Silent Night

by Stanley Weintraub

Published 1 January 2001
On Christmas Eve in the early years of World War I, men on both sides left their trenches, laid down their arms and joined in a spontaneous celebration. For a brief time the war stopped, the enemies met in no-man's land and buried their dead, exchanged gifts and even played football together. The stories of men who were there illuminate the fragile truce, and highlight the happenings that occured as the truce spread. It also tells of the reluctant truth, that they had to re-start one of history's most bloody wars.