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Actually, if you read the minutes of the White House meeting of 18 June 1945, where those partial quotes are from, you'd get an idea of the concern of casualties and how they kept looking to Kyushu as thier only option.The Americans were obviously concerned with minimising casualties, but at no time is there any suggestion that they anticipated the sort of numbers commonly bandied about post war.
Cheers
Steve
This fact, combined with other factors, increased the casualty estimation during a reassessment in August.
I don't think it is a myth. My Grandmother has told me stories of her father participating in this very thing in WW1.
And yet, there is a great deal of photographic evidence from that day, showing that the game did occur as well as large groups of soldiers from both sides either watching the game or simply celebrating with each other....The myth I was referring to was that the British and Germans met to play football en masse. In the front line trenches when in conflict you dont stand up let alone play football so where did all the footballs come from?...
This is very sensitive and shouldnt be. Accusing a war veteran of telling lies is serious. But only if he is making out he saved the world when actually he was a cook. There is no doubt that fighting stopped on a large part of the front in 1914 (when the football games took place). It wasnt all the front and very few actually played football. The myth I was referring to was that the British and Germans met to play football en masse. In the front line trenches when in conflict you dont stand up let alone play football so where did all the footballs come from? If I was a WW1 veteran with a son or a grandson I would much rather embelish a story and talk about playing football in no mans land than talk about what actually happened. WW1 was in the days before TV and for most Radio story telling was a part of culture. Sailor or fishermens yarns were part of folk lore telling (or spinning) a yarn wasnt telling a lie it was entertainment.
The playing of football on Christmas day was a little like the Angels of Mons, the story gew and grew. On the programme I watched there were only 2 letters written home after that christmas mentioned meeting the Germans and kicking a ball. Everyone forgets that the other part of the story is they drank Gin Whiskey and Schnapps ...try living in a trench for 3 months then drink a belly full of Gin whiskey and schnapps and write a story the next day lol
That is just a side issue from what I was saying, The Germans and the British both believed and were told by the government and church leaders that God was with them.
Where did I say that it was along the whole front and em mass? Can you point that out?
And yet, there is a great deal of photographic evidence from that day, showing that the game did occur as well as large groups of soldiers from both sides either watching the game or simply celebrating with each other.
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I think we've all heard stories about the two sides in a war decalring a temporary truce and having a holiday. Makes pretty good sense to me and follows the famous movie of same. I might do the same after a time of insane action.
I'd hesitate to say it was fiction as I have heard it often enough.
Wonder if we'll ever really know?
Certainly not a myth that they had an unofficial truce there is much evidence that it happened and the steps taken next year to make sure it never happened again prove it. The myth is mass football games, most contibutors to ths part of the discussion are from the USA, in the UK huge numbers of people believe the two sides met every christmas (not just 1914) and they played football. Everytime Germany and England play a game of football the legs of the myth get a bit longer and stronger.
You didnt Adler but if you look at the photo above from Graugeist there is no mention of football games or indeed a football in the picture. On certain areas of the front the two sides did meet, the myth is that they all played football. Even today any mention of the ceasefire always mentions a game of football and has Jona Lewie "stop the cavalry" in the background.
No major issue here, if you read my original post it was just a side mention....as I know soldiers in december they want to drink not play football.