"I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
"He's singing bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony
The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought us respite from the war
As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was "Stille Nacht." "Tis 'Silent Night'," says I
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky"
Northern France, December 24th, 1914
The sun set over the battlefield as Bobby stared through a periscope out into the hellscape that had formed between the two lines of trenches. A mere 100 yards away was the German army. Since arriving at the front lines two months ago, Bobby had settled in to this new life. He had heeded the call to arms and came over as part of the second wave of the BEF. It was not until his arrival that the young cat realized why he had been shipped off only a few weeks after putting his name to paper. The entire regiment before him had been wiped out in the early days of the conflict. As he stood there, scanning for anything that might signal and oncoming attack, the words of his relatives echoed in his head.
"The war will be over by Christmas, lad! Don't fear the hun, they'll pack it in once the Britons arrive!"
"I'm so proud of you, Bobby. Fighting for King and Country, a soldier in His Majesty's Army!"
"Every day we will toast to your health and safe return, son."
He had managed to escape injury thus far, but instead of a truce or ceasefire, the conflict had been getting more and more intense. Artillery exchanged fire in the far distance, flashing lights and rolling thunder in the dimming light reminded him of summer storms back home. Only instead of bringing a life-giving rain to the landscape, the storm on the horizon was bringing a hail of deadly lead and explosives.
As another hour passed, Bobby thought of all he had lost in a matter of months. The girl he had been seeing was now hundreds of miles from him back in Bristol. Many of his friends which came over the Channel with him were now sleeping in "no-man's-land", a place so deadly that nobody dared to risk themselves just to retrieve the fallen. The cries of the wounded haunted him after each engagement. Though still proud to serve his country, a question had lingered in the back of Bobby's mind since that first battle. Why? Why were they all killing each other here?
Back home he had been told the Germans were brutish huns who meant to pillage and rape all the lands they captured, yet through the periscope Bobby had seen things which made him realize the lies he had been fed for so long. The Germans were disciplined, proud soldiers. They screamed and cried when they died, they laughed and smiled while they lived. Most were kids fresh out of school, just like him. Language aside, his enemies had much in common with himself. Even so, it was his duty to his brothers-in-arms to keep watch since an attack may come at any time, and they were not to give up an inch of ground to the enemy no matter what would come.
"See anything, Bobby?" Tobin asked as he took his position along the trench. Bobby shook his head. "No, I think we're finally getting the night off."
"Don't be so sure, friend. I wouldn't put it past these Jerries to try some dirty trick, even on Christmas Eve."
"Well, all the same I haven't seen anything concerning. Here, Tobin, have the scope."
The cat took control of the periscope and did an initial sweep of his field of view. Through the mirrored device, Tobin could make out moving lights below the lip of the trench and his ears detected the faint sound of laughter and clinking glasses. Perhaps they really were celebrating Christmas?
"It's for the best then, for all our sakes. I'd hate to kill on Christmas. The colonel has arranged for extra rations and a few things from home to enjoy tonight. Also, you should go see Sergeant Hawkens, he's got some letters for you."
"Really? Perhaps the letters are from October then because the last I've heard from mum was dated for September."
Sitting down with an exhausted sigh, Bobby removed his helmet before combing through the letters. For one reason or another the mail had been delayed. Inspecting the envelopes closely, it was apparent that each had been inspected before being allowed to go to their intended recipients. Choosing to open up the most recent one, dated November 13th, there wasn't much to note. It was typical well wishes from his family. Though basic, Bobby would much rather have heard their voices in person. Opening up another from late October, Bobby found out about the death of his cousin, Will. He had fallen outside Ypres on the 13th of October. Two and a half months later and he was only just getting the news!
As night set in, a light snow began to fall in the trench. Looking around, Bobby noticed all his brothers-in-arms engaging in banter, trading stories, warming themselves by small fires. Spotting an opening around one of the fires, Bobby moved himself to join the group.
"Room for one more, lads?"
"Of course, Bobby! Come and sit." Joseph exclaimed as he made more room for the bigger cat. "Any news from up the chain? There are rumors of a Christmas feast!"
"Haven't heard anything, sadly. But I do have enough durries for us all."
"Oh thank god! I used my last one only a couple hours ago." Issac said, pulling out his lighter. Soon all five of them were smoking, staring blankly into the small fire. Issac stretched while taking a long drag. "Do you reckon the Germans are doing the same as us?"
One hundred meters away, Johann stumbled through the evergreens which now occupied the bulk of the space in the trench. Soldiers up and down the line were decorating their own Christmas trees, all cut from the woods of their homeland, intended to be both a festive gift and a reminder of what they were fighting for. All were well trained and prepared to do battle with the mortal enemies of the Kaiser, yet the last few months had proven to be brutal. As stalemate set in, soldiers had begun to relax a bit, settling down for a long winter without much to do.
Finding a place to rest, Johann looked back from where he came to see a festival of lights. Candles lit up each tree as fellow soldiers gathered 'round for a feast. The mood was light and cheerful as tins of food and bars of chocolate were passed out. As the young German ate his fill, Johann's mind drifted back to his village outside Munich. He imagined how peaceful it must be in that home nestled in rolling hills under the Alps, fields left barren for the winter, animals in the barn warmed with hay and heated water while his parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered around the hearth. Well, at least those who weren't currently fighting in this hellscape.
To Johann, it seemed as if felines across the world had gone insane. Germany had done nothing to warrant the ferocity of fighting he had experienced. The French especially were angered to the point of being beyond reason and they fought with a fury which had traumatized the young soldier. At least the English that had taken over this area of the front line had been more professional and reserved. They were fighting a war like gentlemen; each move cautious and deliberate. Even so, he had grown weary of the fighting. Everyone had hoped for peace to be reinstated by Christmas, but it was apparent to Johann now that it would be some time before he could go home and spend another holiday with his family.
He would have to continue the fight, both for country and for family honor. His father had been an officer in the Kaiser's army twenty years before, just as his father before him. Though not yet to the same rank, Johann was slowly climbing the ranks. It was unfortunate that so many above him had already met their fate on the battlefield in a war that was unlike any other. While his father had carried a single-shot rifle and his grandfather held a musket, Johann was a machine gunner. Many brave cat had already fallen to his Maschinengewehr 08 and each death weighed heavily on his shoulders. He could hear the cries of the wounded after every engagement—
"Wait." Riley interrupted. "If they did not want to fight, why did they?"
"That is the nature of war, young one." Elsa explained. "Few want to fight in a war, but when one breaks out, many men answer the call. Your brother among them."
"But why was there a war to start with?"
"It started when Archduke Ferdinand was shot. Or at least that's what the history books will say. But looking back, I think it had more to do with pride, arrogance, and the sad fact that their leaders wanted a war. They just didn't realize how bad the war would actually be." I explained, settling in with hot chocolate next to Isabella while the kids listened closely.
"How bad was it, brother? You never talk about it."
I hesitated. I hadn't told Riley because it was indescribable. Hell itself was probably a better place. "It was very bad, Riley. Men and boys died by the thousands. I hope you never see one like it."
"Indeed. I tended to the wounded and the dying. What I saw… I'll never be able to move past it completely. But this isn't a story about that."
"Apologies, Elsa. Please, continue." I said, motioning Riley to turn her head around and pay attention.
"Yes, this is where it starts to get good…"
After a while, the soldiers in the trench surrounding Johann cobbled together enough instruments and a small choir to sing for Christmas Eve. One soldier, wanting to make some room for his comrades, placed his tree up on top of the trench. Others soon followed his lead and most of the trees were quickly moved out of the way, lighting up the darkened field with a line of festive evergreens.
A periscope above the opposing trench scanned the battlefield and took note of what seemed like a massive assault forming quickly. "The bastards, on Christmas no less!" Tobin hissed. Turning around, he shouted out a warning to the rest. "At the ready lads, to the wall, now!"
In an instant, the festive mood was put on the back burner as all the Englishmen, Bobby included, grabbed their rifles and assembled at the front trench, readying themselves for what was sure to be another battle. Yet none came. Instead, strange sounds began to emanate from the German side.
"Shhh, you hear that?" The Seargant said as he listened close. It was… music?" The notes became louder before finally being joined in with the voices of a chorus.
"Herbei, o ihr Gläubigen,
Fröhlich triumphierend,
O kommet, o kommet nach Bethlehem!
Sehet das Kindlein,
Uns zum Heil geboren!
O lasset uns anbeten,
O lasset uns anbeten,
O lasset uns anbeten
Den König, den Herrn!"
"My God, they're singing carols!" Joseph muttered underneath his breath.
"Du König der Ehren,
Herrscher der Heerscharen,
Verschmähst nicht, zu ruhn in Marien Schoß,
Du wahrer Gott
Von Ewigkeit geboren.
O lasset uns anbeten,
O lasset uns anbeten,
O lasset uns anbeten
Den König, den Herrn!"
"Kommt, singet dem Herren,
Singt ihm, Engelchöre!
Frohlocket, frohlocket, ihr Seligen:
Ehre sei Gott im Himmel
Und auf Erden!
O lasset uns anbeten,
O lasset uns anbeten,
O lasset uns anbeten
Den König, den Herrn!"
Bobby could mutter the words himself as he pulled out the cross given to him by the local parish prior to his departure. Yet another sign that the cats he had been fighting weren't much different from him. As the song finished, cheers erupted from the German lines. Bobby breathed a sigh of relief. This was no attack, they were merely celebrating Christmas. Just then, Joseph had an idea.
"Are we going to let the Jerries have all the fun, lads?"
"What do you mean?" Bobby asked.
"We have some songs of our own, don't we? Someone get the squeezebox, I've got an idea!"
As the German laughter and cheer settled down, the choir was about to start another carol when music came from the English lines. Turning their heads, the Germans listened in.
"God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy"
After three verses, the English saw fit to close out the song. As they did so, cheers from the German lines filled the air. It was now the German's turn. Yet the song the they chose could hardly be passed up. It was known to all on either side of no-man's-land.
"Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!"
The English joined in, one by one, for the second verse. The same song was sung out in two languages that night.
"Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!"
"Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!"
In the woods behind the house, Johann and Bobby walked along the trail. Looking up, the night sky brought Bobby back to that night in 1914. After so many years, they had finally reunited. "So, how has Germany been, old friend."
Johann shook his head. "I wish I could say it was fine, but it is not. The factories, they are making things again, but a Mark will not even buy a newspaper!"
"We've been doing well here, in Missouri. You know, you could move the family here to America."
"We could, but there are so many who need us in the village. It would not be possible, not without hurting so many."
"Well that's a pity. But I do understand. We too are important to the community here, who else would perform burial services? But I do hope you'll be able to make a trip like this again sometime in the future."
"I do as well. America is an interesting country. Everything is so… new. But let's focus on getting your friends a tree. It is tradition in my homeland and I am happy so many have Christmas trees here."
"Speaking of, how about that one?" Bobby pointed at a well-defined spruce that was similar to the previous tree that was currently smoldering behind the house.
"Da, I think that will work."