

[@HistoryBuff]

Well, just look up a bit and you won't see them

[@Finkele1]

There's no bismarck there. Whole song is 3/3 but of course ppl rely on what they know about stuff. Feelings? they can be measured too nowadays 😉

[@AlfDavidFjeld]

there are something in the enemy being monsters, sometimes. the germans did some really bad things in both worldwars, specially in ww2, where they behaved like real monsters, and not only the ss. the same goes for the russians in ukraine, where they have done so many warcrimes that it is insane, there are international organisations that have been recording them since the start of the war, and they have up to now registered over 110.000 insidents!!!

[@superchargenurse]

A war purely down to feckin politics

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

3:20 Beer fridge is nice and all, but I suppose in the US you have to pay a premium price to get some actual beer to put in there. At least if the dishwater Americans call "beer" is anything to go by. Miller, Corona, I'm looking at you... I still am haunted by the disgusting "taste" of that stuff, even though it's been over 20 years since I had the misfortune of being talked into trying them. As for the song itself, it is a little sad that you missed the easter-egg at the end. I'm talking about the cameo of none other than the Valkyrie Queen Floor Janssen herself during the end credits - and the layer that adds to the song. Christmas is about being with your loved ones if at all possible - and in a sense she did precisely that in this song: Work together with her husband Hannes on this piece.

[@HistoryBuff]

Ok first things first. I am a certified beer snob and wouldn't touch those beers with my worst enemy's tongue. We have some pretty amazing breweries, a few not too far from my house that have done well with the craft beer revival. Double IPAs, imperial stouts, bourbon aged, thats how I roll. I also had some Danish meade and imported German beer in there. On top of that, I'm a big Islay Scotch fan. I'd say a mild apology is in order 😊 As far as the end, I'm shocked too. Usually I can pick Floor's voice out of a crowd and should've made the connection but I think I was just too emotionally overwhelmed by the video.

[@ranekeisenkralle8265]

@@HistoryBuff Mead? And proper German beer? Now you got me curious. And yes, those two do indeed indicate what I'd call a "refined taste" in beverages. Mead tends to be a bit of hit-and-miss though. There is some really good stuff out there, but also some that leaves a nasty taste in your mouth.

[@HistoryBuff]

Yea, in some of my videos I introduce what I'm drinking. I drink the mead in most of the viking songs but i first got it for "the mead mystery double" (my mother told me and the mead song) I think the German one was when I covered Eskimo Call Boy. I can't remember the name of it

[@blaisebanik7913]

You should check out the sabaton history channel on KZbin. They tell the stories behind their songs about military history.

[@HistoryBuff]

Yea, I'm very familiar. I usually check it out before I cover each song. In fact, I mentioned it a few times in this video.

[@Andreas-yy8uk]

Send me an ADA address and I will sponsor a beer or two...

[@HistoryBuff]

Lol, whats an ADA address?

[@HistoryBuff]

Ok, so I googled it. Its either the American dental association, the Americans with disabilities act or a cryptocurrency account. I imagine its the latter

[@Andreas-yy8uk]

@@HistoryBuff it is the latter. All I wanted was to pay for a beer or two. Sorry but not sorry😇 My offer still stand. i don't know how else to transfer funds your way...

[@HistoryBuff]

Thanks for the support! I do have a PayPal link in every video. If that's a no go, maybe ill look into it.

[@Andreas-yy8uk]

@@HistoryBuff I don't do PayPal. Shilling Cardano is more my way;) And if you are not into crypto already it is time to get started already.

[@v.emiltheii-nd.8094]

Still a lot shorter than some 7 minute intros Ive seen. Screw those ones!

[@Blisken81]

Like for not skip Floor at the end 👍‍😉

[@ALoneWolf36]

check out extra credit out on this subject.

[@richardhenrydanajr3431]

Was that Moose Drool in the bottom right of the beer fridge?

[@HistoryBuff]

Lol, "moose drool!?" Its angry orchard cider

[@richardhenrydanajr3431]

Similar colors

[@HistoryBuff]

Ahh you're right! Never heard of it but looked it up. Pretty good stuff?

[@richardhenrydanajr3431]

It's a brown ale so pretty good hints of chocolate.Bells makes makes a good IPA two hearted IPA. At work so sorry for late replies.

[@sandraneuser2158]

Great Vid- but you got the wrong part of history like most of the other reaction vids. This christmas truce wasnt just a day on some parts of the western front it went on into January. so the generals decided too change the untis. Germans where send to the eastern front and the allies changed just the battlefields so they wouldnt fight well known germans.

[@HistoryBuff]

I'm not sure anything I said contradicted any of what you just said. I said it took some time to get them fighting again. I did fail to mention moving them around as a "solution" but I don't know id call my info wrong

[@Richie8406]

You are right, most Americans are Germans, not English. Hereditary. I ain't American.

[@alexmclean760]

Just to poke at you Americans aren't Americans were thugs as the man said in Lost battalion the movie but the 1914 this was before pal battalions there were more straight professional soliders back then

[@HistoryBuff]

We were the "dough boys"

[@alexmclean760]

@@HistoryBuff yes and no due to you never call 2ben 5th Marines dough boys without a broken jaw

[@DawidC.909]

"Holy night" in original is German too

[@christophschmedes5975]

The Story of Chrismas Truce Bast on a real Event in ww1 in 1916 on December 24th sing the German Armee and British Armee Chrismas Carols there here eatch other and meet on the Battelfield for A liddel Soccer play and Sing Chrismas Carols on Night stand the War still

[@HistoryBuff]

Yes it was. I believe it was 1914 though. The first year of the war