The Christmas Truce: The Real Story Of The 1914 Christmas Truce

The Christmas Truce of 1914 was a remarkable episode during World War I; a single fleeting moment of man's humanity, amidst the horrors of war.

This book takes a detailed look at the Christmas Truce, within the context of the social and political landscape at the time. It also considers the part that football may or may not have played during the truce and why it is that a football match has become the overriding symbol of the Christmas Truce in modern times.

What topics does this book on the WW1 Christmas Truce cover?

The book begins with a look at a number of the factors that ultimately led to the First World War and then describes in turn the early months of WWI, the phenomenon that was trench warfare, some of the other unofficial armistices throughout history and also early attempts at a truce, in the December of 1914.

The Christmas Truce itself is then discussed, looking at the events that took place on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, before examining the part that football may have played within the truce.

Finally, the legacy of the Christmas Truce is considered, especially in the context of the Centenary celebrations of 2014.