LIVE AND LET LIVE
Some men went beyond the passive enjoyment of tranquillity and collaborated across the lines to minimise the dangers they faced.
The 'live and let live' phenomenon developed most readily where the fighting was sporadic, and where the proximity of the trenches allowed the men to see, hear and smell each other on a regular basis and slowly begin to lose their fear.
At the end of the day, one's own survival could best be guaranteed by not antagonising the enemy. Troops on both sides quickly appreciated this:
'It would be child's play to shell the road behind the enemy's trenches, crowded as it was with ration wagons and water carts, into a bloodstained wilderness... but on the whole there is silence. After all, if you prevent your enemy from getting his rations, his remedy is simple: he will prevent you from drawing yours.'
John H. Beith, a British officer
(permission granted by Samuel French Ltd. on behalf of the Estate of the late Ian Hay)
In some places, highly unusual friendships developed:
'One day, while our infantry was cooking, there was a shout from the enemy trench: could he come and eat too? He was invited over. The Frenchman came and ate and made himself comfortable. And from then on, whenever the Frenchman noticed that food was ready in the German trenches, he came and joined in.'
August Bader
(Bibliothek für Zeitgeschichte, Stuttgart)
Soldiers also cooperated across the lines to frustrate their officers' intentions:
'We received the following message, tied to a stone, from the German trenches opposite: 'We are going to send a 40-pounder. We have been ordered to do this, but we don't want to. It will come this evening, and we will blow a whistle first to warn you so that you have time to take cover.' All happened as they said it would.'
Regimental War Diary, the Fifth Leicestershire
|
