World War One was the last of what is generally referred to as a romantic war and the beginning of the modern war.  Many tactics used by the Germans during World War One, were learned from our American Civil War.  Observers from Prussia learned the usage of cavalry, trains, and also artillery.  The tactics of artillery crushed the forts of Denmark in 1864.  While using other tactics that were learned from our American Civil War, the Prussians were able to defeat the Austrians in 1866 and the French in 1871.  With these victories Prussia was able to unite the independent states which created Germany as we know it today. 

Folklore has enlivened the Christmas season with stories such as Santa Claus and flying reindeer.  Even during the American Civil War Santa Claus came to visit the soldiers.  Riding his sleigh and passing gifts of comfort to the troops on the battlefield. Gifts such as candies, personal needs, tobacco, and coffee.  Soldiers would even cross over their lines during the night or pickets would yell across to the other side wanting to make a trade.    

The one story that I will always remember is called 'The Christmas Truce'.  This is a special story with a sincere meaning and morals that could thaw the coldest of hearts.  Not many people have heard about this true story. It is one that is not generally taught in school or at home, but I had heard it once when I was at church. Weihnachten is the German word for Christmas.  Many Christmas traditions that we know are from the German-speaking world. This story goes to the battlefields of Europe, when the Germans and Austrians invaded France and Belgium in a plan called the Schlieffen Plan. 

The Schlieffen Plan was named after Count Alfred von Schlieffen, who became Chief of General Staff in 1891. He developed a plan in 1899-1900 for mobilization of German army for attacking France.  After making changes to his plan, he submitted his plan in 1905. This was done after the Japanese defeated Russia in the Russo-Japan War. The plan would call for nearly all of the German Army wheeling through Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg then entering France and keeping a small force in Germany to impede the expected Russian advance. 

In 1906, Helmuth von Moltke replaced General von Schlieffen as the new German Army Chief of Staff.  Moltke modified the strategy by advising that Holland was not to be invaded. The main route would now be through the flat plains of Flanders in Belgium, where this Christmas story takes place.  

The Schlieffen Plan was put into operation when the German Army invaded Luxembourg and Belgium in August of 1914. And by September the Schlieffen Plan had not done well. The Belgium Army had stalled the German advance with support of the British and French Armies, and the Russians also invaded Eastern Prussia. The events during the Schlieffen Plan ended the German hopes of a short and decisive war. The German Army was not destroyed and with its successful retreat, they started to fortify their positions by digging trenches between the North Sea to the Switzerland Frontier. 

In December 1914, after several months of heavy fighting, German and British troops had fought to a stalemate within their trenches. Troops faced each other in a stand off looking upon the fields of “No Mans Land” which was covered in barbed wire. Their living conditions in the trenches were very harsh.  They were full of mud and stale water from the winter rains that flooded the dugouts and turned them into mud holes. Soldiers had to keep their heads down to avoid getting shot by a sharp shooter. 

This picture is from a stereograph that I have in my collection.  It shows barbed wire in an area known as No Mans Land in Belgium.  No Mans Land is a term used by troops to describe the ground between the two opposing side. Its width along the Western Front would vary a great deal. The average distance in most sections was about 250 yards, although in some cases the troops were facing each other at 50 yards.  Barbed wire covered the area of No Mans Land in the areas most likely to be attacked.  Iron stakes laboriously driven into the ground under the black of night and as laboriously strung with barbed wire as part of the defenses to hold back enemy troops.