War – Warriors Pen

The Christmas Day Truce of 1914

In 1914, during World War l there was a day of peace. There was just a small moment where soldiers from the United Kingdom, French Republic, Austria-Hungary, German empire, and the Russian empire had a brief moment of a cease-fire. A one-day truce. This truce occurred along the entire western front trench lines. During this truce, these soldiers’ enemies or allies celebrated a holiday that has been around for centuries, Christmas.

Before the Truce

Before the “Calm within the storm”, World War l had been raging on for months and months. Countries had already been spreading and taking over wanted land. Thousands of soldiers and civilians had already lost their lives. By Christmas, soldiers, civilians, and governments were already sick of the fighting and had no idea that the war would go on for another whole 3 years. A truce for a few hours or so didn’t sound too bad.

Who agreed that they should have a truce?

Though the soldiers fighting and risking their lives didn’t think that a truce sounded too bad, some generals, countries, and entire governments thought otherwise. In, “Christmas Truce | Facts & History” it says, “The pause in fighting was not universally observed, nor had it been sanctioned by commanders on either side.” This means that the truce was between the soldiers and the soldiers had to take the blame for creating an unofficial cease-fire.

How did the truce begin?

Though the truce didn’t last very long, only around nine hours, Troops managed to find great ways to celebrate the holidays and come together. Starting late Christmas eve many troops along the western frontlines started to sing Christmas carols to each other. Some soldiers could even hear the sound of brass bands playing along. In “Christmas Truce of 1914 – HISTORY” it says, “German soldiers emerged from their trenches and approached the Allied lines across no-man’s-land, calling out “Merry Christmas” in their enemies’ native tongues.” After seeing that this was no trick, the allies climbed out of their trenches and joined the German troops.

What did they do throughout the truce?

During the nine-hour truce, some of the men exchanged gifts of cigarettes and plum puddings. There have been documented cases found of soldiers playing well-mannered games of soccer. Some British troops even lit small Christmas trees with candles and small handmade ornaments. Others exchanged letters and notes that they received from their loved ones back home. Other soldiers just shared their experiences with others, telling them about their life, where they first lived, and what they would want to be doing in the future after the war. Eventually, the troops gathered together and had a small Christmas dinner consisting of their rations and other foods.

How and when did it all come to an end?

Eventually, all things good must come to an end. Finally, during Christmas night soldiers placed candles and trees around the trenches and continued to sing Christmas carols. Then, later the troops all slowly went to bed. In the following few days after the Christmas truce, violence began to erupt once again across the western front. Though in some areas truce continued all the way to New Year’s Day. Soon after the truce had ended both German and British generals quickly took certain steps to prevent any other truces during the ongoing war.

Conclusion

In the end, it seems that a holiday such as Christmas or new years eve can put a pause to an entire war. Holidays can bring us together and give us a chance to communicate, teach, learn, from others. In World War l, we saw a perfect example of that. Troops came together amid war. They celebrated the holidays, sang carols, and feasted together, they shared gifts and played games. Enemies who were once told to slaughter each other came together and for a brief moment in that war, there was peace. The Christmas spirit brought peace within the Great War.

The spark that ignited the fire of WW1

pattecha003 Uncategorized November 16, 2021History, USA, War, Ww1 0 Comment

World war 1 began in western Europe going from 1914 to 1918. The spark that ignited the fire of World War One took place on June 28, 1914, when an assassin who worked for the Black Hand named Gavrilo Princip murdered Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austro-Hungria. When Austro-Hungria heard about this they Immediately declared war against Serbia. The Austro-Hungarian empire allied with Germany, and Turkey. This alliance was called the Central powers. After the Central powers were constructed, Great Britain and the British Empire took to action and allied with France and the Russian Empire, this alliance was made by the Treaty of London. World War 1 (also known as the “Great War” during the time) raged on for a whole four years, killing millions.

Tensions Rising before Ww1

Many parts went into play leading up to the Great War. Such as Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism and Nationalism. During 1912-1914 armies began to grow all around the world becoming a threat to other countries and their power. Other countries started to force alliances to protect their land and their power. After the Balkan Wars (fought during 1912-1913) Serbia had to undergo extreme economical problems. Citiciants of Serbia started to protest, they wanted peace and recognition. Food, water, and shelter were scarce. There were very few jobs available to the citizens and even then the jobs paid the least amount of money they could. Serbia was coming crashing down from the inside out. When a terrorist group realized that if they didn’t do something soon they would come crashing down with Serbia too, things got out of hand.

The spark that ignited the beginning of Ww1

In 1901 a secret military society was formed, this group was known as the Black Hand. Their goal, Unification or Death. A young nationalist of Serbia, named Gavrilo Princip came to the Black Hand in search of recognition. He introduced the idea of doing something big that would hopefully benefit Serbia and bring unification across the western European countries. His idea was to murder Archduke Franz Ferdinand. On June 28, 1914, Gavrilo Princip murdered both Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife Sophie. When Austro-Hungria heard about this they were outraged. In Austria’s Archduke Ferdinand assassinated – HISTORY it says, “Austria asked for assurances that Germany would step in on its side against Russia and its allies, including France and possibly Great Britain.” The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand set off a turn of events that eventually led to the outbreak of Ww1.

Central Powers and the Allies

When Austro-Hungary declared war on Serbia, they immediately realized that they required an alliance with powerful countries to help take down Serbia. Austro-Hungary created an alliance with Germany, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria. This alliance was called the Central powers. When the Central powers were formed Brittan made its alliance, through the Treaty of London. The Treaty of London consisted of many countries. Britain itself, Russia, Serbia, France, Italy, Romania, and Japan. Later in 1917 after the US had realized the struggles that the Allied powers had been going through, they joined the war themselves. The US mobilized over 4 million soldiers, losing 65,000 men by the end of the war. By the end of the war the allies had lost up to 5.7 million soldiers, and the central powers lost around 4 million soldiers. In the article Armistice Day: World War I ends – HISTORY it says, “ The first world war left nine million soldiers dead and 21 million wounded.” No one won World Ww1; they only ended it and that was a victory itself.

Conclusion

World war 1 began in Europe and ended in Europe millions of soldiers lost their lives. Millions of people sacrificed themselves for the greater good. But in the end, no one is one. Both sides, good and bad, suffered many casualties both soldiers and civilians. It started quickly with what you could call an act of bravery. Gavrilo Princip made a decision that greatly affected the world and himself. Some historians say even if Gavrilo Princip didn’t murder the Archduke of Austro-Hungarian Ww1 would still have been inevitable. Armies were growing and countries were collapsing, power was wanted by people all over Europe. Gavrilo Princip showed us that one small act can set off just the smallest chain of events bringing to some of the largest conflicts, not only changing countries but the entire world.

Did Japan really break a law of engagement through the event of Pearl harbor?

pattecha003 Uncategorized November 13, 2021History, Japan, Pearl harbor, USA, War, World War 0 Comment

On December 7, 1941, Japan sent a fleet of planes to bomb a US naval base, Pearl Harbor. The Japanese went through with a complete surprise attack. Only for Japanese military leaders, along with the Japanese government, to realize that their attack was only successful for one reason. They had entirely failed to send a declaration of war before the attack was set in motion. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto said, “I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve.”

Why did the Japanese attack pearl harbor in the first place?

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor for many reasons. Throughout the great depression in the 1930s Japan wanted to solve some of its many economical problems. So Japan started to spread its army across southeast Asia. Soon Japan had taken over many small territories and had won many crucial wars in China and Nanjing. Soon America realized that they needed to prevent Japan’s global expansion. America immediately put an end to shipping, oil, steel, and other resources to Japan. As this realization came to mind throughout the American government and Japan tensions started to rise. Now Japan’s world domination plans were prevented by America’s naval fleet.

How did Japan’s failure to send a declaration of war help them in the end?

During the bombing of pearl harbor America had no idea what was coming. This element of surprise made Japan’s attack nearly completely successful. December 7, was a Sunday, most sailors were on a break, going to church, some were on duty. It was a calm morning, a devastating attack was not expected at all. If America had received a declaration of war, this terrible attack could have been less devastating or even prevented the entire attack. Though some historians say that pearl harbor may have been inevitable, due to the events that took place, before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. At the time during the bombing of pearl harbor, Japan had one of the best militaries, along with, one of the best navies, and the high-tech plane, the Zero. Even though the US government had ended the shipping of oils, steel, and other resources, Japan still had enough resources to fuel its entire navy for 3 more years. Japan had many advantages against pearl harbor but still could not succeed in its goal to smother the US naval fleet.

Japan’s failure to send a declaration of war, considered a mistake?

It was not Japan’s entire fault that the US government did not receive a declaration of war before the bombing of pearl harbor. It was Japan’s fault for not checking if the US had received the declaration of war before the attack. Japanese Historians do say that Japan gave the Declaration of war two days before following through with the attack on pearl harbor. But at the time messaging technology was not as advanced as it is today. There is still the idea that the Japanese navy had thought the US had received the message and the debate of whether they broke a law of engagement is just a big misunderstanding that only led to more conflict. No one knows how the declaration of war failed to make it to America, but some historians think that because America received a declaration of war two hours after the bombing of pearl harbor, it may have been the same declaration said to have been sent before the bombing but coincidentally arrived two hours late.

Conclusion

On December 7, 1941, there was a bombing of pearl harbor. Thousands of soldiers were lost in this Japanese surprise attack. But was this attack just part of the war? Or was it a violation of the laws of engagement? Some historians say that Japan may have just simply failed to send a declaration of war to America. Or they had sent a declaration of war but failed to make it to America on time. If this is the case, Japan may have never really broken a law of engagement and, the attack had been just another attack and a big misunderstanding.