5th battalion Cameronians book written describes the fraternisation and swopping of souvenirs in 1914 Christmas Day, my grandfathers battalion, I have a copy of the book.
I should have mentioned my grandfather was in the Cameronians that went to France 1914, the British army had about 100,000 men , by Christmas 1914 90% were dead or injured.
@@davidgray3321 - Yep, my grandad fought in the war too, as part of the Connaught Rangers. He was at the Battle of the Somme too. The war really messed him up. He became an aggressive alcoholic afterwards. Before, he'd been a mild mannered and thoughtful man. No PTSD diagnoses back then.
@@Codex7777 Hi, absolutely , I imagine the public had no grasp at all of what these men went through, some of them managed to burry their experience deep in their memory but it often came back at the end of life. Apparently my grandfather never went to a remembrance day service, he used to drive to a Loch and look out over the waters. The Connaught Rangers motto was “Who will separate us” , in Latin, “Quis Separabit”
It did jappen - not all along the frontline - rsnging from the coast and netherlands/belgium to the alpes. But on several parts of the frontline it did happen. Interesting fact is that it came from both sides - germans and austrians as well as british soldiers. In 1915 only few repeats of this christmas truce happened. In 1916 the hate snd loses on each side were just overwhelming - no christmas truce at all. But the story told so far in 1914 - even the football games are fact - really happened.
Oh you are so wise .war is horror and hurts those who survived for the rest of there of there lives. No fine cognac and Havana cigars in the trenches. Just fear and cold corned beef. That's if they were lucky .
It wasn't really politicians that started a war, some country I forgot the name of tried to assassinate arch duke Ferdinand because they didn't want to become apart of Austria, following that, a string of treaty's brought these countries into the war
It really did happen, my granddad played in that match, I have his letters, and I know, I know, I wouldn't believe it either, but it really did happen!!!!
There is, a letter written by a Doctor and printed in the Times on 1st January 1915, a letter by Corporal Albert Wyatt of the Norfolk regiment in a local newspaper printed in 1915, and a letter home by Sergeant Frank Naden from the 1/6th Cheshires. The stories correlate by the two British regiments being involved in the separate accounts being based together at Wulverigan in Belgium on the front line. Meanwhile there are two German letters from members of the same regiment based in Frelinghien that corroborate each other.
Sainsbury's were not interested in honouring anybody, they are only interested in selling their stuff, this advert is just a gimmick to sell stuff for profit, they should actually be ashamed of themselves when you really think about it.
@@garymcatear822 Uh no, not really. Most of their profits were given to a British organization of soldiers who needed supplies. Nostalgia Critic provides some excellent information about this & Sainsbury even made a behind the scenes. No need to go full nihilist.
@@AVGyerra22 When you say 'most of their profits were given to a charity for veterens i don't believe, a small percentage was probably given. It is a business, and businesses at the end of the day need to make as much profit as they can. If they say they are giving 'most' of their profits away then they are lying. That should not be much of a shocker to you because they all do the same thing, use gimmicks to make cash.
I very nearly cried with you.my father was in that war in the trenches in France, they where under heavy bombardment from the German guns.in later life he suffered bad nightmares. He was a fine man a gentleman. He died in 1976.love you dad.
new t My maternal Grandfather was in the Second World War along with my paternal Grandfather. The former experienced nightmares and the latter never wanted to talk about the war. Your father paid the price for the generations to come and was a hero. I am so grateful for his sacrifice. I’m so sorry for your loss.
@@janedoe133 My maternal Grandfather also served in the Great War and survived, thankfully. My father served in the Merchant Navy during WW2 he was in the North Atlantic Convoys, going to Murmansk in Russia.
You do the fallen a great honour by being so touched at the thought of their deaths that it brought you to tears. I don’t think that any of my countrymen and women who see your reaction could fail to be moved in turn. Thank you, from a wounded veteran.
Our lips might be stiff and our hearts of oak at need but we British still feel things deeply and it does you honour, good sir, that the emotion behind this piece struck home for you.
This is a well-documented fact in 1914 the first Christmas of the war but the following year to avoid a reoccurrence, orders were given that anyone found collaborating with the enemy would be shot. The authorities were afraid of a break down of discipline.
also 1914 the war was still young, this was before the start of Total war you got the following year with gas attacks, bombings and unrestricted submarine warfare. Even if the commanders did nothing there was too much that happened in 1915 to prevent a recurrence
Quite right, besides, the Army stopped issuing Footballs. Although, one was specially issued , so that it could be kicked towards the enemy on day one of ''The Somme'', to take their minds off being slaughtered.
The fact we had at least two or three Kings who are or where German. Victorias husband was German. He started the tradition to put up a Christmas tree. Then Victoria started putting gifts under it. Where did doppelganger comes from. Or the words aldi or lidl or addidas Etc all German
I've only just found this platform,but my Great Uncle Charles was killed at the Somme,he has no grave but even after all these years I find posts like this very emotional.
Your reaction resonated. The estimate for total me lost on both sides on the first day of battle of the Somme is around 27056. Just one day. These were men and boys who had so much in common with each other - separated really only by language and their countries politics. My Great Great Uncle was killed a few months into the battle - he was just 19. Like so many of them in this and many wars it was a young life that was really just getting started and with so much potential snuffed out among a mass of others. All most of them wanted to do was go home to their families and loved ones. So many men promised to be married never made it home - promised families that never materialised. The advert reminds me that humans are still humans and humanity still exists even in war. Its always important that we remember that and to remember what it is to be human and that the guy on the other side has hope, dreams and family just like you. Life is for sharing and kindness is genuinely important. Merry Christmas x
I was going to go into the history of it all, but when you got choked up it brought it home. My Great uncle Robert died at the Somme. We have letters from him to my Nan amongst other family members. He calls her "sis" and it upset one of my sister's when she read that. Because before we knew that I' called my sister's"sis". He was a professional soldier and died a 26 year old Corporal in the Durham light infantry, got shot in the leg came home to recover, went back to the front and not long after was killed. His letters always reassured his family it was easy. A proper man.. And my Nan spoke about her brother often. It made me include his name in my children's names. He died 50 years before I was born, but is a massive part of my life.
I feel you man. I spent a lot of time hunting down info about my great-great uncle who was killed during the Meuse-Argonne offensive just a little more than a month before the armistice. He and his brothers had just immigrated to the US from Europe mid-war, and immediately signed up to serve. It makes me sad thinking that he felt a call to duty for his new country, his new home, likely hoping to ‘earn’ his place, but he never really was able to enjoy peace there with his family. An officer who knew him wrote a condolence letter to his brother, saying that he was a quiet man, but a good man. Even though that’s not much to go off, it helped me humanize him much more. Very touching to read about our ancestors who fought and died as boys and young men.
@@Gopniksquat I don’t know much about my grandfather also was my Mama’s husband all I knew about him was he’s a WW2 survivor and died a year before I was born in 2001 aged 71
@@nicolelawless3199 well I hope that he was able to have a good, peaceful life after the war, even if you never got to meet him. War vets deserve that at the very least. You should do what you can to learn about him. If he served for the US, you can contact one of the military offices in the government and request his records, relatives of veterans hold that right. At least for deceased relatives I believe.
Very moving, and this did happen, there is more than enough documented evidence. I reacted the same as you when I first saw this, I was moved to tears. May we Always Remember Them 🇬🇧
Your reaction really got me, I completely agree. That Sainsburys advert is in its own league, definitely my favourite, thank you. Also I will always believe that game of footie on Christmas day happened.
The Christmas truce took place on 25th December 1914 British and German troops met in no mans land. I was working at Sainsbury’s at the time of this advert and the bar of Belgian chocolate sold out. The trenches used in the advert are real and are used in films and tv programmes. There is a film called Joyeux Noel in English, French and German with actors from Britain, France and Germany starring in it. In Belgium just down the road from Prowse Point British Cemetery is a cross to remember the Christmas Truce put up by a reenactment group called The Khaki Chums who have appeared in recent First World War films War Horse and 1917. I am a regular visitor to The First World War battlefields. My great great uncle died of wounds in August 1916 and is buried in France.
it was a true story the chocolate was given to the british soldier by hi wife he told her he would save it for both them to share when he returned unless he felt he wasn't going to make it back to which he said he would share with his friends the messege is very powerfull and most people miss or dont know his story i forget his name but will try and find a link
One of the British (English) soldiers was about to score a hat trick, but the generals decided to put a stop to it because if he had've done, the Germans would've stolen the ball.....😉😏
The English and Germans are very close. Always should have been allies. Today we see the problems that we were not clever enough to see then. So sorry for the countries with a heart., Great country Norway suffering .Germany now overrun.Our grandfathers didn't fight for this. Very sad
Mark Will I’m English my Paternal great great grandfather was a british soldier in WW1 he was on the western front from 1914 to 1918. He was born in London but his family was German from Hamburg. He was in the Christmas truce his name was Ernest Von Ehren and he was 24 when the war started.
yep it's weird. germany (or prussia as it was then) helped britain defeat napoleon then just a few years later we're helping france defeat prussia (or germany as its now known) should never have happened. no more brothers wars
Remember. The advert was made in 2014 and for us , it started in 1914. The commercial was done with the Royal British Legion and Sainsbury's made a huge donation to the RBL benevolent fund
Recruiter..... "how old are you son", "15 sir" " go outside and come back in " Recruiter..... "how old are you son " "18 sir" "Sign here, welcome to the army........
Everyone should watch Peter Jackson's new Video ''THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD''. The amazing restoration and colourisation of WW1 archive film, with sound.
The struggle to compartmentalize you mentioned is why it was never allowed to happen again. Before that moment, you could pretend that the figure on the other side was nothing more than a moving target- becomes a lot harder to pretend that after talking and joking around with them. That's true of both men and women.
High command were afraid that the soldiers would see the enemy as human beings and would refuse to fight so stamped down hard to stop it happening again.
@munchkin42 Yes that's where Petain made his reputation wasn't it? I have also read first hand accounts of a German sailor of the mutiny at Kiel in 1918 it is interesting reading.
@munchkin42 Yes that's true and he was, though he did escape the death sentence which many did not. His most unforgivable actions in that respect were the deportations to the death camps and his vicious war against the Marqui in the south.
My dad was at Passchendaele in the Great War and was 19 when it ended. He never spoke about the war. Regarding the football - as usual, the Germans won on penalties
Love you Guys, Felipe I always tear up a touch seeing that advert too, not sure a woman can see it quite the same as a man. The thought that in the morning you may well kill someone you have some admiration for, that you shook hands with ........ Just so tragic.
You're right about it being a war with close relatives. The Royal family changed their name to the more English Windsor and what was always through history known as the German Sea was renamed the North Sea. Many other similar changes were done in 1915. The unofficial truce of Christmas 1914 happened and is well documented, especially the orders to prevent happening again. Evidence and interviews are held by the Imperial War Museum. Which is well worth a visit by the way.
@@davidthompson6834 There are documented instances of truces throughout WWI on the Western Front. They just did not cover large sections of it and were mostly localised. The more the war went on, the more prevalent they became. Eventually it resulted in the mutiny of the French Army at Verdun in 1917. The British were more subtle, they had "Minimal Activity" periods where - unofficially - they would not bother each other unless the other side "Crossed the line" or there was a direct order for an offensive from their respective high commands. In 1918 this kind of reticence culminated with the mutiny of the Imperial German Navy in Kiel in November which led to collapse of the German government and the end of the war.
I remember my school class taught us how to sing silent night in German,which myself and my friend did carol singing in the village where we lived.unfortunely many weren't impressed and we started singing in English which we were gutted about because we thought we had a gold mine silent night in German 2 eight year old boys but no,maybe we went out to late or maybe to early can't remember..but do remember being proud of singing it in German 🤔☺️☺️....
Your children would probably like the 2015 "Mog" one. It stands alone, but if you read Judith Kerr's book on escaping Nazi Germany, "When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit" and two others about her life afterwards, you realise how she became a British author of children's picture books.
It's not an apocryphal event, Felipe; historically, it is well documented. It did happen, though perhaps not to the sentimental degree shown here. (That's a commercially dramatic licence; the film is, after all, an advert.) Lilian, those young men were able to kill one another following the event , because they lived in a time very different from ours. Theirs was a jingoistic age, much more rigidly stratified in terms of social class (and, therefore, much more authoritarian). A time when young men at the bottom of the social 'pile' obeyed their 'betters'.
chris lobb actually, some of the line ups had to be swapped due to the soldiers not being able to kill eachother. Like said by someone else, before you could just picture them as a moving target. A lot less easier when you’ve joked and played around with them.
Hiya. It did happen. A letter was found a while back, sent home from the trenches, describing the events of that day, but only in passing as the soldier in question was more interested in speaking to his wife. After all, he didn't know how historical that event was going to be in the end. All the best to you.
This did happen on Christmas Day in 1914. The tragic thing about it was the British generals (20 miles away from the fighting) were furious when they heard what happened. It DID happen though.
@@jemmajames6719 It was! It got tried with different armies but it only worked that one time with the British. Prussians didn't trust them and shot at them.
It happened, one of the reasons why they went with that advert is because Sainsbury's Christmas charity that year was the British Legion due to it being the 100th anniversary of the first world war.
Lovely guys. I am 69 years old and I can remember my grandfather who joined up as a 16 year old telling me about the Christmas truce. He did not mention the football match, but did say that there were meetings between the opposing forces in isolated parts of the front. Most of the front remained at war, and soldiers were killed on both sides on Christmas day. In these isolated parts, gifts were exchanged. There is no doubt in my mind that something beautiful happened on that day as my grandfather had no reason to lie to me. He took schrapnel in the leg late in the war and was medically retired. Hope this clarifies it a bit. Phillipe , how the hell do you spell that, was visibly moved which was very touching. Love you guys. Watch last night of the proms. I insist.
Yes it was a very heartfelt ad. And portrayed a very accurate account of what really did happen. If this scenario did not happen, obviously they would never of made this ad. Despite what some people are writing in comments below. This wasn’t a fabricated story. It was researched heavily. Are they kidding.. ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ REALLY !
Hi Félipé and Lilian. Yes, this did happen. The tragedy and carnage of WW1 has thrown up some powerful books and dramas that are worth watching/reading. I recommend "The monocled Mutineer" starring Paul Mc Gann, "Birdsong", a gripping novel by Sebastian Faulks and Un long fiancailles de dimanche (sorry don't have the exact English translation) film starring Audrey Tautou.
You ought to visit The Royal Armouries in Leeds, it really is such an interesting (and also rather harrowing) place to send a whole day, there's a great section on the First World War, very upsetting but so interesting at the same time. Love you guys ❤
One of the greatest television adverts ever made bar *none* As an aside; it is *known* that the Christmas truce took place along certain sections of the line - the only disputes are the extent and duration - and the football game 5:51 also worthy of note; only around 5-8% of the soldiers who served in WW1 fired their weapon in anger, and _of_ that 5-8% only around 2% fired with the intent of killing the "enemy" The men didn't want to kill each other, and these were the early days of the war.. after 2years in the same mud, surrounded by the corpses of several hundred thousand comrades, that tune changed *Lest We Forget* ❤❤❤ 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇨🇦🇭🇲🇳🇿 ❤❤❤
In fat it happened more than once, to a lesser degree in 1915 when British and German troops had an informal truce but the sources are only just coming out about the later informal truces. The same, again to a lesser degree occurred between French and German forces in 1915 near Verdun when both sides traded goods. When word got out the public at home wanted this to end especially the relatives who has sons killed as they wanted nothing to do with the 'enemy' and wanted all enemies dead. The same persisted after the war when many civvies hated hearing about any Germans. ad but that is war. We must love war as we keep on repeating the same mistakes and learn to hate.
This your most beautiful reaction yet - you're wonderful, perceptive, intelligent souls and Felipe, you nailed this one down very well sir - I believe this event did actually happen - and yes it was a war within a family - the EU is an extension of this war and needs to be dismantled at the earliest opportunity
An Uncle of mine was there. You have to remember the WW1 was the last of the true feudal wars (not an excuse for the terrible carnage) Your remarks re honour in combat still exist in some military corps.
There is no 'controversy'. It happened...
5th battalion Cameronians book written describes the fraternisation and swopping of souvenirs in 1914 Christmas Day, my grandfathers battalion, I have a copy of the book.
I should have mentioned my grandfather was in the Cameronians that went to France 1914, the British army had about 100,000 men , by Christmas 1914 90% were dead or injured.
@@davidgray3321 - Yep, my grandad fought in the war too, as part of the Connaught Rangers. He was at the Battle of the Somme too. The war really messed him up. He became an aggressive alcoholic afterwards. Before, he'd been a mild mannered and thoughtful man. No PTSD diagnoses back then.
@@Codex7777 Hi, absolutely , I imagine the public had no grasp at all of what these men went through, some of them managed to burry their experience deep in their memory but it often came back at the end of life. Apparently my grandfather never went to a remembrance day service, he used to drive to a Loch and look out over the waters.
The Connaught Rangers motto was “Who will separate us” , in Latin, “Quis Separabit”
It did jappen - not all along the frontline - rsnging from the coast and netherlands/belgium to the alpes. But on several parts of the frontline it did happen. Interesting fact is that it came from both sides - germans and austrians as well as british soldiers. In 1915 only few repeats of this christmas truce happened. In 1916 the hate snd loses on each side were just overwhelming - no christmas truce at all. But the story told so far in 1914 - even the football games are fact - really happened.
Those soldiers had more in common with each other than the polictions that decided to start these wars.
I've always said that i have more in common with a bricklayer from Brussels than the landed gentry who live in London...
Oh you are so wise .war is horror and hurts those who survived for the rest of there of there lives. No fine cognac and Havana cigars in the trenches. Just fear and cold corned beef. That's if they were lucky .
It wasn't really politicians that started a war, some country I forgot the name of tried to assassinate arch duke Ferdinand because they didn't want to become apart of Austria, following that, a string of treaty's brought these countries into the war
It’s sad, because these guys didn’t hate each other, their leaders did.
@IIWII Respect.
This advert every time, tears just flow for all the young men lost.
Same here.
Greatest advert ever
A whole generation died.. for nothing
@IIWII You right my friend! You right! 🥺. Regards from Italy
It really did happen, my granddad played in that match, I have his letters, and I know, I know, I wouldn't believe it either, but it really did happen!!!!
Your grandads probably 70
@@LJV3NOM And you're probably a child.
This definitely happened. Many letters from soldiers were recovered talking about this very event. Some of the finer details are more of a mystery.
Best Christmas ad ever; because it really did happen.
I remember 30+ years ago being told the story of the Christmas Day amnesty.
There is no evidence any football match ever took place.
There is, a letter written by a Doctor and printed in the Times on 1st January 1915, a letter by Corporal Albert Wyatt of the Norfolk regiment in a local newspaper printed in 1915, and a letter home by Sergeant Frank Naden from the 1/6th Cheshires. The stories correlate by the two British regiments being involved in the separate accounts being based together at Wulverigan in Belgium on the front line. Meanwhile there are two German letters from members of the same regiment based in Frelinghien that corroborate each other.
TheKarsino there is. get your facts straight.
@@TheKarsino some bastard rubbed the chalk -lines out--so no evidence.
@@MrDaiseymay I think the holes for the corner flags and goalposts were still visible up to 1961.
All credit to Sainsbury's for honouring the fallen and keeping the advertising aspect to a bare minimum
U
Sainsbury's were not interested in honouring anybody, they are only interested in selling their stuff, this advert is just a gimmick to sell stuff for profit, they should actually be ashamed of themselves when you really think about it.
@@garymcatear822 Uh no, not really. Most of their profits were given to a British organization of soldiers who needed supplies. Nostalgia Critic provides some excellent information about this & Sainsbury even made a behind the scenes.
No need to go full nihilist.
@@AVGyerra22 When you say 'most of their profits were given to a charity for veterens i don't believe, a small percentage was probably given. It is a business, and businesses at the end of the day need to make as much profit as they can. If they say they are giving 'most' of their profits away then they are lying. That should not be much of a shocker to you because they all do the same thing, use gimmicks to make cash.
@Jamie Shameful.
First time I saw this, I felt myself welling up and I've not cried in years
This was the dream I had before Christmas and it was Jim and me in No Mans Land then Schofield noticed and lost it at me
I very nearly cried with you.my father was in that war in the trenches in France, they where under heavy bombardment from the German guns.in later life he suffered bad nightmares. He was a fine man a gentleman. He died in 1976.love you dad.
Rest In Peace to him. He was a hero!
new t My maternal Grandfather was in the Second World War along with my paternal Grandfather. The former experienced nightmares and the latter never wanted to talk about the war. Your father paid the price for the generations to come and was a hero. I am so grateful for his sacrifice. I’m so sorry for your loss.
@@janedoe133 My maternal Grandfather also served in the Great War and survived, thankfully. My father served in the Merchant Navy during WW2 he was in the North Atlantic Convoys, going to Murmansk in Russia.
@@stephensmith4480 They are all heros. 💕
@@janedoe133 I totally agree my friend 💞
You do the fallen a great honour by being so touched at the thought of their deaths that it brought you to tears. I don’t think that any of my countrymen and women who see your reaction could fail to be moved in turn. Thank you, from a wounded veteran.
Thank you for your service 🇬🇧
Our lips might be stiff and our hearts of oak at need but we British still feel things deeply and it does you honour, good sir, that the emotion behind this piece struck home for you.
Brought tears to my eyes, all those young men lost, so sad.💕😢
This is a well-documented fact in 1914 the first Christmas of the war but the following year to avoid a reoccurrence, orders were given that anyone found collaborating with the enemy would be shot. The authorities were afraid of a break down of discipline.
also 1914 the war was still young, this was before the start of Total war you got the following year with gas attacks, bombings and unrestricted submarine warfare. Even if the commanders did nothing there was too much that happened in 1915 to prevent a recurrence
Quite right, besides, the Army stopped issuing Footballs. Although, one was specially issued , so that it could be kicked towards the enemy on day one of ''The Somme'', to take their minds off being slaughtered.
NO COLLABORATING, ONLY CLOBBERING ALLOWED
yes, and they found out because lot of the soldiers letters sent were just opened and controlled of fear to have spies in the trenches. Very sad.
I cry every time I watch this, heartbreaking, thanks lads you were all heroes!
Germans and English share the same blood from the Anglo saxons we have very similar cultures we are essentially the same people
I heard a good description of the warcas being because the English and Germans are family and families always fight.
The fact we had at least two or three Kings who are or where German.
Victorias husband was German. He started the tradition to put up a Christmas tree. Then Victoria started putting gifts under it.
Where did doppelganger comes from.
Or the words aldi or lidl or addidas
Etc all German
They were British not English.
The Germans and Hungarians also stopped war with Russia.
In 1914 there was no reason for Germans and British to hate each other. It was a bit different between the French and Germans obviously.
You are right, it was a war between two relatives Brits & Germans,may their souls rest in peace!
I watch this knowing that it will break my heart every time I do! I say again: thankyou lads you are heroes!
My Great-grandfather died in the Somme he was 24, the advert always makes me shed a tear.
Probably the best Christmas advert... says a lot in a few minutes, while also marketing
I've only just found this platform,but my Great Uncle Charles was killed at the Somme,he has no grave but even after all these years I find posts like this very emotional.
I cry every time I watch it, bless you lads for all you did, you were heroes to the end! Lest we forget
And I honestly can’t let go of em
I dreamt about this ad and I made the truce happen
Your response to this video is the one I respect most.
Your reaction resonated. The estimate for total me lost on both sides on the first day of battle of the Somme is around 27056. Just one day. These were men and boys who had so much in common with each other - separated really only by language and their countries politics. My Great Great Uncle was killed a few months into the battle - he was just 19. Like so many of them in this and many wars it was a young life that was really just getting started and with so much potential snuffed out among a mass of others. All most of them wanted to do was go home to their families and loved ones. So many men promised to be married never made it home - promised families that never materialised. The advert reminds me that humans are still humans and humanity still exists even in war. Its always important that we remember that and to remember what it is to be human and that the guy on the other side has hope, dreams and family just like you. Life is for sharing and kindness is genuinely important. Merry Christmas x
I can see you was a bit choked watching this, like many of us were when we first see this advert, it was very powerful.
I was going to go into the history of it all, but when you got choked up it brought it home.
My Great uncle Robert died at the Somme. We have letters from him to my Nan amongst other family members. He calls her "sis" and it upset one of my sister's when she read that. Because before we knew that I' called my sister's"sis". He was a professional soldier and died a 26 year old Corporal in the Durham light infantry, got shot in the leg came home to recover, went back to the front and not long after was killed. His letters always reassured his family it was easy. A proper man..
And my Nan spoke about her brother often.
It made me include his name in my children's names. He died 50 years before I was born, but is a massive part of my life.
I feel you man. I spent a lot of time hunting down info about my great-great uncle who was killed during the Meuse-Argonne offensive just a little more than a month before the armistice. He and his brothers had just immigrated to the US from Europe mid-war, and immediately signed up to serve. It makes me sad thinking that he felt a call to duty for his new country, his new home, likely hoping to ‘earn’ his place, but he never really was able to enjoy peace there with his family. An officer who knew him wrote a condolence letter to his brother, saying that he was a quiet man, but a good man. Even though that’s not much to go off, it helped me humanize him much more. Very touching to read about our ancestors who fought and died as boys and young men.
@@Gopniksquat
I don’t know much about my grandfather also was my Mama’s husband all I knew about him was he’s a WW2 survivor and died a year before I was born in 2001 aged 71
He was born in October 1917
@@nicolelawless3199 well I hope that he was able to have a good, peaceful life after the war, even if you never got to meet him. War vets deserve that at the very least. You should do what you can to learn about him. If he served for the US, you can contact one of the military offices in the government and request his records, relatives of veterans hold that right. At least for deceased relatives I believe.
@@nicolelawless3199 if he served for one of the other countries, I’m not sure. But it’s worth a shot!
My Great uncle died at the Somme,
Even though it is an advert, it was very touching. And I got choked up too Filipe!
“The fruit of a country...” Perfectly worded.
That was a BRILLIANT explanation Felippe.
beautiful powerful advert, they we're at war with eachother but also had respect for eachother, amazing reaction
Very moving, and this did happen, there is more than enough documented evidence. I reacted the same as you when I first saw this, I was moved to tears. May we Always Remember Them 🇬🇧
Knew your get it. Even the concept alone hits on a different level.
Your reaction really got me, I completely agree. That Sainsburys advert is in its own league, definitely my favourite, thank you. Also I will always believe that game of footie on Christmas day happened.
Very touching Thanks.
You've been touched! the Ad did it's job you'll never forget Sainsbury's or the Christmas truce it did happen Merry Christmas!
Filipe, you have real soul man!
Happy New Year to you and your family.
The Christmas truce took place on 25th December 1914 British and German troops met in no mans land. I was working at Sainsbury’s at the time of this advert and the bar of Belgian chocolate sold out. The trenches used in the advert are real and are used in films and tv programmes. There is a film called Joyeux Noel in English, French and German with actors from Britain, France and Germany starring in it. In Belgium just down the road from Prowse Point British Cemetery is a cross to remember the Christmas Truce put up by a reenactment group called The Khaki Chums who have appeared in recent First World War films War Horse and 1917. I am a regular visitor to The First World War battlefields. My great great uncle died of wounds in August 1916 and is buried in France.
I have watched this ad 100 times and cry ever time
The best christmas advertisment ever made .
I think this tv advert really touched you guys....Have a great Christmas and all the very best for 2019
Beautiful reaction thankyou! Love u guys!
The young British soldier gave his chocolate from home to the German soldier....bless him
maybe....maybe not.
The young British actor have his chocolate to the German actor, because the director told him to.
it was a true story the chocolate was given to the british soldier by hi wife he told her he would save it for both them to share when he returned unless he felt he wasn't going to make it back to which he said he would share with his friends the messege is very powerfull and most people miss or dont know his story i forget his name but will try and find a link
love those boys that gave their all for our future
Such a great reaction, honest and articulate, thank you 🙏🏼
I’m glad that one of the reactors actually reacted. #JustSaying
I always cry at things like this, what the young men and women had to go through back in WW1 and 2 is impossible to put into words.
The fact that you thought there was “controversy” is mind boggling
Why? There is controversy? Whilst there were numerous temporary Xmas "truces", not all historians agree any football matches happened?
@@philb3549 the only controversy is the score. This definitly happened
@Marvalontal I was speaking figuratively. More correctly these events are described as christmas truces plural for that reason.
@@twoonthewall the score was 2:1 but to who we will never know.
One of the British (English) soldiers was about to score a hat trick, but the generals decided to put a stop to it because if he had've done, the Germans would've stolen the ball.....😉😏
So glad you took the time to watch this video! Feel better soon Felipe xxx
Thank you for such an intelligent and thoughtful reaction - this is why I love your channel.
They hit differently in the UK with the commercials, especially at Christmas
The English and Germans are very close. Always should have been allies. Today we see the problems that we were not clever enough to see then. So sorry for the countries with a heart., Great country Norway suffering .Germany now overrun.Our grandfathers didn't fight for this. Very sad
Mark Will I’m English my Paternal great great grandfather was a british soldier in WW1 he was on the western front from 1914 to 1918. He was born in London but his family was German from Hamburg. He was in the Christmas truce his name was Ernest Von Ehren and he was 24 when the war started.
Thank you for that- Brought tears to my eyes. Cousins fighting is a good description. Wish we could go back and change it. Thank you my friend
Mark Will i wished the war never happened. Wish we could go back and stop it from happening.
yep it's weird.
germany (or prussia as it was then) helped britain defeat napoleon
then just a few years later we're helping france defeat prussia (or germany as its now known)
should never have happened.
no more brothers wars
A very gracious and insightful reaction from you both.
Brief moment of sanity before the carange resumed.
Absolutely well put mate. I was crying along with you.
Remember. The advert was made in 2014 and for us , it started in 1914. The commercial was done with the Royal British Legion and Sainsbury's made a huge donation to the RBL benevolent fund
Recruiter..... "how old are you son",
"15 sir"
" go outside and come back in "
Recruiter..... "how old are you son "
"18 sir"
"Sign here, welcome to the army........
I’m 18 and would’ve gone to WWI to stop it
But that’s impossible to do that
Its true that did happen
Sadly the youngest British soldier was a boy named Sidney Lewis and he was 12 years old
this was done often
It's very well documented that this amazing moment of humanity truly did happen. Everyone please realise this heart warming time in European history.
Well done, again, loving your content. Thx
Everyone should watch Peter Jackson's new Video ''THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD''. The amazing restoration and colourisation of WW1 archive film, with sound.
War will never decide who is right, it will only ever decide who is left!
The struggle to compartmentalize you mentioned is why it was never allowed to happen again. Before that moment, you could pretend that the figure on the other side was nothing more than a moving target- becomes a lot harder to pretend that after talking and joking around with them. That's true of both men and women.
Tears in my eyes also ; so epic .
Yes, it happened in several places. If you didn't fight you would be shot by firing squad for cowardice and for disobeying orders.
High command were afraid that the soldiers would see the enemy as human beings and would refuse to fight so stamped down hard to stop it happening again.
@munchkin42 In 1917 they did more than that, they mutineed
@munchkin42 Yes that's where Petain made his reputation wasn't it? I have also read first hand accounts of a German sailor of the mutiny at Kiel in 1918 it is interesting reading.
@munchkin42 Yes that's true and he was, though he did escape the death sentence which many did not. His most unforgivable actions in that respect were the deportations to the death camps and his vicious war against the Marqui in the south.
My grandad was there he had the cigarette lighter from the man he met. Playing football.
He got buried with it.🥀
My dad was at Passchendaele in the Great War and was 19 when it ended. He never spoke about the war. Regarding the football - as usual, the Germans won on penalties
Love you Guys, Felipe I always tear up a touch seeing that advert too, not sure a woman can see it quite the same as a man. The thought that in the morning you may well kill someone you have some admiration for, that you shook hands with ........ Just so tragic.
I still find it incredible that this actually happened x
I’m a ex 45 commando. First time I seen this , I had tears to bro 👊
I have an obsession with WWI and this hit me
I really wished it ended that night and I also wished they never died
Beautiful reaction. Respect your emotional response.
It has the same emotional effect on me too. A beautifully crafted piece.
There is no controversy, this happened, it is well documented from both sides.
This is a true story. It actually happened.
Great video, wonderful comments !
You're right about it being a war with close relatives. The Royal family changed their name to the more English Windsor and what was always through history known as the German Sea was renamed the North Sea. Many other similar changes were done in 1915.
The unofficial truce of Christmas 1914 happened and is well documented, especially the orders to prevent happening again. Evidence and interviews are held by the Imperial War Museum. Which is well worth a visit by the way.
You sweet American. You have tears in your eyes.
Yes that 1914 truce did happen only for the day
My Great Grandfather used to tell me stories about taking part in a football match during the battle of the Somme.
I doubt it
@@davidthompson6834 perhaps it's not true. But he still told the story and I wasn't going to call him a liar.
@@davidthompson6834 There are documented instances of truces throughout WWI on the Western Front. They just did not cover large sections of it and were mostly localised. The more the war went on, the more prevalent they became. Eventually it resulted in the mutiny of the French Army at Verdun in 1917. The British were more subtle, they had "Minimal Activity" periods where - unofficially - they would not bother each other unless the other side "Crossed the line" or there was a direct order for an offensive from their respective high commands. In 1918 this kind of reticence culminated with the mutiny of the Imperial German Navy in Kiel in November which led to collapse of the German government and the end of the war.
Would love to see a continuation of this advert, where their grandchildren or great grandchildren meet.
Phillipa that game on christmas day in the war of 1914-1918 actually did happen
My class at school were taught Silent Night in German when I was nine years old. I can still sing it. Very poignant.
I remember my school class taught us how to sing silent night in German,which myself and my friend did carol singing in the village where we lived.unfortunely many weren't impressed and we started singing in English which we were gutted about because we thought we had a gold mine silent night in German 2 eight year old boys but no,maybe we went out to late or maybe to early can't remember..but do remember being proud of singing it in German 🤔☺️☺️....
Me too!
Your children would probably like the 2015 "Mog" one. It stands alone, but if you read Judith Kerr's book on escaping Nazi Germany, "When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit" and two others about her life afterwards, you realise how she became a British author of children's picture books.
It's not an apocryphal event, Felipe; historically, it is well documented. It did happen, though perhaps not to the sentimental degree shown here. (That's a commercially dramatic licence; the film is, after all, an advert.)
Lilian, those young men were able to kill one another following the event , because they lived in a time very different from ours. Theirs was a jingoistic age, much more rigidly stratified in terms of social class (and, therefore, much more authoritarian). A time when young men at the bottom of the social 'pile' obeyed their 'betters'.
chris lobb actually, some of the line ups had to be swapped due to the soldiers not being able to kill eachother. Like said by someone else, before you could just picture them as a moving target. A lot less easier when you’ve joked and played around with them.
Hiya. It did happen. A letter was found a while back, sent home from the trenches, describing the events of that day, but only in passing as the soldier in question was more interested in speaking to his wife. After all, he didn't know how historical that event was going to be in the end. All the best to you.
I have my grandfathers medals from that War. He was lucky - millions weren't.
This did happen on Christmas Day in 1914. The tragic thing about it was the British generals (20 miles away from the fighting) were furious when they heard what happened. It DID happen though.
that did actually happen the gift sharing and singing im not to sure about but they did play football for sure
As far as I can remember watching a documentary it all happened, I think it was a German who walked out first, though
@@jemmajames6719 It was! It got tried with different armies but it only worked that one time with the British. Prussians didn't trust them and shot at them.
It happened, one of the reasons why they went with that advert is because Sainsbury's Christmas charity that year was the British Legion due to it being the 100th anniversary of the first world war.
Lovely guys. I am 69 years old and I can remember my grandfather who joined up as a 16 year old telling me about the Christmas truce. He did not mention the football match, but did say that there were meetings between the opposing forces in isolated parts of the front. Most of the front remained at war, and soldiers were killed on both sides on Christmas day. In these isolated parts, gifts were exchanged. There is no doubt in my mind that something beautiful happened on that day as my grandfather had no reason to lie to me. He took schrapnel in the leg late in the war and was medically retired. Hope this clarifies it a bit. Phillipe , how the hell do you spell that, was visibly moved which was very touching. Love you guys. Watch last night of the proms. I insist.
Thinking you are looking too deep into the advert. It is what Christmas is all about, sharing in the most adverse of conditions. Was beautiful.
Yes it was a very heartfelt ad. And portrayed a very accurate account of what really did happen. If this scenario did not happen, obviously they would never of made this ad. Despite what some people are writing in comments below. This wasn’t a fabricated story. It was researched heavily. Are they kidding.. ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ REALLY !
Very touching reaction video. xx
Awesome Ad,reminds me a lot of Paul Mccartney 'Pipes of Peace' music video.
The Royal British Legion were involved in this advert campaign so it must be true. Xx Happy Christmas to you and your family. Xx
It was true..plus after the match both sets of men wouldn't fight each other after woulds ...horrible history..
Hi Félipé and Lilian. Yes, this did happen. The tragedy and carnage of WW1 has thrown up some powerful books and dramas that are worth watching/reading. I recommend "The monocled Mutineer" starring Paul Mc Gann, "Birdsong", a gripping novel by Sebastian Faulks and Un long fiancailles de dimanche (sorry don't have the exact English translation) film starring Audrey Tautou.
You ought to visit The Royal Armouries in Leeds, it really is such an interesting (and also rather harrowing) place to send a whole day, there's a great section on the First World War, very upsetting but so interesting at the same time. Love you guys ❤
One of the greatest television adverts ever made bar *none*
As an aside; it is *known* that the Christmas truce took place along certain sections of the line - the only disputes are the extent and duration - and the football game
5:51 also worthy of note; only around 5-8% of the soldiers who served in WW1 fired their weapon in anger, and _of_ that 5-8% only around 2% fired with the intent of killing the "enemy"
The men didn't want to kill each other, and these were the early days of the war.. after 2years in the same mud, surrounded by the corpses of several hundred thousand comrades, that tune changed
*Lest We Forget*
❤❤❤ 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇨🇦🇭🇲🇳🇿 ❤❤❤
Love your reaction
Yes, it really happened just this once. The "top brass" strongly disapproved and by the second Xmas the sentiment had turned irretrievably bitter.
In fat it happened more than once, to a lesser degree in 1915 when British and German troops had an informal truce but the sources are only just coming out about the later informal truces. The same, again to a lesser degree occurred between French and German forces in 1915 near Verdun when both sides traded goods. When word got out the public at home wanted this to end especially the relatives who has sons killed as they wanted nothing to do with the 'enemy' and wanted all enemies dead. The same persisted after the war when many civvies hated hearing about any Germans. ad but that is war. We must love war as we keep on repeating the same mistakes and learn to hate.
This your most beautiful reaction yet - you're wonderful, perceptive, intelligent souls and Felipe, you nailed this one down very well sir - I believe this event did actually happen - and yes it was a war within a family - the EU is an extension of this war and needs to be dismantled at the earliest opportunity
An Uncle of mine was there. You have to remember the WW1 was the last of the true feudal wars (not an excuse for the terrible carnage) Your remarks re honour in combat still exist in some military corps.
..... The war ,,,, said to end ALL wars......🤔😯
How did that turn out !!!!!
😔
some were as young as 15, if they looked old enough, they were in.
I cried at that advert too.