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Series Code: TIJ
Program Code: TIJ007128S
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00:23 It was called the war to end all wars,
00:27 World War I, also known as the Great War 00:31 started in 1914 after the assignation of 00:36 Archduke Ferdinand of Austria 00:39 His murder fueled the rising tensions between many nations 00:43 of Europe and catapulted them into war. 00:46 The war began in August with great enthusiasm on all sides 00:51 Young men rushed to enlist convinced they would be home 00:56 by Christmas, but by December, their initial hopes grew a 01:00 quick victory, had long since faded, 01:03 replaced by the grim reality of trench warfare. 01:07 Millions of men huddled in muddy trenches 01:10 separated from their enemies by no-man's-land 01:14 strewn with barbed wire and the bodies of the fallen. 01:18 As the cold winter of 1914 settled over the Western front, 01:27 and Christmas approached, the mood on both sides was somber. 01:31 Many soldiers were experiencing their first Christmas 01:35 away from home and the contrast between the seasons message 01:40 of peace and goodwill and the daily reality of war and death 01:45 was stark, but few could have imagined the scene 01:49 that would unfold on Christmas Day 1914. 01:52 Join me as we visit the trenches on the western front 01:57 and investigate the day the guns fell silent. 02:01 [Music] Silent Night 02:21 The First World War was the largest conflict 02:24 the world had ever seen up until that time. 02:27 It came about due to the political tensions and 02:32 complex military alliances of the era. 02:34 The assignation of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand in the summer 02:39 of 1914 resulted in an international crisis and 02:44 by August the fighting had begun. 02:47 Britain and her empire, France, Russia and the U.S. 02:52 lined up against Germany, Austria-Hungary and 02:56 the Ottoman Empire. 02:57 After the initial German advances of the war, 03:00 the battle on the Western front quickly turned into a stalemate 03:05 of trench fighting with the front line zigzagging for nearly 03:10 1,000 kilometers from the coast of Belgium right through 03:14 to Switzerland. Within only a few months 03:18 hundreds of thousands of soldiers had been killed 03:22 in the heavy fighting. 03:23 Trenches were quickly dug to provide the soldiers with 03:27 some protection against the lethal weapons 03:30 of artillery and marching guns. 03:32 The trenches were dug with many sharp turns 03:35 called transverses, these curves helped limit the range 03:40 of gunfire during raids, they also minimized 03:44 the damage from the shell and grenade bluffs. 03:47 The soldiers on both sides experienced an endless 03:52 nightmare, they faced the enemy across the 03:55 narrow strip of land between the opposing trenches 03:58 this is called no-mans-land, it became a desolate and 04:03 barren wasteland of craters, debris, 04:06 tangles of barbed wire and the decomposing 04:10 bodies of fallen soldiers. 04:11 The soldiers on both sides endured a brutal existence 04:16 in the trenches, they huddled in damp rat-infested muddy trenches 04:22 their boots are perpetually soaked in the mud that oozed up 04:26 through the wooden planks called duct walls, 04:28 that were used as walkways. 04:30 Many soldiers suffered from trench-foot 04:33 a painful and debilitating condition caused by 04:37 continually having cold, damp feet. 04:40 Then there were the gas attacks, the poisonous clouds that 04:44 drifted over the trenches, it was a silent, unseen killer 04:49 that crept through the air searing their lungs and skin. 04:54 Above the soldiers, the sky echoed with the deathening 04:59 thunderous wall of exploding artillery shells turning 05:04 the ground around the trenches into a landscape of craters. 05:08 The air constantly crackled with tension as both sides 05:13 vied for even the smallest tactical advantage 05:17 some daring soldiers risked everything to make an advance 05:21 dodging bullets and scrambling through the crisscrossing 05:25 sands of razor-sharp wire. 05:28 This was the battleground where life and death played out daily 05:33 for soldiers on both sides of the conflict, 05:35 it was a war that was supposed to be over by Christmas 05:39 that had become an endless nightmare of 05:43 mud, blood, and death. 05:45 In some areas of the western front, soldiers on both sides 05:51 had started to tacitly agree not to fire on each other 05:55 during meal times or when retrieving bodies from 05:59 no-mans-land. 06:00 Also at this time, Christianity was still a powerful force 06:05 in Europe and the idea of fighting on Christmas Day 06:09 did not sit well with many soldiers. 06:11 Some military Chaplains had even suggested the possibility 06:16 of a Christmas Truce, though this was not 06:19 officially sanctioned by the high commands. 06:22 The first signs of the Christmas Truce on the 06:26 western front appeared on Christmas Eve of 1914. 06:30 In many areas along the front German soldiers had begun 06:35 decorating their trenches with candles and 06:38 small Christmas Trees. 06:39 The sights of these twinkling lights in the darkness 06:43 must have been surreal for the allied troops 06:46 watching from their own trenches. 06:48 Then, the singing began from the German trenches 06:54 came the sound of "Stille Nacht," or Silent Night, 06:58 the British troops recognizing the melody joined in with 07:02 English lyrics, soon other carols followed, 07:05 the sound of these familiar songs sung in 07:09 different languages, but with the same spirit drifted across 07:13 no-mans-land. In some places this musical exchange 07:19 led to verbal communication, soldiers called out to 07:23 each other tentively at first, then with growing confidence. 07:28 Fritz, you still there? And the reply would come, 07:32 yes, Tommy, I'm here. 07:34 But it was the German Christmas carol Stille Nacht 07:39 that was at the heart of the Christmas Truce of 1914, 07:43 this beloved carol, which played a crucial role in initiating the 07:49 truce in many sectors has a fascinating history of its own. 07:53 In the year 1818, a young priest named Joseph Mohr 07:59 in the small Austrian town of Oberndorf near Salzburg 08:04 had penned a poem 2 years earlier, then on Christmas Eve 08:08 1818, Mohr visited his friend Franz Xavier Gruber, 08:13 a school teacher and musician with an urgent request. 08:17 The church organ was broken and Mohr needed a carol 08:23 that could be sung without the organ accompaniment 08:26 for that evening's Christmas church meeting. 08:31 To Mohr's delight, Gruber quickly composed a melody 08:35 to fit Mohr's words, the new Christmas carol was 08:38 performed for the first time that very evening. 08:42 Mohr played the melody on the guitar and the two men 08:46 sang together, the congregation at St. Nicholas Church 08:50 was immediately captivated by the simple yet profound 08:55 new song. From these humble beginnings, Silent Night 09:01 began its journey to becoming one of the world's most loved 09:05 Christmas carols. The song spread first through 09:09 traveling Folk singers in the Austrian Alps 09:12 and then through church choirs across Europe. 09:15 By the 1830s, it was being performed 09:19 for kings and emperors. 09:21 The carol's popularity grew rapidly crossing international 09:27 language barriers, it reached America and was translated 09:31 into English in 1859 by John Freeman Young 09:35 an Episcopal Priest at Trinity Church in New York City. 09:40 It is this version that is most commonly sung in the 09:45 English-speaking world today and really captures the spirit 09:48 of the German original. 09:50 By the time of the 1st World War Silent Night had become 09:56 a favorite Christmas Carol in many countries, 09:59 it was known and loved by everyone, even the soldiers 10:03 on both sides in the trenches of this miserable conflict. 10:07 It's simple melody and message of heavenly peace resonated 10:12 deeply with the men facing the horrors of trench warfare. 10:16 So, when the German soldiers began singing Stille Nacht, 10:22 on Christmas Eve, 1914, it was a song the British soldiers 10:27 recognized and loved. The trenches were so close 10:31 that the soldiers were easily able to hear each other singing 10:36 despite the different languages the familiar tune served as a 10:40 bridge between the trenches, the song was a reminder of 10:45 shared traditions and hope that helped pave the way 10:49 for the extraordinary events of the Christmas truce. 10:52 Then on the 25th of December 1914, something truly 10:58 extraordinary did happen, young men who had been 11:02 killing each other by the tens of thousands, 11:04 put down their guns and met their enemies to sing songs 11:10 exchange gifts, share stories, and play a game 11:13 of football together. 11:15 The truce has become the stuff of legend, this event 11:19 known today as The Christmas Truce stands as a remarkable 11:24 moment of humanity amid the brutality of World War I. 11:28 Nobody knows exactly what happened and how it all started, 11:33 the minute details are not clear, however, 11:37 picture the scene with me. It's Christmas Eve 1914, 11:44 on the western front, it's cold and miserable 11:48 Jib, a young British soldier receives a package from home, 11:53 there's a large chocolate bar wrapped in blue and gold 11:57 with an accompanying letter an a picture of his sweetheart 12:01 then, through the din, and drone of war noise, he hears something 12:06 unbelievable, German voices in the distance 12:10 singing the words Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht, it's a tune here 12:16 these British Soldiers here recognize, hesitatingly at first 12:20 and then more loudly, they respond singing Silent Night 12:26 Holy Night. 12:27 The noise of war stops soon rising from both the German 12:32 and English trenches, our voices joining together, 12:36 enemies singing together in harmony. 12:40 Sleep in heavenly peace... 12:47 That song is a bridge between the two front lines, 12:51 all of a sudden, the atmosphere changes as a new day dawns 12:56 and then Jim summons his courage, wrings his hands, 13:02 and bravely makes his move. 13:04 To his colleagues' surprise and horror, he removes his hat 13:08 and raising his hands, he slowly climbs out of the trench 13:13 and then a German soldier Otto reciprocates 13:19 and climbs out of his trench and heads towards Jim. 13:23 Now, the British and German soldiers start climbing 13:27 out of their trenches and meeting in no-mans-land. 13:30 Jim and Otto shake hands and introduce themselves 13:35 and Jim shows Otto the picture of his girlfriend that 13:39 he received in the mail, just for a moment, they forget 13:43 about the horrors around them. Someone kicks a ball, 13:47 and a football match breaks out, in the goal, Otto 13:52 blocks one kick, but the persistent Jim eventually 13:56 scores exactly at the moment when the rumble of artillery 14:01 is heard again. 14:03 Peace ends, the war is back as the troops bid each other 14:08 farewell and return to their trenches, Jim, and Otto 14:11 meet one last time and exchange Christmas greetings. 14:15 Back in the German trench Otto reaches into his coat 14:21 and finds a gift, back in the English trench Jim opens his 14:28 mess tin and pulls out that wretched brown biscuit 14:32 while a smile crosses his face. 14:35 What a day. 14:38 The Christmas truce of 1914, the day the guns fell silent. 14:44 British and German soldiers put down their guns 14:47 and came together to sing songs, shake hands, 14:51 exchange gifts, share stories and play a game of football, 14:56 they found peace through a song about the Prince of Peace. 15:02 As we noted, it's hard to pinpoint the exact origins 15:07 of the 1914 Christmas truce though it was widespread 15:11 it was not universal, it seemed to emerge simultaneously 15:16 in multiple locations along the western front. 15:20 There wasn't on uniform Christmas truce but rather 15:24 several localized events. 15:27 For some soldiers in trenches, it lasted a couple of hours 15:31 in some areas, until boxing day and even in isolated pockets 15:36 true to the New Year. 15:38 While in some parts of the Western front, 15:41 it didn't happen at all, and the fighting continued as usual. 15:46 The truce was most widespread among British and German troops 15:51 particularly in the scepter held by the 15:54 British Expeditionary Force, the high commands 15:58 on both sides disapproved of fraternization with the enemy 16:03 and in some places officers actively prevented their men 16:08 from participating in any truce, in fact 77 British soldiers 16:13 were still killed in fighting on Christmas Day 1914. 16:18 News of the Christmas truce gradually filtered back to the 16:24 home fronts where it was met with a mixture of amazement, 16:28 approval, and even concern. 16:30 Many civilians were touched by the story of peace and 16:35 goodwill, overcoming if only briefly, the bitterness of war. 16:39 Some saw it as a sign that the war might soon be over, 16:44 however, military authorities on both sides were less pleased. 16:49 Fraternization with the enemy was seen as a threat 16:53 to moral and discipline, steps were taken to ensure that 16:57 such an event would not happen again. 17:00 Leave was cancelled for many units that had participated 17:05 in the truce and some officers faced disciplinary action. 17:09 In the subsequent years of the war, artillery barriers 17:14 were often scheduled for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 17:18 to prevent any repeat of the 1914 truce. 17:22 By 1916, with the war having grown even more bitter 17:27 and deadly, the memory of The Christmas truce seemed like a 17:31 dream from a more innocent time. 17:34 The Christmas truce of 1914 has become one of the most 17:39 famous stories of World War 1 it has been celebrated in books 17:43 films, and even a 2014 Christmas advertisement from a well-known 17:49 supermarket chain Sainsbury's, the truce is often held up 17:55 as an example of the essential humanity of soldiers 17:59 on both sides and the reluctance to fight in a war that 18:03 many saw as senseless. 18:05 For a brief moment, the guns fell silent and soldiers 18:10 who had been enemies, saw each other as fathers, 18:13 brothers and sons who just longed to go home 18:17 and return to loved ones rather than as faceless enemies 18:22 to be killed. 18:23 Sadly, although it was a remarkable event 18:27 it did not change the course of the war or prevent the years 18:31 of bloodshed and brutality that followed. 18:34 As 1914 turned into 1915, the war resumed in earnest, 18:41 the trenches that had seen handshakes and shared gifts 18:46 on Christmas day once again echoed with the sound of 18:49 gunfire and explosions. 18:51 Many of the men who participated in the troops and shook hands 18:56 in no-man's land would not live to see the end of the war. 18:59 The conflict would drag on for nearly four more years 19:04 becoming increasingly industrialized and deadly, 19:08 by the time the relentless war ended in November 1918, 19:14 over 20 million military personnel and civilians 19:19 had been lost, but it wasn't just the lives lost, 19:23 it was also the 21 million wounded and maimed 19:27 from the brutality of the warfare, 19:29 even the map of Europe was redrawn. 19:33 Although this extraordinary event didn't change the course 19:38 of the war, the Christmas truce of 1914 is more than 19:42 just a fascinating historical antidote, it's a reminder of 19:47 what's possible when we choose peace over conflict and 19:51 understanding over hatred. 19:53 It shows us that even in the midst of 19:55 conflict, peace is possible and that beneath the divisions 20:00 of nationality, ideology, and a uniform, we're all human beings 20:06 capable of compassion, empathy, and connection. 20:11 As we remember this remarkable event, we can draw inspiration 20:16 from those brave soldiers, the Jim's and the Ottos 20:19 who, for one brief moment, chose to see the best in each other 20:25 and create a miracle in the midst of war. 20:38 As we face our own challenges and conflicts today, 20:41 The Christmas truce of 1914, continues to be a powerful 20:46 symbol of peace and hope, it reminds us to look 20:50 beyond the labels and categories that divides us to recognize 20:54 the humanity in those we might consider our enemies. 20:58 It challenges us to find moments of peace and connection 21:03 even in the most unlikely circumstances. 21:06 Today, Silent Night continues to be one of the most popular 21:12 Christmas Carols worldwide, recorded by countless artists 21:17 and translated into over 300 languages. 21:20 Its role in the Christmas truce of 1914, has only added to its 21:26 legacy, cementing its status as a song of peace and hope 21:30 in troubled times. 21:32 And so, every year in December, in living rooms, schools, 21:37 shopping centers, concert halls, and town squares 21:41 across the globe, a familiar melody begins to play 21:45 Silent Night fills the air and for a moment 21:49 the world seems to pause and take a collective break. 21:53 This song captures the essence of hope, it was this hope 22:00 that the angels sang about, it was this hope that caused 22:03 Mary to wonder in her heart, it was this hope 22:07 that the shepherds came to see and worship 22:09 and it was this hope that brought the Maggi 22:13 who had traveled so far? to bring gifts. 22:16 The story of Jesus is one of hope, Jesus came to rescue 22:23 and restore, he came to bring us lasting peace and happiness, 22:27 He came, and because He did, there is hope that 22:32 even though we've made mistakes and messed up, 22:34 we can still through Jesus find forgiveness, peace, 22:39 and happiness through Jesus we can be redeemed, 22:44 and the world can be renewed. 22:46 Yes, it really is true, hope is a person and His name 22:53 is Jesus. 22:54 The echoes of this song have spread through the centuries 22:59 and as the final notes of music fade, there's a moment of 23:04 stillness, a time when around the world, we're all connected 23:09 sharing a universal hope for peace, it's like a collective 23:14 sigh of reverence we feel for the quiet beauty of the season. 23:19 Silent night isn't just a song, it's a global moment of harmony 23:25 a reminder that there is hope and that inner peace and 23:29 happiness can be a reality in our lives 23:32 through the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. 23:35 But we've got to make a conscious decision to accept Him 23:40 as our savior and make room for Him in our lives 23:44 because you see, when you make room for Jesus, 23:48 He gives you one of the greatest gifts, 23:50 here's what He says; 24:04 The kind of peace that the world gives is temporary, 24:08 in the last 300 years, about 260 Peace Treaties have been 24:13 signed and almost none of them were kept, World War I 24:18 and it's truce and peace treaties are evidence of that 24:22 the Christmas Truce barely lasted a day. 24:26 The peace that comes from the world is totally circumstantial, 24:31 if you have a good job, then you're at peace, 24:34 but if you lose your job, then you're not at peace anymore, 24:38 if you've got money in the bank, then you're at peace, 24:42 but when that money is gone, then you're not at peace 24:46 anymore. Jesus gives you a different kind of peace 24:50 the Bible calls it Peace, which surpasses all understanding. 24:56 What does that mean? Well, it means that you have peace 25:01 when there is no visible or obvious reason why 25:04 you should be at peace, everything around you could be 25:08 in chaos, but for some unexplainable reason 25:11 you're at peace. 25:14 That is the peace that surpasses understanding 25:18 and it can only come from Jesus, the prince of peace. 25:22 Jesus wants to give you that kind of peace right now 25:26 so you won't be troubled or afraid, whenever Jesus 25:30 walks into a room, He fills that room with peace. 25:34 Do you have rooms in your hearts that are full of worry 25:39 upset, anxiety, or fear? Those are the rooms 25:44 you haven't invited Jesus into, your worries reveal the areas 25:50 you have not given over to God. 25:53 That could include your finances, your dating life, 25:57 your career, your parenting, your schedule, whatever it is, 26:03 you have to let it go, you have to give it over to Jesus, 26:07 He is the only way you're ever going to have real peace. 26:12 Give every part of your life to God to use for His purpose, 26:17 then you will have peace that will stand up to 26:21 all of life's pressures. 26:23 If you would like to experience this life-transforming peace 26:29 for yourselves, if you would like to find lasting inner peace 26:33 and happiness and a safe harbor from the storms of life, 26:37 then, I'd like to recommend the free gift we have for 26:41 all our Incredible Journey viewers today. 26:44 It's the booklet, The Ultimate Gift, 26:48 this booklet is our gift to you and is absolutely free, 26:52 I guarantee there are no costs or obligations whatsoever, 26:56 so make the most of this wonderful opportunity 27:00 to receive your free gift today. 27:03 Phone or text 0436.333.555 in Australia, or 020.422.2042 27:14 in New Zealand, or 770.800.0266 in the United States, 27:21 or visit our website tij.tv, or simply scan the QR Code 27:27 on your screen and we'll send you today's free offer 27:30 totally free of charge and with no obligation. 27:33 You can also write to us at the addresses on your screen 27:37 or email us at info@tij.tv, don't delay, call or text us now. 27:44 Dear Heavenly Father, We live in a world of turmoil 27:51 and stress, we long for peace in our lives, true peace, 27:56 lasting peace, we know that You are the only one 28:00 who can provide this peace? and so, we come before You 28:04 today to commit our lives fully and to make room for you 28:09 in our lives. We ask that you bless us and our families, 28:13 and keep us close to you, we ask this in Jesus' name, 28:18 Amen. |
Revised 2025-12-02