Merry Christmas listers. I have so enjoyed this list this Christmas season. Thanks to everyone for all the stories and traditions. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Ruth Ann

That was an excellent movie usually as an independent film. Claire ----- Original Message ----- From: "Arlene Houghton" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, December 23, 2000 7:58 PM Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] WW 1 Truce Incident.....?? | William Wharton, a wonderful author, also wrote a book about it (probably | same incident) called "Once Upon a Midnight Clear", made into a movie. | | Arlene in California | -----Original Message----- | From: [email protected] <[email protected]> | To: [email protected] | <[email protected]> | Date: Saturday, December 23, 2000 11:41 AM | Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] WW 1 Truce Incident.....?? | | | ><< There ws a Time Capsule 2000 spot on TV the other day, sponsored by the | > History Channel, in which they told a similar story. In this case the | > British and German soldiers made their own truce on Christmas, shared food | > and songs, and even played a game of soccer in the "No Man's Land"! They | > said it was the only battle of the war that was fought with a ball. Very | > touching story. I wonder if this was the same incident? >> | > | >Merry Christmas Listers, | > | >In a PTV Christmas musical -- Christmas Glory 2000 -- from | >Westminister Abbey Chapel in England recounts this same | >truce between German and British troops during WW 1. They | >gave each other time to bury their dead then shared songs, | >food and visiting before their own truce was over the next | >day. | > | >Check your local Public TV schedule for possible viewing. | > | >-Mary Lynn Axtman | > | |

Well, I read at the end of the book that William Wharton is a pseudonym for an American living in Paris. I remembered that book from my store. It did not sell after a year, and I looked at sending it back. It looked like a good book though, so I decided to keep it. I still have it, and will probably read it in the next couple weeks. However, it seems to be about WWII. Also it seems to be in authentic soldiers voice. Thus, I would not expect my mom to like it. Thomas Koch ----- Original Message ----- From: Arlene Houghton <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, December 23, 2000 6:58 PM Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] WW 1 Truce Incident.....?? > William Wharton, a wonderful author, also wrote a book about it (probably > same incident) called "Once Upon a Midnight Clear", made into a movie. > > Arlene in California > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] <[email protected]> > To: [email protected] > <[email protected]> > Date: Saturday, December 23, 2000 11:41 AM > Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] WW 1 Truce Incident.....?? > > > ><< There ws a Time Capsule 2000 spot on TV the other day, sponsored by the > > History Channel, in which they told a similar story. In this case the > > British and German soldiers made their own truce on Christmas, shared food > > and songs, and even played a game of soccer in the "No Man's Land"! They > > said it was the only battle of the war that was fought with a ball. Very > > touching story. I wonder if this was the same incident? >> > > > >Merry Christmas Listers, > > > >In a PTV Christmas musical -- Christmas Glory 2000 -- from > >Westminister Abbey Chapel in England recounts this same > >truce between German and British troops during WW 1. They > >gave each other time to bury their dead then shared songs, > >food and visiting before their own truce was over the next > >day. > > > >Check your local Public TV schedule for possible viewing. > > > >-Mary Lynn Axtman > > > >

Was Hugh British, or does that imply that they did that every year? There are stories of British and Germans, and perhaps Americans and Germans, but did this happen between Germans and French? What about the other fronts - Germans and Russians, Austrians and Italians? As the latter two were both Catholics, why didn't the Pope order them to cease hostilities? Too easy, but I would hope that the churches opposed the war. The Austrians could have, or did, negotiate a peace before 11 Nov 1918, but Germany would not allow Austria to quit the war. They threatened to invade Austria if the Austrians made peace. Interesting line: "The Germans, who previously were viewed as demonized beasts by the British and French ..." Anti-German, pro-war sentiment was being stirred up in America as well, prompting the German-educated Walter Rauschenbusch to write a book titled: "Be Fair to Germany". Eugene Debs went to jail for speaking out against the war in America. The Supreme Court wrote in his case that the First Amendment does not allow someone to yell "Fire" in a crowded theatre. He got over a million votes for President in 1920 as the socialist candidate, "Convict 9654". That was his third run for the Presidency, he had received 800,000 votes in 1912, which was before the number of voters was doubled by giving women the right to vote. Anyway, if you "Always question our leaders," be prepared to be jailed. It would be more inspiring to see a Christmas miracle that survived December. Thomas Koch ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, December 23, 2000 8:12 AM Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] First World War > I grew up in Miami County, Ohio. Lifelong friends of my parents were Hugh > and Margaret Phillis. Hugh was involved in such a Christmas celebration with > German soldiers when he was in France. He told the story of how they visited > one another's trenches on Christmas, sang carols, drank Schnapps, shared > whatever food they had, then began shooting hell out of one another again on > the 26th !! Hugh was gassed, and he had lung problems for the rest of his > life from it. > > Dave Ross > Denver > >

William Wharton, a wonderful author, also wrote a book about it (probably same incident) called "Once Upon a Midnight Clear", made into a movie. Arlene in California -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, December 23, 2000 11:41 AM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] WW 1 Truce Incident.....?? ><< There ws a Time Capsule 2000 spot on TV the other day, sponsored by the > History Channel, in which they told a similar story. In this case the > British and German soldiers made their own truce on Christmas, shared food > and songs, and even played a game of soccer in the "No Man's Land"! They > said it was the only battle of the war that was fought with a ball. Very > touching story. I wonder if this was the same incident? >> > >Merry Christmas Listers, > >In a PTV Christmas musical -- Christmas Glory 2000 -- from >Westminister Abbey Chapel in England recounts this same >truce between German and British troops during WW 1. They >gave each other time to bury their dead then shared songs, >food and visiting before their own truce was over the next >day. > >Check your local Public TV schedule for possible viewing. > >-Mary Lynn Axtman >

<< There ws a Time Capsule 2000 spot on TV the other day, sponsored by the History Channel, in which they told a similar story. In this case the British and German soldiers made their own truce on Christmas, shared food and songs, and even played a game of soccer in the "No Man's Land"! They said it was the only battle of the war that was fought with a ball. Very touching story. I wonder if this was the same incident? >> Merry Christmas Listers, In a PTV Christmas musical -- Christmas Glory 2000 -- from Westminister Abbey Chapel in England recounts this same truce between German and British troops during WW 1. They gave each other time to bury their dead then shared songs, food and visiting before their own truce was over the next day. Check your local Public TV schedule for possible viewing. -Mary Lynn Axtman

I grew up in Miami County, Ohio. Lifelong friends of my parents were Hugh and Margaret Phillis. Hugh was involved in such a Christmas celebration with German soldiers when he was in France. He told the story of how they visited one another's trenches on Christmas, sang carols, drank Schnapps, shared whatever food they had, then began shooting hell out of one another again on the 26th !! Hugh was gassed, and he had lung problems for the rest of his life from it. Dave Ross Denver

There ws a Time Capsule 2000 spot on TV the other day, sponsored by the History Channel, in which they told a similar story. In this case the British and German soldiers made their own truce on Christmas, shared food and songs, and even played a game of soccer in the "No Man's Land"! They said it was the only battle of the war that was fought with a ball. Very touching story. I wonder if this was the same incident? Dorie ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, December 22, 2000 10:43 PM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] First World War > Merry Christmas to All. this was sent to me, and I thought it was worth > sharing: Judy > --- > << Christmas 1914 > > The war in Europe was only four months old, yet it had > already reached a savagery unknown until that time. After > the initial success of the German army, the war became a > desperate trench struggle with a very high casualty count. > The promise of early success seemed like a far away dream. > The snow and the cold of 1914 made things even worse, but as > the darkness fell on Christmas Eve something happened that > would never occur again. > > Sir Edward Hulse, a 25-year-old lieutenant, wrote in his > diary about this strange occurrence. "A scout named F. Marker > went out and met a German Patrol and was given a glass of > whisky and some cigars, and a message was sent back, saying > that if we didn?t fire at them they would not fire at us." > That night, where the fighting only five days earlier had > been fierce, suddenly just stopped. > > The following morning, Christmas day, German soldiers walked > towards the British lines while the British came out to greet > their enemy. They exchanged souvenirs with each other and the > British gave the German soldiers plum pudding as a Christmas > greeting. Soon arrangements were made to bury the dead British > soldiers whose bodies were lying in no man's land. The Germans > brought the bodies over and prayers were exchanged. > > The sprit of Christmas overcame the horror of war as peace > broke out across the front. The Germans, who previously were > viewed as demonized beasts by the British and French, almost > always initiated it. This contact was followed by song. The > Germans sang 'Die Wacht Am Rhein' and the British soldiers > sang 'Christians Wake.' It was in many ways a miracle. Sapper > J. Davey, a British soldier, wrote this in his diary. "Most > peculiar Christmas I?ve ever spent and ever likely to. One > could hardly believe the happenings." Hate, for a moment, > disappeared along the Western front. > > Another British soldier, Second Lt. Dougan Chater wrote, > "About 10 o?clock this morning I was peeping over the parapet > when I saw a German, waving his arms, and presently two of > them got out of their trenches and came towards ours. We were > just going to fire on them when we saw that they had no rifles > so one of our men went out to meet them and in about two > minutes the ground between the two lines of trenches was > swarming with men and officers of both sides, shaking hands > and wishing each other a happy Christmas." This continued for > nearly an hour before their superiors ordered the men back to > their trenches. > > The powers to be objected to this display of humanity by the > common soldier. For a brief moment, their gesture ended a war > that the leaders of both sides would continue to fight for > nearly four more years. Millions more would die, indeed many > of the men who greeted each other would perish, but their > sprits live on in history as an example to all of us. We have > much more in common with each other than the differences that > divide us. Peace is better than war. Understanding is more > important than division. Love can overcome hate. Always > question our leaders. Happy Holidays! > > Sources: The First World War, Martin Gilbert

Merry Christmas Judy and thank you for the beautiful story -- and Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth to all who belong to this list. Claire ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, December 22, 2000 11:43 PM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] First World War Merry Christmas to All. this was sent to me, and I thought it was worth sharing: Judy --- << Christmas 1914 The war in Europe was only four months old, yet it had already reached a savagery unknown until that time. After the initial success of the German army, the war became a desperate trench struggle with a very high casualty count. The promise of early success seemed like a far away dream. The snow and the cold of 1914 made things even worse, but as the darkness fell on Christmas Eve something happened that would never occur again. Sir Edward Hulse, a 25-year-old lieutenant, wrote in his diary about this strange occurrence. "A scout named F. Marker went out and met a German Patrol and was given a glass of whisky and some cigars, and a message was sent back, saying that if we didn?t fire at them they would not fire at us." That night, where the fighting only five days earlier had been fierce, suddenly just stopped. The following morning, Christmas day, German soldiers walked towards the British lines while the British came out to greet their enemy. They exchanged souvenirs with each other and the British gave the German soldiers plum pudding as a Christmas greeting. Soon arrangements were made to bury the dead British soldiers whose bodies were lying in no man's land. The Germans brought the bodies over and prayers were exchanged. The sprit of Christmas overcame the horror of war as peace broke out across the front. The Germans, who previously were viewed as demonized beasts by the British and French, almost always initiated it. This contact was followed by song. The Germans sang 'Die Wacht Am Rhein' and the British soldiers sang 'Christians Wake.' It was in many ways a miracle. Sapper J. Davey, a British soldier, wrote this in his diary. "Most peculiar Christmas I?ve ever spent and ever likely to. One could hardly believe the happenings." Hate, for a moment, disappeared along the Western front. Another British soldier, Second Lt. Dougan Chater wrote, "About 10 o?clock this morning I was peeping over the parapet when I saw a German, waving his arms, and presently two of them got out of their trenches and came towards ours. We were just going to fire on them when we saw that they had no rifles so one of our men went out to meet them and in about two minutes the ground between the two lines of trenches was swarming with men and officers of both sides, shaking hands and wishing each other a happy Christmas." This continued for nearly an hour before their superiors ordered the men back to their trenches. The powers to be objected to this display of humanity by the common soldier. For a brief moment, their gesture ended a war that the leaders of both sides would continue to fight for nearly four more years. Millions more would die, indeed many of the men who greeted each other would perish, but their sprits live on in history as an example to all of us. We have much more in common with each other than the differences that divide us. Peace is better than war. Understanding is more important than division. Love can overcome hate. Always question our leaders. Happy Holidays! Sources: The First World War, Martin Gilbert

Merry Christmas to All. this was sent to me, and I thought it was worth sharing: Judy --- << Christmas 1914 The war in Europe was only four months old, yet it had already reached a savagery unknown until that time. After the initial success of the German army, the war became a desperate trench struggle with a very high casualty count. The promise of early success seemed like a far away dream. The snow and the cold of 1914 made things even worse, but as the darkness fell on Christmas Eve something happened that would never occur again. Sir Edward Hulse, a 25-year-old lieutenant, wrote in his diary about this strange occurrence. "A scout named F. Marker went out and met a German Patrol and was given a glass of whisky and some cigars, and a message was sent back, saying that if we didn?t fire at them they would not fire at us." That night, where the fighting only five days earlier had been fierce, suddenly just stopped. The following morning, Christmas day, German soldiers walked towards the British lines while the British came out to greet their enemy. They exchanged souvenirs with each other and the British gave the German soldiers plum pudding as a Christmas greeting. Soon arrangements were made to bury the dead British soldiers whose bodies were lying in no man's land. The Germans brought the bodies over and prayers were exchanged. The sprit of Christmas overcame the horror of war as peace broke out across the front. The Germans, who previously were viewed as demonized beasts by the British and French, almost always initiated it. This contact was followed by song. The Germans sang 'Die Wacht Am Rhein' and the British soldiers sang 'Christians Wake.' It was in many ways a miracle. Sapper J. Davey, a British soldier, wrote this in his diary. "Most peculiar Christmas I?ve ever spent and ever likely to. One could hardly believe the happenings." Hate, for a moment, disappeared along the Western front. Another British soldier, Second Lt. Dougan Chater wrote, "About 10 o?clock this morning I was peeping over the parapet when I saw a German, waving his arms, and presently two of them got out of their trenches and came towards ours. We were just going to fire on them when we saw that they had no rifles so one of our men went out to meet them and in about two minutes the ground between the two lines of trenches was swarming with men and officers of both sides, shaking hands and wishing each other a happy Christmas." This continued for nearly an hour before their superiors ordered the men back to their trenches. The powers to be objected to this display of humanity by the common soldier. For a brief moment, their gesture ended a war that the leaders of both sides would continue to fight for nearly four more years. Millions more would die, indeed many of the men who greeted each other would perish, but their sprits live on in history as an example to all of us. We have much more in common with each other than the differences that divide us. Peace is better than war. Understanding is more important than division. Love can overcome hate. Always question our leaders.  Happy Holidays! Sources: The First World War, Martin Gilbert

Hi Rose, Thanks for the post, I am looking forward to viewing this. Karen JENTER Michigan

The German-American documentary on PBS aired in the New York region in November and is scheduled to air nationally on various PBS stations in March 2001. Rose Marie Martin, Executive Director Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies, Inc. PO Box 693 Culpeper, Virginia 22701-0693 E Mail: [email protected] Web: www.germanna.org Office: 540-825-1496 Fax: 540-825-6572 Visitor Center: 540-423-1700 GERMANNA REUNION: July 13-15, 2001 Watch website for information: www.germanna.org/ -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Friday, December 15, 2000 7:04 PM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] PBS show >Hi Claire, >I think I remember someone previously listing here that, at this time, this >special was only available in a certain part of the country, but early in >2001 it will be available nationwide. Does someone else remember reading >this, or am I dreaming again? > >Karen JENTER >Michigan > >

Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year to all.

Our daughter, 2 grandsons and German son-in-law are permanent residents of Germany. They live in Rindemoos, a little "suburb" of Biberach/Riss, about a half hour south of Ulm. Their little residential enclave is rather private, consisting only of culs-de-sac off a more major road, a lovely and quiet little nook. In the "center" of the enclave, there's somewhat of a traffic circle (not a roundabout, just a larger cul-de-sac) with a manhole cover in the center of it. On New Year's Eve, one of the residents make a huge amount of stew (of some kind, generally wild game, I think). They set up a big tripod over the manhole, build a wood fire thereon, hang the old black kettle, and all the neighbors gather to eat hot stew, drink whatever they've brought, "reden", shoot the fireworks at midnight, and they have a really "together" experience for Silvesterabend. Dave Ross Denver, CO

Pope Silvester I (314-335) is the day's saint, his name is the same as New Year's Eve. The arrival of the new year is celebrated with the ringing of the church bells, fireworks and parties. On december 31 at midnight the church bells ring thru out Germany. people who celebrating raise their champagne glass to toast the new year with a " Prosit Neujahr!" As soon as the fireworks start, people leave their houses and watch it. Unlike christmas , Silvester is spent in company of friends or at new Years balls. A favorite party game on 'Silvesterabend" is 'Bleigießen'.( Blei-lead) You poor melted lead from a laddle into a bowl of cold water and tell the fortunes from shapes into which the lead hardens. On New Years day, the chimney sweep goes from house to house. That is for good luck. The chimney sweep get from every family I glass "Schnaps" a strong drink. If it is cold on New years day, he sure is not going to get cold. Katharina _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

We've always done this in my family too. Now I do it with my kids and husband. I never knew it was a german thing either. Isn't it interesting to find that things we take for granted growing up are actually ethnic traditions. Dru. [email protected] wrote: > My gramma, mom and I did this when I was a kid. I just thought we were > fooling around. Never thought it was a german thing. > > > Speaking of eggs -- we always had a tradition where on Easter we would ha= > > ve > > egg wars -- hardboiled -- where 2 people would knock the fat ends togethe= > > r > > and then the more pointy ends. If your egg didn't crack you would go on = > > to > > the next opponent? Anyone know about this -- I don;t know the origin?? > > Lita > > <A > HREF="http://pages.ivillage.com/misc/pux4/index.html">Pux's Page</A> > http://pages.ivillage.com/misc/pux4/index.html

[email protected] wrote: > > Stan from Livonia: They're all possible, I guess, but see Jack's story of > Schinderhannes, which was on here yesterday. > > Dave Ross Thanks, Dave. I'm a ten o'clock scholar and it shows. Stan from Livonia, MI

My gramma, mom and I did this when I was a kid. I just thought we were fooling around. Never thought it was a german thing. > Speaking of eggs -- we always had a tradition where on Easter we would ha= > ve > egg wars -- hardboiled -- where 2 people would knock the fat ends togethe= > r > and then the more pointy ends. If your egg didn't crack you would go on = > to > the next opponent? Anyone know about this -- I don;t know the origin?? Lita <A HREF="http://pages.ivillage.com/misc/pux4/index.html">Pux's Page</A> http://pages.ivillage.com/misc/pux4/index.html

No, Brenda. The downtown Fussgaengerzone seemed quite viable when we were there. Of course, I don't know what used to be downtown, either, but it was fun to wander around down there. We had a good time in Simmern and will return in the spring. My "final" Wallauer ancestor had his first church in Kircheberg; just out of Univ. of Heidelberg (1738), he was assoc. pastor of the Ev. Kirche there. Dave Ross

Stan from Livonia: They're all possible, I guess, but see Jack's story of Schinderhannes, which was on here yesterday. Dave Ross