Vine in 1914: Christmas Truce

Jeremy Vine recalls the events, voices and music of World War One.

The notion of a widespread ‘Christmas truce’ between Britain and Germany has cemented itself in our imagination, yet historians believe the reality of what took place was less impressive than the tales of the last 100 years may suggest.

What is known is that, in a number of places along the Western Front, some British and German soldiers did meet, talk and exchange gifts, in a series of unofficial (and unsanctioned) encounters.

In almost every case, fighting resumed again almost immediately afterwards.