The Christmas Truce When WWI Stopped for Christmas DEF

[@SkunkApe407]

As a war veteran myself, I don't find myself choking up at too many movies or stories, but the story of the Christmas Truce has always pulled at my heartstrings. The idea that such hostilities could be dispensed and good will doled out so quickly, and then abandoned the following sunrise has always baffled me. We were THAT close to an armistice, all at the hands of foot soldiers, but the myopic demands of "superiors" destroyed it. If only the men actually fighting the war were in charge, rather than some fat general in a tent miles from the frontline.

[@suhanhwang9988]

Modern day society in a nutshell!

[@aragos32727]

The infantryman with his rifle may be the blunt weapon used to win this fight, but he is neither the instigator nor the concluder.

[@JustAMag]

I think WW1 was the last chance of something like this. Today each nation is too indoctrinated into murder death kill.

[@amb163]

That's just it, isn't it? It's always the powerful, far from the front lines, who make the decisions that lead others on all sides to die. Most people don't want war -- the military has to break most people to make them capable of killing. Maybe if the superiors were forced to be on the front lines, things would change. But no... instead we're fighting more and more with remote technology, the "enemy" faceless and nameless.

[@SkunkApe407]

@@JustAMag modern militaries actually focus less on direct field combat, and direct their efforts toward calculated strikes against infrastructure. The UN has made it so that any party nation must pay reparations to the losing side, so it's actually cheaper to cripple an enemy than it is to kill them outright. Not only that, but if you drive an enemy out of a city by crippling their infrastructure, you can move in and have Army Engineers reestablish utility services in short manner. Conquering and holding lands is cheaper if you don't have to rebuild everything as soon as you take over. Psychological and cyber warfare have also become a major focus, since you don't have to shoot someone if you can topple their entire economy with a couple of clicks on a keyboard. The modern battlefield is a far cry from the big gun fights of yesteryear.

[@leholen381]

Silence Oh, I remember the silence On a cold winter day After many months on the battlefield And we were used to the violence Then all the cannons went silent And the snow fell Voices sang to me from no man’s land We are all, we are all, we are all, we are all friends And today we’re all brothers Tonight we’re all friends A moment of peace in a war that never ends Today we’re all brothers We drink and unite Now Christmas has arrived and the snow turns the ground white Hear carols from the trenches, we sing O holy night Our guns laid to rest among snowflakes A Christmas in the trenches, a Christmas on the front far from home

[@captaindemidov5788]

It seems i have found another fan a band whos heavy metal is only the best from north

[@thalastianjorus]

Truly beautiful song.

[@metamaxis]

How many of us watch this channel to hear Simon narrate the same events Indy covers in sabaton history, and Joakim sings about?

[@alexwombat8288]

"We take a break from our usual diet" What an opener for the 2nd video on this channel, 100% made my day xD

[@agent_meister477]

My thoughts exactly 👍

[@StefanMedici]

You know he's already made a dozen vids for this channel and this is probably one of the most recent recorded. It did make me laugh and still double check that I was still watching the second uploaded vid.

[@thorwhitaker]

The Christmas Truce is one of those things in history that sounds too impossible to be true, but yet it happened none the less and that's what makes even more fascinating.

[@mitchellneu]

🎵And today we’re all brothers Tonight we’re all friends A moment of peace in a war that never ends🎵 “Christmas Truce” by Sabaton

[@samanthar1214]

Immediately came to the comments looking for my fellow Sabaton fans 😁

[@mitchellneu]

@@samanthar1214 welcome friend

[@rorrodeh]

Today we're all brothers We drink and unite Now Christmas has arrived and the snow turns the ground white

[@duncancurtis1758]

Saviour's Day kept The Farm from the 1990 Xmas top spot....

[@kassandraleonard633]

Simon: makes a joke about a new channel. Also Simon: let's do it!

[@Vincent-2057]

Also, also Simon.. what day is it? Iv'e just recorded 2 of these and 3 of these.... and I don't know what is going on anymore!

[@thefourshowflip]

@@Vincent-2057 You think he ever records an episode twice because he forgot he already did it ? 🤣

[@Vincent-2057]

@@thefourshowflip I'm only gonna say no because we would of heard about it on business blaze... Sorry, brain blaze. Hey if he's still aloud to do it I'm gonna too... He tells us when his bionic ass gets unplugged... And he's such a machine that he won't mess up! Nor can he afford to mess up that much!

[@thefourshowflip]

@@Vincent-2057 Allegedly 😉

[@cripplious]

@@thefourshowflip He has done the same subject for different channels but from each channels style.

[@BTScriviner]

Damn. That made me cry through the whole video. This is what happens when we remember that we're all humans.

[@Magepure6749]

Very relatable, man. I might despise vatican and the crowd-control abomination-ideology it fashioned over centuries from the Story of Jesus. I might hate powerlusting elites of nowadays, who in their self-important audacity recently crossed another moral rubicon in some countries, by ordering the police to "kindly replenish" the people's "supply" of fear if "The Crown's Plague" of ~1% mortality fails to "fill" this "need" despite all of technocratic fearmongering that surrounds it - I might watch liveleak's footage of ISIS burning people alive and feel nothing but cold contempt and hatred at the monsters responsible for it - and yet still, _this_ story will always make me cry with joy whenever I hear it. Despite all the evil living beings are capable of, there will always be an unexpected spark of light in the darkest of voids - *and in the end, justice shall prevail, my soul being at peace in it's core even in the worst moments, knowing that even if my mortal eyes shall not witness it in my finite lifetime, good will eventually triumph* - - for the essence of evil lies in disharmony and imbalance, which is why all tyrannies are bound to fall - if not by a righteous strike of an external hand guided by faith in all that is good, then by a collapse inevitably brought from within from the very same inherent corruption that creates tyrants in the first place - even if it takes a thousand years or more. Our hope, not our lives, is what they need to crush to achieve any semblance of victory. And they can exterminate whole nations, terrorize whole generations, depriving them of this hope - like they tried time and time again, and will most likely try again in the future one day... ...But, like a heavenly counterpart to the mythical monster of hydra, hope shall always reemerge - somewhere, eventually. And somehow, eventually, the fiends of evil will always end up as their own undoing. ~best of wishes from Poland

[@suzannakoizumi8605]

My father fought in WWI in the NY 14th Engineers. He was in each of the seven major battles in which the USA fought. He was in the trenches and was awarded the brass French "couttee". Thanks for the video.

[@jimland4359]

I'm really curious to know how many people Simon has doing research and writing scripts and such. There is so much work here.

[@--enyo--]

When they’re trapped in a basement chained to a radiator that is only turned on for one minute when a video hits 5K likes and food rationed per views they work really hard. I hope Simon gives them gloves this Christmas so they don’t get chilblains and can keep typing.

[@Tony-i4k2w]

Make sure you subscribe so they get water!

[@Googledeservestodie]

Jokes aside it's surprising he never has help wanted ads for this. Armchair Historian asks for new staff all the time

[@brentbowman4498]

@@--enyo-- *Allegedly*

[@gameblaze7645]

I'm wondering how big his basement is

[@TheFritoNinja]

Finally, Danny's work is done. You think he's been locked in the basement writing articles? No no, he's been cloning Simon. It's the only explanation.

[@abrahamhwang1422]

What if Danny is a simon clone?

[@charliefoxtrott1048]

My father told me about the Christmas Truce in the early 80ies. He was told about it from his stepfather, a British officer stationed in Hamburg, Germany (yes, my father and his mother are German). I sincerely don't know anything about the involvement of my stepgranddads family in the Great War. He died two years after I was born. My father also mentioned that his stepfather heard about a sort of Christmas Truce in the first year of the North Africa Campaign in WW2. I remember my father mentioning those football/soccer matches for both truces, but: As I was a child and he passed away 15 years ago - it is all hear say.. but I like the idea

[@Phenom24uk]

I was about to say...why haven't I seen this channel. Then I realised...its new! Love ya Simon man! And yes. This moment in history...is Humanity at its best!

[@jacobavners2394]

Nice concept Simon! I have a suggestion for a couple more: - Bibliographics - History, one book at a time - Filmographics - History, one film at a time - Discographics - History, one song/album/band at a time

[@RHCole]

Historographics - History, one history at a time.

[@jakeporter5527]

@@RHCole already has highlight history 😭😂

[@abrahamhwang1422]

DiseaseOgraphics- one disease at a time, businessOgraphics- one business at a time, humanOgraphics- every human one human at a time, dannyOgraphics- one aspect of danny’s life at a time

[@Tubz1990]

Graphographics when?

[@jacobavners2394]

Thanks everyone for the comments so far - maybe that's exactly how Simon will notice and perhaps heed one of these ideas

[@nmcgunagle]

I like how you’re taking a break from your usual non stop battle coverage, this being your second episode and all.

[@jamesdenapoli7543]

Sooo happy with this beautiful story!!🤗 This reminds me of playing basketball, and "soccer" with our middle eastern friends (they're actually quite good) and we had fun, and learned a lot!🤗 They're all people, just people like us, and like us they want the most from the short lives we have... Dehumanization is the real enemy, and threat to true peace, and possible global stability..😔 Yet we fight on...

[@locustfire75]

Just when I thought Simon ran out of ideas for channels, he does this! Dude! This channel is awesome!

[@fosterfuchs]

A mere 52 years later, the Brits and Germans played a football match that was quite controversial in and of itself.

[@Magepure6749]

Even though I was raised in atheism (more of an agnostic nowadays) I always found this story so touching and beautiful it made me tearful. And now, with appropriate Simon channel level of comprehensive topic coverage, I spent nearly 23 minutes in various degrees of excessive ocular moisture. _I don't believe government, I don't believe big corporations PR teams, I don't believe Vatican. I'll never believe Epstein k!lled himself._ _But I'll always damn sure believe in miracles_ - because sometimes, rarely but sometimes, the only factor standing between a nightmare and a miracle, is just one person's open mind and heart. ...And the more people believe in something greater than a single life, the greater the chances :) Maybe I'm a bit late, but may the Spirit of this wonderful season be with yall, regardless of what you believe

[@AtlasAccord]

So fun fact, there was actually a much smaller version of the XMAS Truce in 1944. It only involved 8 men (4 Americans, 4 Germans) and only occurred because 4 GIs who got lost during the Battle of the Bulge were protected by a mother and her child.

[@alexandernoname6339]

Can you give me something to search for? Sounds like a interesting story, I would love to read, or hear more

[@COBALTCOVERT]

I love stumbling on a new channel by Simon. I audibly exclaim "Aw fuck yeah" every time I see an opportunity to subscribe to fact boy

[@alexcavoli6191]

Still one of the greatest moments in history. The human spirit is both powerful and confusing.

[@nmxsanchez]

Beautifully written and presented. Well done. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all.

[@drew8418]

When I found out about this part of human history I couldn’t help but to shed a tear for the events that took place that faithful evening was so historically important for us to understand not to forget that peace is a possible option if we just listen and do our best to be humble towards one another.

[@goatlinton8906]

Not stopping till he has 365 channels to upload to every day of the year

[@GarrusGodfrey]

My favorite Christmas movie is Joyuex Noel. I always love hearing this story.

[@mols89]

I don't remember Simon talking about this channel! Glad I stumbled across it!

[@reallife3338]

Think he only said something about it on his first 1000 channels 🤣

[@nicransby2850]

Suggestion for a similar topic: just before Berlin was captured by the allies at the end of WW2, the inhabtants went crazy: some commited suicide, some partied as if there were no tomorrow. I am sure there must be interesting stories about this out there.

[@ladyspider4904]

So excited for this new channel. I love watching all of your shows. Looking forward to learning even more knowledge.

[@manricobianchini5276]

Yes. The Christmas Truce, I believe, happened. It does hit me with emotion. Good story. Thank you Simon. Merry belated Christmas and Happy New Year.

[@SuperMrHiggins]

Yeah, I wouldn't think they would have an organized match, but just a pick up game, just kicking a ball around. Idk. The whole story is incredibly beautiful.

[@CaraTheStrange]

Welcome fellow legends!

[@squidly6179]

Greetings

[@calebcox5869]

Happy holidays

[@acars9999]

Great episode! Just subscribed to the new channel. Merry Christmas all!

[@bryandacote8109]

The number of channels Simon has is like his beard; constantly growing

[@Carolinez-d8f]

For one brief, shining moment ….

[@robertestes167]

Oh my god you started another channel. I don’t know how you do it Simon, but I absolutely love it. You’re an absolute legend. I’m subbed to all of your channels. #OGBB Edit: Also, Merry Christmas Simon! Hope you have a great one!

[@audiooddities9982]

The first time I had ever heard of this, I thought it was false.. It was beyond me how it was possible, when I realized it was true, it showed me how kind and friendly humans can be to each other.. If given the chance.. Also, damn it Simon, you're taking up half my subscriptions!

[@abrahamhwang1422]

Good video, but you forgot about the part on Christmas eve when Snoopy engaged and lost to the red baron. Snoopy survived the encounter because the red baron forced him to land beyond the rhine instead of shooting him down. In the spirit of Christmas, they shared a toast and then went their separate ways.

[@TabbyTG]

"Snoopy's Christmas" has been a Holiday staple since I was about seven!

[@NikolasH937]

This should be the Warographics’ April Fools Day special.

[@SuperMrHiggins]

I always just think... of all the insane amount of young man brought up to fight - there must have been ONE guy, on ANY side - who fought from day one, to the final day. That shit must have been, seeing the whole war...

[@aceundead4750]

As an American i do say soccer, because the word originated in Britain and traveled to America then stuck in the lexicon. You and Thoughty2 taught me that. Although iv watched so many videos by the both of you i only say soccer so as to not confuse sports fans over here.

[@NightMotorcyclist]

Don't be an idiot. Soccer originated in England.

[@aceundead4750]

@@NightMotorcyclist that's what i said, just with fewer words

[@adamd5849]

The story about The Christmas Truce is still amazing to hear

[@Kari77251]

Another channel by Simon Whistler? It’s a CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!!

[@patriciapalmer1377]

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO 🌲LL !!

[@twstf8905]

The other day I was watching a video on one of Simon's other channels, (I think it was; "Decoding the Unknown," or something, I don't know,) and during the course and context of whatever topic he was discussing at the time a specific historical figure was mentioned, (I can't remember exactly who,) Simon said; "That name, it sounds familiar. I think I've done a video about him on one of my other channels." lol "I have a bunch of other channels." "I do _a lot_ of videos." And I almost spit out my coffee, I laughed _so_ hard. (for whatever reason.) (Maybe it was just the matter-of-fact way he looked off to the side when he said; "I do _A LOT_ of videos." I'm not sure, but _boy_ was it funny! 😁) It was like he was just then realizing it, for the first time ever. And that, (evidently,) made it hilarious, to me. (Apparently. So much so that I felt uncontrollably compelled to type out this rather long-winded comment, just to share lol and tell _everybody!_ ) 😇👍 Anyway, Happy New Year, people! ✌

[@Sam-qk5kp]

Hey Simon, love your work! I would love to see a video on Gallipoli, especially from the Australian perspective. The importance of Gallipoli cannot be overstated for what it means to be an Australian. Keep up the amazing content Fact Boy!

[@TheGuv1526]

As an ex soldier I can attest, that in times of absolute misery, it takes the simple act of 1 or 2 blokes to change the morale of absolute hundreds or thousands

[@williamkingham3303]

Simon, I know you’re just the absolutely legendary face of these channels, but, what awesome powers do you hold over the universe that allows you to make all these videos? Do you ever get to see your wife and kid? Are you the one REALLY trapped in the basement?

[@misledprops]

What an awesome story of a few beautiful instances of humanity and happiness amidst a sea of absolute devastation and horror.

[@CatsMeowPaw]

One of the worst things that can happen is when men on both sides realize a conflict is ridiculous and they have nothing to gain from it. The leaders who created the war panic, knowing they'll never get the glory they so richly don't deserve. So the war mongers go into overdrive, punishing men who are smart enough not to die for someone else's war.

[@Thelykane69]

Beautifully told. I’m not religious but I used to do the Chris service in my local church and the Christmas truce was my spot every year. There’s so many conflicting sources but I feel that one of the reasons the war ended was because soldiers on each side realised that they were one in the same; a man forced to fight for a crown they’d never where. No doubt the Christmas Truce was one of the most famous examples of peace but, from what I’ve read, not the first nor the only example of humanity during a war where whity fought whity

[@tedcurrently6092]

Marmaduke Walkinton is one of the most fictional real names ever, and to think it belonged to a foot soldier instead of a central figure

[@RHCole]

A great Christmas story. Liking the new channel, Factboi.

[@jacksonlynch1731]

Garth Brooks has a song about this called Belleau Wood, and it's always been one of my favorite little known songs from him. Thanks for doing this video, Simon! And I am super excited for this new channel!

[@AnnoyingNewslettersPage6]

Just watched your video on the Spanish empire, clicked on the Russian Empire video, where you had plugged this channel. Congratulations on yet another channel, Simon 😎

[@jeremydubin858]

Dude! Simon, Americans know what soccer/football is! We even know what "offsides" means 😂. We just don't obsess over it at the professional level because... well...we invented better sports where points are scored! Keep up the great work!

[@ghaznavid]

"Silence! Oh, I remember the silence On a cold winter day After many months on the battlefield And we were used to the violence Then all the cannons went silent And the snow fell Voices sang to me from no man's land"

[@padawanmage71]

Thank you for this Simon, I had just asked about this moment in history in a previous vid you made. Happy Christmas!

[@thomasjorge4734]

The Bavarians and Saxons were the most involved among the Germans; the Anglo-Saxons among the Allies. However, one member of a Bavarian unit wrote a letter protesting this piece of Chivalry. This was not from an elderly Ebeneezer Scrooge, but a young Adolf Hitler.

[@firstnamelastname5449]

The Christmas truce is one of my favorite events in history

[@cleverusername9369]

This is getting delightfully out of control 1 -Business- Brain Blaze 2 Today I Found Out 3 Top Tenz 4 Xplrd 5 Highlight History 6 Biographics 7 Geographics 8 Warographics 9 Decoding the Unknown 10 Into the Shadows 11 The Casual Criminalist 12 Megaprojects 13 Side Projects 14 Visual Politik It's SimonTube now. There is no KZbin. Only SimonTube. The king is dead, long live the king.

[@RHCole]

We are Simon.

[@cynicalahole7131]

If i had a penny for everytime Simon started a story with "It was at the beging of 1914 " lmao

[@karljonasson8429]

There was actually a football ( soccer for us Americans) tournament in Kansas city each year in honor of the truce. I do not know if it is still going on.

[@aaronkerr9872]

Funniest German accent statement Simon. I challenge you to do Aussie accent. Great video

[@mregusci]

Wow - almost left the video early. Thankfully, I stayed to the end. Your analysis was perfect.

[@benjohnson1372]

I think I follow all your channels ( hard to keep track ) but this is the best video yet 👍 great idea for a channel

[@thekevindeucey]

Knowing how history is often formed, I've always assumed it was a loose kick around, maybe even a half serious match.

[@dantemoose420]

Damn it Simon, slow down! I'm running out of hours in the day to binge all your channels

[@stefanschleps8758]

Thank you Simon. I find it remarkable that you can just barely get your mind around a miracle, an expression of Gods love, but you find it ridiculous to contemplate ET existence. I assure you they are both real. We are not alone, and God loves you. Peace. Joyeux Noel.

[@lejibus]

I thought that Warographics in my recommended videos sounded a bit too Simon to be a coincidence. I think more than half my feed is Simon now.

[@eversaavedra9279]

Simon, the ugly sweater thing. Awesome 👌

[@brendakrieger7000]

Always a heartwarming tale🎄

[@quasarsavage]

love u blaze boi happy christmas too

[@tannerholechek5873]

This channel is growing fast! It was at like 2k subs a few days ago

[@rjspires]

Private Baldrick: Remember the football match? Captain Blackadder: Remember it - how could I forget it - I was *never* offside! I could not *believe* that decision.

[@01oo011]

ANOTHER CHANNEL SIMON?! The man JUST. CANNOT. BE. STOPPED!

[@MrKKmusic]

Amazing narration - well written and perfectly delivered!

[@williamj8349]

Great new channel Simon.

[@darthvenator2487]

That moment was a true Christmas miracle.

[@alganhar1]

No, no it was not, because it happened between relatively few units in only the British Army which in December 1914 was still small. The 1914 Christmas Truce has been overblown in both directions, first by those who try to claim it never happened at all, and second by those who make it out to be a much larger thing than it actually was. BOTH are wrong. The French almost universally were NOT interested in a Christmas Truce unless it involved the Germans getting the hell out of French Territory, fighting DID occur on Christmas day 1914, and men DID die. This thing needs to be taken into the proper context, things that Simon et al appear to be incapable of doing, something I have noticed of the other channels he is the face of.

[@Rocco1332]

There needs to be a national bulletin when Simon starts a new channel, I can't keep up lol

[@ramendragon3628]

I would love Simon to do one of his videos while doing his German impression the entire time, lol!

[@DMJoeBing]

Simon won't explain what offsides in football means, so I'll explain to my fellow Americans. Simply put, a player is offsides if any part of their body other than their hands or arms are on their opponent's side of the pitch (field) and are closer to the goal line than both the ball and the last defender other than the goalkeeper. Imagine an invisible plane (like the one at the goal line in American football) that runs across the field at the last defender. If the ball is not across this before an attacking player, that player is offsides.

[@Slainte.Mactire]

Us Americans I’m pretty sure understood the gist. What we call football has offsides too, which is basically the same thing. I believe our “soccer” coincides with your football rules as well. But thank you🤙🏽 gotta love the condescending nature of Europe!

[@texantompaine4509]

Another great channel. Look forward to many more videos here.

[@Xayver1082]

Just when I thought I had enough of Simon's content he goes and makes another great channel

[@Dan19870]

Simon's take over of KZbin continues... And hello fellow OGBB's.

[@darrenkrivit6854]

So many channels, so little time. Lovin' the mega content ✌️

[@charleswarden291]

I'm SO glad you decided to cover this!

[@michaelgallagher3640]

All-agraphics.....Go Simon Go!!!

[@christopheredge9002]

When men tire of senseless killing, the inner child cries out for some semblance of peace. The Christmas truce was once such event

[@theoxygencombustion7006]

This is the channel I needed!

[@josegiankarlobfarrol1511]

Great video and nice new channel. Curious question would the videos about the Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of Hastings, Battle of Marathon and etc be added in this channel? Also may I recommend videos about: Philippine - American War First Sino-Japanese War Anglo-Zulu War Taiping Rebellion Great Northern War Sino-Vietnamese War Vietnam's Invasion of Cambodia Regardless on what you'll make next.. Thank you again for this video, Merry Christmas and advance Happy New Year.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:20 - Chapter 1 - In the Bleak midwinter 5:00 - Chapter 2 - One silent night 8:30 - Chapter 3 - Tidings of comfort 11:50 - Chapter 4 - Angels heard on high 14:30 - Chapter 5 - Salute the happy morn 18:00 - Chapter 6 - This endris night

[@runawaydp]

Whistle Man has a new channel? Subscribed before watching a second 😂

[@flyinyeti]

When tv sucks there's always a whistler binge ^_^

[@chasegilmond5637]

"Christmas 1915" by Celtic Thunder is one of my favorite Christmas songs, and one of the best retellings about the truce (even if they got the year wrong)

[@cumaproto9466]

listen to Christmas Truce by Sabaton

[@StefanMedici]

The drunk Scot waking up in the wrong trench 😂 legend

[@micahistory]

I'm telling you, this guy makes a new channel every month

[@jemkey6930]

One of grandpa's war buddies told a story about his patrol unit finding some very drunk Charlie's. They were sitting around a small fire drinking a very strong homemade liquor. One of them shouted a jarbled greeting. "Hey! Americans! Have a drink, have a laugh. We're not that different." Something like this in broken English. His unit kept their distance did accept a bottle of the liquor (that's how he knew it was so strong) and just watched the soldiers drink themselves to a stupor. They just left the passed out soldiers laying around their dying fire and moved on. But the line about not being that different stuck with him. He started to see these intense, hard fighting, never give up, take as many as you can people...as humans. He said it affected him for the remainder of his tour and even to this day.

[@Timmy_The_P.O.G]

Remember when Philip DeFranco was all over KZbin? Neither does Simon Whistler.... and I'm happy for this.

[@Black-Sun_Kaiser]

The best channel to come out of your recent flurry.

[@celter.45acp98]

You gotta love the glee in simons eyes when he gets to break out his german accent

[@thomasjorge4734]

If only the War had been just that: a football match between the Kaiser and Kitchner!