The Real History of the Christmas Truce of 1914

It’s one of the most iconic images of the First World War - a football match between British and German soldiers in No Man’s Land on Christmas Day in 1914. But did it really happen? On Christmas Eve that year many sectors of the Western Front in France and Belgium fell silent. Troops from all sides put down their weapons and sang carols, exchanged gifts and buried their fallen comrades. The following day the truce continued in many, but not all areas, and troops gathered in crowds between the lines. There may even have been a bit of a kickabout, but probably not a football match. This full History Hit TV documentary ’The Christmas Truce’ features historians Peter Hart, Robin Schäfer and Taff Gillingham. Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free exclusive podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsely, Mary Beard and more. Watch, listen and read history wherever you are, whenever you want it. Available on all devices: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku, Xbox, Chromecast, and iOs & Android. We’re offering a special discount to History Hit for our subscribers, get 50% off your first 3 months with code YOUTUBE: #historyhit #firstworldwar #christmastruce