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In 1914, British and German troops participated in a Christmas and New Year truce in the trenches of the Western Front. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption
In 1914, British and German troops participated in a Christmas and New Year truce in the trenches of the Western Front.
Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesIt's the stuff of legend. In the months after World War I erupted, young men in Europe were killing each other by the tens of thousands. Yet on a frozen Christmas Eve in 1914, the guns briefly fell silent.
That simple act of humanity in the midst of war has inspired operas, movies, and even television commercials.
NPR's Ari Shapiro highlights the many ways in which this incredible event inspired generations of artists, and brings you the voices of the soldiers themselves, who were on the frontlines that day.
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This episode was produced by Elena Burnett. It was edited by Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
