Christmas in the Trenches, 1914
Everyday life during war
A lesson on the unofficial 1914 Christmas truce, exploring what it tells us about the human side of war and why it did not last.
Suggested age
11–14
Duration
40 minutes
Type
Lesson pack
Conflict / period
World War I
Subjects
History, RE, English
Content note
The truce was real but brief, and not universal. Avoid presenting it as evidence that war is harmless.
Overview
A lesson on the unofficial 1914 Christmas truce, exploring what it tells us about the human side of war and why it did not last.
Learning objectives
- Describe what is known about the 1914 Christmas truce.
- Explain why the truce did not repeat in later years.
- Reflect on what the truce reveals about soldiers on both sides.
Materials required
- Printed accounts of the truce
- Worksheet
- A football (optional, for a short paired activity)
Historical context
In December 1914, only months into the First World War, some British and German soldiers along parts of the Western Front stopped fighting, sang carols, exchanged gifts and even played football in no-man's-land. The truce was not ordered from above and did not happen everywhere. Commanders on both sides made sure it never happened again.
Reading material
It is one of the most famous stories of the First World War. On Christmas Day 1914, along parts of the front line, enemies climbed out of their trenches, shook hands and shared a few hours of peace. There was carol singing and, in places, a football was kicked about. By Boxing Day the guns had started again. The next Christmas, the generals made sure there was no repeat.
Student worksheet (preview)
1. Write three things that happened during the truce.
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2. Write one thing that did not happen (a common myth you have heard).
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3. Why do you think commanders ordered that it should not happen again?
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4. What does the truce tell us about the soldiers on the other side?
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Discussion questions
- Why is this story so often remembered when so much else is forgotten?
- Does the truce make the war seem more or less terrible?
- Can soldiers choose peace for a day without betraying their side?
Extension task
Write a short letter from a soldier describing the truce to his family at home.
Support prompts
- Separate what the letters say happened from what people have since imagined.
- Ask: who would not want a truce, and why?
- Remember the truce was short — what happened next?
Sources and credits
- 10 Second War Stories — WW1 channel
- Imperial War Museum — Christmas Truce
- UK National Archives — soldiers' letters
Produced by 10 Second War Stories.