Topics in Chronicling America - Christmas Truce

Jump to: Sample Articles

Important Dates:

• December 12, 1914. Pope Benedict XV fails to arrange a truce among warring European nations during the Christmas holidays.
• January-March, 1914. Word reaches America that an unofficial “Christmas truce” was celebrated in trenches on the Western Front.
• December, 1915. Americans are disheartened when no such spontaneous armistice occurs the following Christmas.

Suggested Search Strategies:

• [Try the following terms in combination, proximity, or as phrases using Search Pages in Chronicling America.] Christmas Truce, fraternized, peace, Christmas armistice.

Sample Articles from Chronicling America:

• "One Nation Blocks Vatican's Plan for Armistice During Christmas Holidays," The Day Book (Chicago, IL), December 12, 1914, Last Edition, Page 3, Image 3, col. 1-2.
• "No Christmas Truce," The Red Cloud Chief (Red Cloud, Webster Co., NE), December 31, 1914, Page 6, Image 6, col. 3.
• "The International Flag of Truce," The Bemidji Daily Pioneer (Bemidji, MN), December 26, 1914, Page 1, Image 1, col. 2-6.
• "War Called for Christmas," The Washington Herald (Washington, DC), January 1, 1915, Page 6, Image 6, col. 5.
• "A Christmas Truce," Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA), January 4, 1915, Night Extra, Page 5, Image 5, col. 6-7.
• "The Christmas Truce," New-York Tribune (New York, NY), January 17, 1915, Page 8, Image 8, col. 3-4.
• "Life in Trenches Described in Vivid Manner by Officer," The Evening Herald (Klamath Falls, OR), February 11, 1915, Page 2, Image 2, col. 5-7.
• "English Captain Tells of Enemies' Christmas Truce," The Tacoma Times (Tacoma, WA), February 11, 1915, Page 3, Image 3, col. 3-6.
• "Americans in the War," The Evening Herald (Klamath Falls, OR), February 23, 1915, Page 2, Image 2, col. 4-5.
• "Strenuous Life of Foreign Legion," The Leavenworth Echo (Leavenworth, WA), March 12, 1915, Page 3, Image 3, col. 3.
• "Miracle is Wrought by Christmas Spirit in Hostile Trenches," Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA), March 24, 1915, Night Extra, Page 4, Image 4, col. 5-6.
• "Truce Observed in Trenches on Christmas Day," The Bemidji Daily Pioneer (Bemidji, MN), March 24, 1915, Page 1, Image 1, col. 7.
• "New York's War Celebration Surpassed by That of War Trenches," The Bemidji Daily Pioneer (Bemidji, MN), March 25, 1915, Page 1, Image 1, col. 1-2.
• "No Christmas Truce to Halt Bloody Frays," Medford Mail Tribune (Medford, OR), December 25, 1915, Second Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 2.
• "Alsace Soldiers Hurl Christmas Shells as Families Hold Fetes," The Washington Times (Washinton, DC), December 27, 1915, Home Edition, Page 1, Image 1, col. 5-6.