How silent night became the christmas song that stopped world war i the human story behind the extraordinary events of christmas eve 1914, when fighting stopped and a lone soldiers exquisite. It weaves the story of the 1914 christmas in nomans land into the biblical story of the first christmas. He asked that gruber write a melody to accompany the poem on guitar. Few christmas carols evoke the season of peace and goodwill as readily as silent night. Silent night, by renowned military historian stanley weintraub, magically restores the 1914 christmas truce to history. The local pastor, joseph mohr s 17921848 musical plans for the evening church service were ruined. The book includes a cd with the story narrated by walter cronkite and silent night sung by the mormon tabernacle choir. The story of the world war 1 christmas truce of 1914 exactly a century ago, the men in the trenches heard something unusual. No one really knows how this truce started or grew so widespread. The story has become yet another chapter in the book of christmas legend. The story of the world war i christmas truce of 1914 german and british troops celebrating christmas together during a temporary cessation of wwi hostilities known as the christmas. On christmas eve, german soldiers began to post occasional christmas trees in their trenches.
The story of the christmas truce by stephen wunderli 2003, cd hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. During the last two world wars, national churches even functioned as the ready lackeys. Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright. What is the meaning behind the classic song silent night. What do the lyrics of the german stille nacht mean. Better known as silent night, the song would go on to become one of the seasons most beloved christmas carols, translated into more than 300 languages and sung all over the world by. How a beloved christmas carol was born of war and disaster 200 years ago the song debuted on christmas eve in 1818 in an austrian church people walk to the silent night chapel in. Bill sinnott performs silent night, christmas 1914 youtube. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. It was widespread across the western front, but not universal. Round yon virgin mother and child, holy infant so tender and mild. Certain facts of the story of silent night are clear. When british troops joined them in singing silent night they all began shouting christmas greetings to one another.
What follows is an incredible story of how the spirit of christmas overpowered, albeit temporarily, the hostilities of war. The following is a literal translation, done by hyde flippo, of three of the six original verses from the german. The story of the world war i christmas truce paperback october 29, 2002. The story of the world war i christmas truce by stanley weintraub the christmas truce that occurred during world war i in 1914 is one of the most memorable and amazing events in the history of war. Cautiously, he peered over the parapet of the trench, and he saw, about 100 yards away, the german trenches lit up with the soft glow of. In the months leading up to that christmas, the pope had pleaded for a ceasefire.
Digg this the year was 1914 and the great war was under way. The heritage of the great war, accessed december 19, 2011. Heilige nacht and so began the christmas truce, says christmas. The english version of silent night is typically sung in three verses corresponding with the original 1, 6, and 2. Stille nacht, heilige nacht is a popular christmas carol, composed in 1818 by franz xaver gruber to lyrics by joseph mohr in the small town of oberndorf bei salzburg, austria.
This touching bit of humanity found in the midst of the horrors of war, is a true account of the christmas truce in 1914. A highlight of the program was his narration of silent night, holy night, the story of the christmas truce of 1914 also available in book form click here. Christmas season was upon the participants of war, and the scene was set for one of the greatest christmas stories of all time. In several hours, gruber had the music done and the carol was played for the first time that night at the christmas eve service. The story of the christmas truce, a new book with cd, narrated by walter cronkite, accompanied by the mormon tabernacle choir and orchestra at temple square. It was the night before christmas, and not a creature was stirring. For two days, the fighting stopped, the guns fell silent, and men who had been enemies days before, came together in the spirit of brotherhood, peace, and goodwill. The story behind the beloved christmas carol silent night. Silent night, holy night 2003 the tabernacle choir. Arguably the bestknown christmas carol in the world, silent night has been translated into 300 languages and dialects, and in 2011 was included in unescos intangible cultural heritage list.
Read silent night holy night the story of the christmas. The silent night, holy night book, cd, vhs and dvd are available. Hostilities had lulled as leadership on both sides reconsidered their strategies following the stalemate of. Acclaimed tv journalist and author walter cronkite givessstorytelling a try, narrating the story of a truce that briefly stopped world war i in december 1914. Silent night, holy night first congregational church of. Silent night christmas 1914 composed by cormac mcconnell, is sung by the esteemed bill sinnott. Read silent night holy night the story of the christmas truce with cd audio ebook free. The christmas truce has lingered strikingly in the memory. The story of the christmas truce stephen wunderli, walter cronkite, david warner, mormon tabernacle choir, mack wilberg shadow mountain and mormon tabernacle choir, 2003 history 32 pages. It was declared an intangible cultural heritage by unesco in 2011. Distinguished newscaster walter cronkite was the special guest for the choirs 2002 christmas concert. On wednesday night the spirit of the first world war christmas truce lived on as the british and german armies played a 100th anniversary football match to mark the christmas truce of 1914. Stanley weintraub recounts this incident in silent night.
The christmas truce is almost too good to be true, and yet it is no more unrealistic than the. Although the christmas truce of 1914 may seem like a distant myth to those now at arms in parts of the world where vast cultural differences between combatants make such an occurrence impossible. In 1914 the christmas truce was a series of widespread ceasefires that took place along. The story does convey with power and tenderness the madness, terror, and futility of war.
The song has been recorded by many singers across many music genres. Nicholas church in oberndorf, austria, who were busy chewing through the bellows of the organ. The song was not translated into english for another 50 years. The year was 1914 and soldiers on both sides of the battlefield somewhere in france were enduring a dark and frozen christmas eve night. Silent night, holy night sung in the ww1 trenches christmas eve 1914 it was 24th dec 1818 in the small austrian village of oberndorf near salzburg in austria, just hours before christmas mass. In 1914, all across the western front of world war i, on this silent night, this holy night, the guns grew quiet. The story of the world war i christmas truce, stanley weintraub, professor emeritus at pennsylvania state university, relates the events of one of historys mighthavebeens. World war i the great war, as it was called eventually took the lives of more than 10 million people.
Silent night story behind 200 years old christmas song. The famous christmas truce of 1914 hardy diagnostics. All asleep, lonely wakes only the faithful sacred pair blessed boy. How silent night became the christmas song that stopped world war i the human story behind the extraordinary events of christmas eve 1914, when fighting stopped. Why silent night and the stories around it endure 200. It had been lost in the tide of horror that filled the battlefields of europe for months and years afterward.