11. It Was Largely a First-Year Phenomenon
The Christmas Truce of 1914 was largely a first-year phenomenon, influenced by several factors. The war had been expected to be over by Christmas, but by December 1914, it had settled into a bloody stalemate. The soldiers, many of whom were veterans by this time, had lost much of the idealism they had carried into war in August, and most longed for an end to bloodshed. The sudden, hard frost on Christmas Eve created a dusting of ice and snow along the front, making the men on both sides feel that something spiritual was taking place. These conditions made the truce possible. However, as the war progressed, the conflict hardened, and similar large-scale truces did not occur again during the war. More details can be found at iwm.org.uk.
