The Christmas peace of 1914

I was curious, would it have been possible for the Christmas spirit of 1914 on the western front to have brought an end to the war, in spite of their government's desire to continue? How could it have expanded and been even more extraordinary?

If it can't end the war itself, then how much "bigger" could it be? Could it spread to the eastern front somehow? What would be the major effects of it?
 
It might be hard for it to spread to the eastern front due to calender differences. IIRC, Russia was still on the Julian calendar, and so would have celebrated Christmas a couple of weeks later.
 
The Russians were on the Gregorian calender, we're on the Julian calender. Funny you should bring that up, since it has been an issue during war since the Armada in 1588, the Spanish being Julian and the English being Gregorian.
 
The Russians were on the Gregorian calender, we're on the Julian calender. Funny you should bring that up, since it has been an issue during war since the Armada in 1588, the Spanish being Julian and the English being Gregorian.
No the russians were on the Julian calendar they changed to gregorian in 1918
 
Need more, IMVHO

The Christmas Truce would need, IMVHO, something fairly major to get it to bring the war to an end. It could happen, perhaps...but needs SOMETHING to make peace really break out.
 
ONly is the Socialists make an internationalist proletariat strike to end wars. For that you need to save Jaures first.
 
I was curious, would it have been possible for the Christmas spirit of 1914 on the western front to have brought an end to the war, in spite of their government's desire to continue? How could it have expanded and been even more extraordinary?

If it can't end the war itself, then how much "bigger" could it be? Could it spread to the eastern front somehow? What would be the major effects of it?

As was mentioned, if Socialist Parties in France, Germany and Great Britain decide to infiltrate the army to spread their ideas amongst the rank and file and decide to just toss down their weapons on Xmas day during the truce, that could be one way the war could end and the major European states could return to the status quo ante bellum having little choice in the affair. This would be a tremendous kick in the teeth for the ruling elites and a major boost for left-wing institutions.
 
The Russians were on the Gregorian calender, we're on the Julian calender. Funny you should bring that up, since it has been an issue during war since the Armada in 1588, the Spanish being Julian and the English being Gregorian.

I think you have the Julian and Gregorian calanders mixed up. No worries!
 
Cousin Nicky saves the Day (for himself)

The Willy-Nicky correspondence carries on despite mobilization. Russia is in a bad position (untrained troops, poor railroads) so Nicky decides to offer the following terms:
1: Austria-Hungary to have a common monarch, army, post office, and currency, but grant Yugoslavia and Czechslovakia home rule.
2: France retains Lorraine, Germany takes more of Poland from the Russians
3: Russia receives the right to control the north shore of the Dardanelles , and so secures Mediterranian access for the first time.
4: Germany retains overseas colonies, and Japan gets Manchuria.
5: Germany gets the Belgian Congo.
6: France receives Ottoman territory somewhere
The allies would never accept this, but the Christmas truce gives them little alternative. Russia plays them off against each other, getting the treaty they want through. A weakened Belgium splits, becoming parts of France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Poland is waiting for a chance at independence, and the weakened Austrian Empire is going to face a real struggle. Both the Ottoman and Japanese Empires see a common threat in a resurgent Russia, and Ottoman oil plus Japanese industrial might is going to make the lives of the British very difficult. Russia has won: They have split France from the Ottoman Empire, and given Germany a headache in a Polish nationalist movement about to start. Everything is ready for the Thanksgiving dinner.
 
The Christmas Truce would need, IMVHO, something fairly major to get it to bring the war to an end. It could happen, perhaps...but needs SOMETHING to make peace really break out.

A general panics and orders a neighbouring unit to attack the fraternizing mob. Under sudden attack, the mob bands together and fight off the attack. Word spreads and more and more common soldiers join the mob. They exchange pictures of loved ones, sing songs and declare their universal hatred of politicians and royals who send them to die while they stay at home and get rich.

Pretty soon, all discipline breaks down and officers are shot out of hand if they try to restore order.

Unlikely but by December 1914, much of the pre-war professionals had already fallen. Those that remained might well have been disillusioned.

The actual event scared the respective high commands silly and they took steps to prevent it from ever happening again. There must have been a reason for that fear.
 
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