Thanks for telling me that was the legendary Floor on the ending vocals! I am very familer with her. Here are my nightwish reactions! th-cam.com/play/PLG217Y9Pofu7ZlAYbStDt45jyRkfXFILh.html
Well for the men that did this courageous act; after they went their separate ways, they refused to fight one another and were all transferred out because their commanders saw this as a bit of an issue. They weren’t wrong; how can you kill a man you just met and became friends with, no one can be asked to do that. On some other parts of the frontline fighting did start back up until almost a year later because those men met their enemies and realized, there was no reason for them to be fighting one another
the solders after the Christmas truce didn't want to kill each other because they told stores about there home lands so they would aim over each others heads when shooting so they didn't kill each other. both sides had to be traded out to even start killing each other again.
There was a much smaller, but nonetheless significant Christmas Truce in WWII 1944. In the Hurtugen Forest in Germany, Elizabeth Vincken was with her son Fritz in their cabin out in the woods. Her husband, Hubert, had taken them out there, believing they'd be safer from the war there than in the city. Hubert had left to get more supplies, leaving Elizabeth and Fritz on their own. That night on Christmas Eve, three American soldiers, one of them wounded, found the cabin and asked if they could come in from the cold. Not long after that, a German corporal and three soldiers came inside seeking shelter from the winter. Elizabeth let them in, on the condition they leave their guns outside and accept her guests, refusing for any violence or warfare to disturb her home on Christmas Eve. Both groups sat down to eat a warm meal of a small rooster and a few potatoes; one of the Germans even treating the wounded American. Elizabeth prayed over the meal, blessing each soldier and wishing them peace and protection. Americans and Germans slept warm in the cabin that night, and in the morning went their separate ways. The Germans had even made a makeshift stretcher for the Americans to help carry their wounded friend.
I once heard the story of a German soldier who walked up to a Dutch woman who was holding a baby, and said "give me your child." Her heart broke, but what could she do against multiple armed soldiers. But it turns out the German soldier had a baby girl at home, who he'd never seen. He just wanted to hold the baby and pretend for a minute he was holding his daughter. It's pretty hard hating the enemy, when the enemy has a face. Which is why the Christmas truce is so heartbreaking. Before they were killing the enemy, now they were killing people the knew and liked.
The Christmas Truce of 1944 was dramatized in a episode of Unsolved Mysteries. Fritz, as a grown man, was able to find one of the men, now an elderly man, that was there that Christmas night of 1944, they had a meal, and Fritz was able to say thank you.
Reminds me of the hospital/church on Normandy. Everything outside was violence and death, but as soon as you entered that church, everything was peaceful
The cross at the end of the song actually exists. it's a memorial for the christmas truce. It's located near Ypres, in Flanders, a part of Belgium that saw harsh fighting throughout the entire war. It was made in 1999. the actual cross reads: 1914 The Khaki Chums Christmas Truce 1999 85 Years Lest We Forget
God of our fathers, known of old, Lord of our far-flung battle-line, Beneath whose awful Hand we hold Dominion over palm and pine- Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget-lest we forget! The tumult and the shouting dies; The Captains and the Kings depart: Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice, An humble and a contrite heart. Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget-lest we forget! Far-called, our navies melt away; On dune and headland sinks the fire: Lo, all our pomp of yesterday Is one with Nineveh and Tyre! Judge of the Nations, spare us yet, Lest we forget-lest we forget! If, drunk with sight of power, we loose Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe, Such boastings as the Gentiles use, Or lesser breeds without the Law- Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget-lest we forget! For heathen heart that puts her trust In reeking tube and iron shard, All valiant dust that builds on dust, And guarding, calls not Thee to guard, For frantic boast and foolish word- Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord! -- Rudyard Kipling, "The Recessional"
When it was over and they went back to the trenches one of the German Artillerymen who spoke good English said “Today we have peace. Tomorrow, you fight for your country, I fight for mine. Good luck.”
You asked the wrong question Dave. Sabaton didn't make this story Epic. It was *always* Epic. Sabaton just gave it a voice. As they do for so many of their songs. God Bless Them.
So, the Christmas Truce wasn’t a singular event in one place along the lines. Up until that point, it wasn’t uncommon to call for local ceasefires so burial parties could be sent out to retrieve the dead. The parties would often meet and fraternize, trading trinkets and comfort items for things that the other side had. Remember, most of them were young men, barely more than boys, and weren’t necessarily there because they wanted to be. Meeting like that was a small act of rebellion, a way to take back a little bit of control over their lives. On Christmas in 1914, events like this played out all over the Western Front. Soldiers exchanged gifts, shared food, and yes, played soccer. As many as 29 separate games were recorded in letters and diaries. Of course, the high commands on both sides were furious, and forbade any further fraternization, even going so far as to move units around to ensure soldiers wouldn’t have reservations against killing the now humanized enemy. And as the war progressed and became more and more brutal, future attempts to defy orders and seek a truce on holidays were often met with gunfire. This was a miracle that wouldn’t be repeated often. But for that one shining moment in 1914, humanity won against hate. It’s a beautiful story, and Christmas Truce is a beautiful song to commemorate the event.
One of the elements that I really love in this song is how much of a pause there is at "Voices sang to me from --- no man's land." It doesn't have that kind of a pause anywhere leading up to that, and the intuitive rhyme from the preceding line that would have gone into the gap was "Voices sang to me from hell." It is a brilliant bit of songwriting, which messes with expectations... in much the same way that the truce messed with expectations, itself.
Most of these men were not evil. They were just ordinary men following orders from their superiors. War is a dark and uncertain situation to be in, but the men that risked their lives for their country never let the war or the violence rob them of the most important thing they had: their humanity.
This is such an overwhelming song, pure goosebumps! I had to think about what my dad used to tell me about World War II. And to the letter I found, which he wrote to his dad when he was a child himself, and which says how much he looks forward to it when he comes home for Christmas ... Nothing has changed from WW I to WW II...
Dave you are always enjoying the music so much I get joy out of your enjoyment of the music . Awesome 👏 how about some Nightwish reactions and more Sabaton 🔥🔥
Something else to keep in mind is this battle was fought by 19-22 year old kids, per se. They realized for one day that this war had nothing to do with them personally, they were just following orders. Such an incredible story.
Huh, reading the Wikipedia article on it, it wasn't exactly just one day, but rather, there was always some fraternising during the war since the trenches were really close, and there was a lot of disagreement with the war and a fair amount of Germans had previously lived in England and wanted to know things like the football leagues, and the ceasefires just picked up towards the Christmas season. Most of the ceasefires happened in 1914 when the war was just starting, and they'd continued through to New Year's, though there was some in 1915. The fewer ceasefires in 1915 seem to be due to stronger artillery presence, and more crack down from the commanders.
Also, local ceasefires were negotiated among section commanders quite regularly - because rotting corpses became a serious issue for both sides. On the Eastern Front the Germans and the Russians even started forming joint hunting parties to deal with wolves who started preying on the dead and wounded. The series of ceasefires commonly known as the "Christmas Truce" stands out because it was not negotiated by higher-ups within the respective chains of command but by junior officers, NCOs and sometimes even the ranks of single units. The direct fraternization however happened mostly between German and British troops.
@@Exodon2020 yes, and after they didn't want to keep fighting, so they had to move them and separate them, also some was a day, but other places it was weeks of truce
Ladies and Gentlemen Mrs. Van Dahl Floor Jansen lead singer of Nightwish the Valkyrie Queen herself doing the vocals for the choir. P.S. this song gave me Trans-Siberian Orchestra vibes imagine if Trans-Siberian Orchestra performed with Sabaton TSO Christmas Eve Sarajevo transiting into Sabaton Christmas Truce with Joakim Broden playing the piano intro will give chills also Joakim Broden was originally the keyboardist before switching to vocals best decision ever if you ask me
It's not as much that he switched to vocals, but he rather did vocals in the beginning and they were planning to get someone else as vocalist. That never happened, so he remained the vocalist. They got Daniel Myhr as keyboardist tho, he was with Sabaton until 2012.
@@joakimvhes302 Joakim didnt want to be the vocalist, he only did because his voice is suitable for their style. He also, as far as i know, doesnt put effort on his vocals, this is the way he speaks. Fascinating!
We definitely shouldn't forget that this truce didn't happen everywhere. I know of at least one case where German soldiers came out of their trenches to also form a truce in their sector, but were mowed down by British machine gun fire.
Many of the soldiers that participated in the Christmas Truce had to be sent to different battlefields after because they couldn't fight as hard to kill the other guy as they did before.
Christmas Day 1914, for the first time in a major war (and also the last), the two sides put down their weapons and crossed the great divide to shake hands and greet eachother as brothers.
Look up Spangler’s Spring at Gettysburg. Both sides came to the side room by to fill their canteens. This was July 1 the second day of the battle. They sang hymns back and forth on opposite sides of the spring pond. The next day was Pickett’s Charge.
@@brucejane7395 I understand I may have been missunderstood, I meant in the history of globe spanning conflicts. wars like the Napoleonics, the crusades, the convertion of natives across the planet and the Holy Wars between "people of faith". while the american civil war was truely awful and I dont mean to play down the severity of it all, it doesn't really hit the same sheer level of human suffering and death as the World Wars (37million dead or wounded in ww1, 50million+ in ww2).
I've already preordered the new album on vinyl! I can't wait to hear what else they put on this one, because the Christmas Truce song is absolutely amazing!
The cross in the end actually exist. Pic of it can be seen if you search internet on christmas truce cross Flanders field. I love the song and have already preordered the album that will be released March 4th
Greetings! I just found your channel and I'm a big Sabaton fan! I've watched every single reaction of yours. I hope you keep up and continue reacting to them, I sure will be here! Much respect!
literally, dude, you are my favorite music reactioner on youtube, enjoy the song so deeply, no over-exaggeration and your comments are always on point.
the Christmas Truce of 1914 is the reason why i believe in Christmas miracles 2 army's stopped fighting came together in true brotherhood if only for a moment if that is not a miracle then I don't know what is
I know the video is 9 months old by now, but there are actual records of the conversations during the truce. They talked about their families, told them about what they were told about the enemy, and they quickly found out that the enemy troops were just people like you and me. The most common way to start the first conversations was something among the lines of "Hey... This war sucks, doesn't it?". WWI was never a war wanted by citizens, it was a war caused by incompetent leaders and the ordinary people on both sides had to carry it out. In fact, they were told the war wouldn't even last till christmas. Also, many fronts were shifted after the truce. The truce was officially forbidden, but humanity found a way on many (sadly not all) fronts. Mostly the german - english fronts held a truce. Most french soldiers were too traumatized and full of hate to accept a truce. But because these soldiers grew friends, they refused to fight forbdays to come. So, the truce actually lasted longer than just a day in many places. They had to swap out frontfighters from front A to front B to make them fight again, as they didn't want to fight their friends.
I really enjoyed this video. Dave seems to really get Sabaton. I think they deserve some kind of award. I love how all their songs tell a story and its the truth. I've learned more listening to them than I did in all my years of school.
5:29 absolutely lol. I was never a history guy, this story was the only thing I remember about world war, I think it was a scene in the movie Schindler's list and that's where I know from that this happened (also useless fact my aunt was an actress in that movie) but I don't really remember if it was Schindler's list or a different movie but I definitely had seen a movie recreate it 🤔🤔. So before finding Sabaton and researching what each of their songs are about, this was the only thing I knew about world war, and I was wondering if Sabaton will do a song about the only story I actually knew myself before finding out history stuff through Sabaton. Well here it is and its incredibly beautiful, I shed some tears while listening to it. Its really unbelievable that this had actually happened. They portrayed it so well. Great Reaction.
I don't think it was Schindler's List, it takes place in WW2 (specifically in 1939) while the Christmas Truce takes place in 1914 only a few months after WW1 has started. I couldn't find anything about Schindler's List having a Christmas Truce scene or reference, but feel free to tell me otherwise if you do.
@@thewolfgirlexpert yeah no you are right Schindler's List was WW2. I really don't remember what it was that I watched because it was so long ago and we watched a handful of things in my class. But I at least remembered the story for forever.
I love your content so much, like sometimes I bounce around between reaction youtubers, but most of them suck. Your reactions are genuine and your personality fucking smacks. I love this 💯
Really makes me wonder why some teachers don’t play this in history class. I’d remember more from metal than I would reading a chapter in a history textbook😂
Some Germans tried to do the same thing on Easter 1915, but were warned off by British soldiers. The in December 1915, there were orders by the Allied commanders to forestall any repeat of the previous Christmas truce. Units were encouraged to mount raids and harass the opposing line, whilst communicating with the enemy was discouraged by artillery barrages along the front line throughout the day; a small number of brief truces still happened.
The most beautiful part is Sabaton drummer Hannes van Dahl's wife Nightwish Frontwoman Floor Jansen singing the ending vocals. He was the first man to climb out of the trenches.
Sabaton is life, love your reactions among many others :), new album drops in march 4 22 and much more interesthing than history in schools, i have this song on repeat since i heard it first time on friday xd
The video nods to the Sainsbury's Christmas Truce ad. Go watch it, it's probably the best ad ever - it's beautiful af and i'm really happy that Sabaton nods to it
Something else to think about is that either side didn't speak the other's language, so during these truces neither could speak to each other easily, so even with the language barrier they had truces like this and took the brief moment of peace with each other.
This is the first time I've heard someone explicitly comment on the blowing up of the piano. It's really like a kind of "HAHAHAHAHA f**k this let's go kill each other again" but in the very informed way that Sabaton does because, let's face it, that's what the various nations' armies did in the end. There is such incredible nuance in Sabaton's retelling of this story and I honestly think they deserve even more credit than they get for it.
After this Truce for the night, both sides purposily aimed their artillary to show "they were trying" but aimed so not to hit the opposing sides. It took the Commanders of both countries to have to restore the bloodlust, at the cost of committing murder on their own troops, to make the rest resume actual fighting. Both sides, this happened too. It was such a serious problem that it continued even months after, which is why you had Officers (on both sides) making sure the men were actually TRYING to kill the enemy as so many reports of "just missed that guy! (on purpose) and charged attacks being told to the opposing sides, to avert causalties. It was a big DEAL, such a big deal that they had to recycle troops from the front that had been involved with this truce, and lable them either traitors and sent to prison, or outright killed on the spot. It is crazy to think that when you meet your enemy and realize it is just you but they speak a different language, but it is ultimatly just people just like your own troops. I cannot express enough how big of a deal this was, and it is worth looking into, and the reasons why this would never happen again.
Great reaction, as usual, Dave! This song is so powerful! I loved it the first time I heard it. Sabaton is one of my favourite bands, and this song and video - wow! They've outdone themselves! It's a great history lesson.
The game is called FOOTBALL plus I learned about this true event that happened on Christmas day 1914, when I was at junior school aged seven in my history class. My French teacher when I was at my secondary school in 1975 was a British soldier in WW1 so we learned a lot about WW1. This true event is part of the history of the UK and Germany. The Cross at the end of the video is a true depiction of a Cross that was erected in 1999 in No Man's Land in one of the battlefields were the Christmas Truce was and where a Football match was played. LESS WE FORGET THAT 🌹. British Sabaton Fan 💂♂️💂♂️💂♂️💂♂️🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇩🇪🇸🇪
thats the sad thing about war: ppl that face each other in behalf of some politicans, would maybe become good friends if born on the other side of the border. this song is an epic balade. can´t wait to see sabaton live on 11th of amrch in berlin. it will be just jegendary
Most Americans don't know about this event. They first entered the war 3 years later. There are memorials of this across Europe, there's a famous one in Liverpool with a german and british soldier shaking hands with a football between them. And the cross at the end is real too I think?
this so far is one of there BEST music videos yet. and if think about this was probably first time the soldiers on both sides allies and germans they were away from there Familys . also be cool if they could do a christmas cd.
The lady :) That's Floor jansen, married to the drummer Hannes, in Sabaton. Floor are singing in Nightwish. One of the best bands live .... and Sabaton too ofcourse :) Check up Nightwish too .... Please
An interesting fact is that the churched asked the generals if the soldiers could celebrate christmas but even though they said no and told the soldiers to keep fighting, the soldiers ignored the commands and celebrated christmas.
Primo Victoria Steel Commanders and Bismarck both had the backing of WarGaming in the production of those videos. This one is the most Epic of the bunch.
Actually they didn't return to combat right after the Christmas, they refused to fight and had the spread around the different sections of trench to keep the battle going, and the next year, high command had artillery fire constantly on Christmas to stop a repeat occasion.
the sad part about all this was that Pope Benedict the 15th had begged the commanding governments of both sides the following "that the guns may fall silent at least upon the night the angels sang" But both sides' governments were so bitter towards each other that they refused....the soldiers didn't know each other, they had no issues with each other, but they had to follow orders However, at christmas of 1914....several cease fires were called up along the western front with both sides sharing small gifts, christmas carols, and even playing games of soccer or cards....there was even a British commander whom sat down and talked with a German sharpshooter...and finally both sides would organize burial parties to retrieve their deceased and provide burial rites It was the first and last time such truces would actually occur in those ways as the commanders disapproved of fraternizing with the enemy and any soldier in either army showing such actions would be court-martialed on the spot
Absolutely brilliant. Sabaton is much the same as Nightwish, in that they use music to tell the story and they are so damn good at it that it hits you hard every time. It should come as no surprise that Hannes, their drummer is husband to Floor Jansen whose angelic and operatic voice you hear at the end. Every Sabaton piece is a history lesson. Indeed, lest we forget, as there are those who as we speak are trying to erase our history and separate us from our past. We can't let that happen.
The only thing people don't consider is the emotions of the soldiers in war between each other because it doesn't have to always have to have people die like they have famlies too
@@whatitdodave also a real good movie to watch about this event is (2005) "Joyeux Noel" (Merry Christmas) shows the event from all 3 sides and even about the aftermath to some units involved
I cannot watch a reaction to this song with a dry eye. Not possible. If I was there during that battle, I could not pick up iron the next day and shoot. I would not be able to. Someone would have to take me out, because I would refuse to fire on someone that I just hugged, laughed, and cried with hours before. 'Lest we forget'. We must try to be better and learn from the past ♥
Apparently, and please fact check me on this history buffs, Sabaton got the ending slightly wrong as neither side could open fire on each other due to the love they had built for each other. The COs on both sides had to switch out the troops for others. Just goes to show that love can really end wars.
I mean.. who can blame them. I doubt many people could just switch from talking to each other and giving each other gifts, to killing each other as if nothing happened.
![[American Ghostwriter] Reacts to: SABATON - Christmas Truce (Official Music Video) (REACTION)](/img/n.gif)
Thanks for telling me that was the legendary Floor on the ending vocals! I am very familer with her. Here are my nightwish reactions!
th-cam.com/play/PLG217Y9Pofu7ZlAYbStDt45jyRkfXFILh.html
Well for the men that did this courageous act; after they went their separate ways, they refused to fight one another and were all transferred out because their commanders saw this as a bit of an issue. They weren’t wrong; how can you kill a man you just met and became friends with, no one can be asked to do that. On some other parts of the frontline fighting did start back up until almost a year later because those men met their enemies and realized, there was no reason for them to be fighting one another
2:26 come on get to the chopper
The voice of an angel!
the solders after the Christmas truce didn't want to kill each other because they told stores about there home lands so they would aim over each others heads when shooting so they didn't kill each other. both sides had to be traded out to even start killing each other again.
There was a much smaller, but nonetheless significant Christmas Truce in WWII 1944. In the Hurtugen Forest in Germany, Elizabeth Vincken was with her son Fritz in their cabin out in the woods. Her husband, Hubert, had taken them out there, believing they'd be safer from the war there than in the city. Hubert had left to get more supplies, leaving Elizabeth and Fritz on their own. That night on Christmas Eve, three American soldiers, one of them wounded, found the cabin and asked if they could come in from the cold. Not long after that, a German corporal and three soldiers came inside seeking shelter from the winter. Elizabeth let them in, on the condition they leave their guns outside and accept her guests, refusing for any violence or warfare to disturb her home on Christmas Eve. Both groups sat down to eat a warm meal of a small rooster and a few potatoes; one of the Germans even treating the wounded American. Elizabeth prayed over the meal, blessing each soldier and wishing them peace and protection. Americans and Germans slept warm in the cabin that night, and in the morning went their separate ways. The Germans had even made a makeshift stretcher for the Americans to help carry their wounded friend.
Its sad that this sort of behavior surprise people. Soldiers aint machines.. They are humans too.
I once heard the story of a German soldier who walked up to a Dutch woman who was holding a baby, and said "give me your child."
Her heart broke, but what could she do against multiple armed soldiers.
But it turns out the German soldier had a baby girl at home, who he'd never seen. He just wanted to hold the baby and pretend for a minute he was holding his daughter.
It's pretty hard hating the enemy, when the enemy has a face.
Which is why the Christmas truce is so heartbreaking.
Before they were killing the enemy, now they were killing people the knew and liked.
I'd argue this story is much more wholesome than the song's version. Such a nice read.
The Christmas Truce of 1944 was dramatized in a episode of Unsolved Mysteries. Fritz, as a grown man, was able to find one of the men, now an elderly man, that was there that Christmas night of 1944, they had a meal, and Fritz was able to say thank you.
Reminds me of the hospital/church on Normandy. Everything outside was violence and death, but as soon as you entered that church, everything was peaceful
The cross at the end of the song actually exists. it's a memorial for the christmas truce. It's located near Ypres, in Flanders, a part of Belgium that saw harsh fighting throughout the entire war. It was made in 1999.
the actual cross reads:
1914
The Khaki Chums
Christmas Truce
1999
85 Years
Lest
We
Forget
I swear I have seen you on almost every reaction video to this song lol
@@jamessmitgaming9091 I am everywhere
God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far-flung battle-line,
Beneath whose awful Hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine-
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget-lest we forget!
The tumult and the shouting dies;
The Captains and the Kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget-lest we forget!
Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget-lest we forget!
If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe,
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law-
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget-lest we forget!
For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard,
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding, calls not Thee to guard,
For frantic boast and foolish word-
Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord!
-- Rudyard Kipling, "The Recessional"
There is a poem about the poppies in flanders field where soldiers of all nations are buried
When it was over and they went back to the trenches one of the German Artillerymen who spoke good English said “Today we have peace. Tomorrow, you fight for your country, I fight for mine. Good luck.”
You asked the wrong question Dave. Sabaton didn't make this story Epic. It was *always* Epic. Sabaton just gave it a voice. As they do for so many of their songs. God Bless Them.
Absolutely correct, this would of been slowly forgotten over years, but they keep it alive.
So, the Christmas Truce wasn’t a singular event in one place along the lines. Up until that point, it wasn’t uncommon to call for local ceasefires so burial parties could be sent out to retrieve the dead. The parties would often meet and fraternize, trading trinkets and comfort items for things that the other side had. Remember, most of them were young men, barely more than boys, and weren’t necessarily there because they wanted to be. Meeting like that was a small act of rebellion, a way to take back a little bit of control over their lives.
On Christmas in 1914, events like this played out all over the Western Front. Soldiers exchanged gifts, shared food, and yes, played soccer. As many as 29 separate games were recorded in letters and diaries.
Of course, the high commands on both sides were furious, and forbade any further fraternization, even going so far as to move units around to ensure soldiers wouldn’t have reservations against killing the now humanized enemy. And as the war progressed and became more and more brutal, future attempts to defy orders and seek a truce on holidays were often met with gunfire. This was a miracle that wouldn’t be repeated often.
But for that one shining moment in 1914, humanity won against hate. It’s a beautiful story, and Christmas Truce is a beautiful song to commemorate the event.
The lady is Floor Jansen,the leadsinger of Nightwich and the wife of Hannes, the drummer 🤘
I have plenty of reactions to nightwish as well!
That's cool 😁❤️
That angelic voice from within those trenches! ..... woah...
Wow, I didn’t know they were married, cool
@@straythrawn7861 yes,they are,and they have a daughter, Freya 🤘
One of the elements that I really love in this song is how much of a pause there is at "Voices sang to me from --- no man's land." It doesn't have that kind of a pause anywhere leading up to that, and the intuitive rhyme from the preceding line that would have gone into the gap was "Voices sang to me from hell." It is a brilliant bit of songwriting, which messes with expectations... in much the same way that the truce messed with expectations, itself.
Most of these men were not evil. They were just ordinary men following orders from their superiors. War is a dark and uncertain situation to be in, but the men that risked their lives for their country never let the war or the violence rob them of the most important thing they had: their humanity.
This is such an overwhelming song, pure goosebumps! I had to think about what my dad used to tell me about World War II. And to the letter I found, which he wrote to his dad when he was a child himself, and which says how much he looks forward to it when he comes home for Christmas ... Nothing has changed from WW I to WW II...
Man, I was SO GLAD you did not skip the Credits music lol.
As a veteran, many of their songs hit close to home. You should listen to Purple Heart, that one hits my feels every time I hear it.
Dave you are always enjoying the music so much I get joy out of your enjoyment of the music . Awesome 👏 how about some Nightwish reactions and more Sabaton 🔥🔥
I have some nightwish reactions
th-cam.com/play/PLG217Y9Pofu7ZlAYbStDt45jyRkfXFILh.html
Something else to keep in mind is this battle was fought by 19-22 year old kids, per se. They realized for one day that this war had nothing to do with them personally, they were just following orders. Such an incredible story.
Sabaton is such a great band. I enjoyed your reaction, Dave!
Huh, reading the Wikipedia article on it, it wasn't exactly just one day, but rather, there was always some fraternising during the war since the trenches were really close, and there was a lot of disagreement with the war and a fair amount of Germans had previously lived in England and wanted to know things like the football leagues, and the ceasefires just picked up towards the Christmas season. Most of the ceasefires happened in 1914 when the war was just starting, and they'd continued through to New Year's, though there was some in 1915. The fewer ceasefires in 1915 seem to be due to stronger artillery presence, and more crack down from the commanders.
Also, local ceasefires were negotiated among section commanders quite regularly - because rotting corpses became a serious issue for both sides. On the Eastern Front the Germans and the Russians even started forming joint hunting parties to deal with wolves who started preying on the dead and wounded.
The series of ceasefires commonly known as the "Christmas Truce" stands out because it was not negotiated by higher-ups within the respective chains of command but by junior officers, NCOs and sometimes even the ranks of single units. The direct fraternization however happened mostly between German and British troops.
@@Exodon2020 yes, and after they didn't want to keep fighting, so they had to move them and separate them, also some was a day, but other places it was weeks of truce
Ladies and Gentlemen Mrs. Van Dahl Floor Jansen lead singer of Nightwish the Valkyrie Queen herself doing the vocals for the choir.
P.S. this song gave me Trans-Siberian Orchestra vibes imagine if Trans-Siberian Orchestra performed with Sabaton TSO Christmas Eve Sarajevo transiting into Sabaton Christmas Truce with Joakim Broden playing the piano intro will give chills also Joakim Broden was originally the keyboardist before switching to vocals best decision ever if you ask me
It's not as much that he switched to vocals, but he rather did vocals in the beginning and they were planning to get someone else as vocalist. That never happened, so he remained the vocalist. They got Daniel Myhr as keyboardist tho, he was with Sabaton until 2012.
@@joakimvhes302 Joakim didnt want to be the vocalist, he only did because his voice is suitable for their style. He also, as far as i know, doesnt put effort on his vocals, this is the way he speaks. Fascinating!
We definitely shouldn't forget that this truce didn't happen everywhere. I know of at least one case where German soldiers came out of their trenches to also form a truce in their sector, but were mowed down by British machine gun fire.
Many of the soldiers that participated in the Christmas Truce had to be sent to different battlefields after because they couldn't fight as hard to kill the other guy as they did before.
Full body chills when the piano starts and during Floor’s outtro.
Christmas Day 1914, for the first time in a major war (and also the last), the two sides put down their weapons and crossed the great divide to shake hands and greet eachother as brothers.
Look up Spangler’s Spring at Gettysburg. Both sides came to the side room by to fill their canteens. This was July 1 the second day of the battle. They sang hymns back and forth on opposite sides of the spring pond. The next day was Pickett’s Charge.
@@brucejane7395 I understand I may have been missunderstood, I meant in the history of globe spanning conflicts. wars like the Napoleonics, the crusades, the convertion of natives across the planet and the Holy Wars between "people of faith".
while the american civil war was truely awful and I dont mean to play down the severity of it all, it doesn't really hit the same sheer level of human suffering and death as the World Wars (37million dead or wounded in ww1, 50million+ in ww2).
The whole event is an example of fighting under command, not for ideology.
I've already preordered the new album on vinyl! I can't wait to hear what else they put on this one, because the Christmas Truce song is absolutely amazing!
This brought tears to my eyes!
I listened to this song yesterday and its the song I finally decided to introduce my Mother to Sabaton. This song made us both tear up a bit.
the best reaction channel, I love how emotionally you take songs. And you yourself have amazing voice, you should be on radio!
The cross in the end actually exist. Pic of it can be seen if you search internet on christmas truce cross Flanders field. I love the song and have already preordered the album that will be released March 4th
Greetings! I just found your channel and I'm a big Sabaton fan! I've watched every single reaction of yours. I hope you keep up and continue reacting to them, I sure will be here!
Much respect!
when i first heard this song a had a tear going down my cheek by the end
literally, dude, you are my favorite music reactioner on youtube, enjoy the song so deeply, no over-exaggeration and your comments are always on point.
One the most epic Sabaton reaction ever 🔥 Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷
This video/song kicks you in the feels... This moment in history gives me hope for humanity...
They weren't given out Christmas cards they were giving family members letters to take home the dad never see you again💀💀💀
Appreciate your comments as a soldier since 83 this is one of the events that has influenced my career and my interactions with others. Toujours Pret.
the Christmas Truce of 1914 is the reason why i believe in Christmas miracles
2 army's stopped fighting came together in true brotherhood if only for a moment if that is not a miracle then I don't know what is
This was hands down the most surreal experience live. The pit stopped, everyone locked arms over shoulders and swayed back and forth. truly chilling.
I know the video is 9 months old by now, but there are actual records of the conversations during the truce. They talked about their families, told them about what they were told about the enemy, and they quickly found out that the enemy troops were just people like you and me. The most common way to start the first conversations was something among the lines of "Hey... This war sucks, doesn't it?". WWI was never a war wanted by citizens, it was a war caused by incompetent leaders and the ordinary people on both sides had to carry it out. In fact, they were told the war wouldn't even last till christmas.
Also, many fronts were shifted after the truce. The truce was officially forbidden, but humanity found a way on many (sadly not all) fronts. Mostly the german - english fronts held a truce. Most french soldiers were too traumatized and full of hate to accept a truce. But because these soldiers grew friends, they refused to fight forbdays to come. So, the truce actually lasted longer than just a day in many places. They had to swap out frontfighters from front A to front B to make them fight again, as they didn't want to fight their friends.
This song and the story behind it are so powerful and moving. I start crying by the end.
I really enjoyed this video. Dave seems to really get Sabaton. I think they deserve some kind of award. I love how all their songs tell a story and its the truth. I've learned more listening to them than I did in all my years of school.
5:29 absolutely lol. I was never a history guy, this story was the only thing I remember about world war, I think it was a scene in the movie Schindler's list and that's where I know from that this happened (also useless fact my aunt was an actress in that movie) but I don't really remember if it was Schindler's list or a different movie but I definitely had seen a movie recreate it 🤔🤔. So before finding Sabaton and researching what each of their songs are about, this was the only thing I knew about world war, and I was wondering if Sabaton will do a song about the only story I actually knew myself before finding out history stuff through Sabaton. Well here it is and its incredibly beautiful, I shed some tears while listening to it. Its really unbelievable that this had actually happened. They portrayed it so well. Great Reaction.
I don't think it was Schindler's List, it takes place in WW2 (specifically in 1939) while the Christmas Truce takes place in 1914 only a few months after WW1 has started. I couldn't find anything about Schindler's List having a Christmas Truce scene or reference, but feel free to tell me otherwise if you do.
@@thewolfgirlexpert yeah no you are right Schindler's List was WW2. I really don't remember what it was that I watched because it was so long ago and we watched a handful of things in my class. But I at least remembered the story for forever.
I deeply love this Sabaton video, and as always i love hearing your thoughts on it and how Sabaton helps your view on history and the world Dave.
Christmas came early this year, thanks to Sabaton! 🍺😎
I love your content so much, like sometimes I bounce around between reaction youtubers, but most of them suck. Your reactions are genuine and your personality fucking smacks. I love this 💯
Great stuff man =)
Really awesome that you actually looked up some facts before watching it really adds to quality of the reaction 👍
Keep on rocking 👏
I must have been living under a rock. Just found this legendary song and your spot on reaction. Amazing job as always ❤
Humanity exist even at hardest times :) Luckily were living the most peaceful time of the history, I hope we can stay like this or even improve more.
Us Fathers and Sons father in laws in the brother-in-laws all shooting at each other💀💀💀
Really makes me wonder why some teachers don’t play this in history class. I’d remember more from metal than I would reading a chapter in a history textbook😂
wow just love that song
Lest we forget!
Some Germans tried to do the same thing on Easter 1915, but were warned off by British soldiers. The in December 1915, there were orders by the Allied commanders to forestall any repeat of the previous Christmas truce. Units were encouraged to mount raids and harass the opposing line, whilst communicating with the enemy was discouraged by artillery barrages along the front line throughout the day; a small number of brief truces still happened.
Very good reaction I love that you appreciated the music at the end I think that's one of the best parts of this video
Just found your channel, and am happy to take this Sabaton journey with you.
The most beautiful part is Sabaton drummer Hannes van Dahl's wife Nightwish Frontwoman Floor Jansen singing the ending vocals. He was the first man to climb out of the trenches.
Sabaton is life, love your reactions among many others :), new album drops in march 4 22 and much more interesthing than history in schools, i have this song on repeat since i heard it first time on friday xd
9:50
Imagine that part at a concert, with thousands of fans singing it.
The video nods to the Sainsbury's Christmas Truce ad. Go watch it, it's probably the best ad ever - it's beautiful af and i'm really happy that Sabaton nods to it
I was just about to say that and see if Dave might react to that too
Something else to think about is that either side didn't speak the other's language, so during these truces neither could speak to each other easily, so even with the language barrier they had truces like this and took the brief moment of peace with each other.
This is the first time I've heard someone explicitly comment on the blowing up of the piano. It's really like a kind of "HAHAHAHAHA f**k this let's go kill each other again" but in the very informed way that Sabaton does because, let's face it, that's what the various nations' armies did in the end. There is such incredible nuance in Sabaton's retelling of this story and I honestly think they deserve even more credit than they get for it.
After this Truce for the night, both sides purposily aimed their artillary to show "they were trying" but aimed so not to hit the opposing sides. It took the Commanders of both countries to have to restore the bloodlust, at the cost of committing murder on their own troops, to make the rest resume actual fighting. Both sides, this happened too. It was such a serious problem that it continued even months after, which is why you had Officers (on both sides) making sure the men were actually TRYING to kill the enemy as so many reports of "just missed that guy! (on purpose) and charged attacks being told to the opposing sides, to avert causalties. It was a big DEAL, such a big deal that they had to recycle troops from the front that had been involved with this truce, and lable them either traitors and sent to prison, or outright killed on the spot. It is crazy to think that when you meet your enemy and realize it is just you but they speak a different language, but it is ultimatly just people just like your own troops. I cannot express enough how big of a deal this was, and it is worth looking into, and the reasons why this would never happen again.
Great reaction, as usual, Dave! This song is so powerful! I loved it the first time I heard it. Sabaton is one of my favourite bands, and this song and video - wow! They've outdone themselves! It's a great history lesson.
It was a war of alliances and duty. They had to, that’s why the sacrifices for basically nothing are even sadder.
the credit gave me chills lmao
The game is called FOOTBALL plus I learned about this true event that happened on Christmas day 1914, when I was at junior school aged seven in my history class. My French teacher when I was at my secondary school in 1975 was a British soldier in WW1 so we learned a lot about WW1. This true event is part of the history of the UK and Germany. The Cross at the end of the video is a true depiction of a Cross that was erected in 1999 in No Man's Land in one of the battlefields were the Christmas Truce was and where a Football match was played. LESS WE FORGET THAT 🌹. British Sabaton Fan 💂♂️💂♂️💂♂️💂♂️🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇩🇪🇸🇪
Soccer is just as acceptable.
The term was invented in England for the sport. It’s short for “Association Football.”
Either works. 😎
thats the sad thing about war: ppl that face each other in behalf of some politicans, would maybe become good friends if born on the other side of the border.
this song is an epic balade. can´t wait to see sabaton live on 11th of amrch in berlin. it will be just jegendary
The memorial at the end is a real site in France, although the one in the video is a replica as they filmed in the Czech republic.
Not just a wonderful emotional Song, but Floors voice in the Outro gave me the rest and the waterworks started.
Most Americans don't know about this event. They first entered the war 3 years later. There are memorials of this across Europe, there's a famous one in Liverpool with a german and british soldier shaking hands with a football between them. And the cross at the end is real too I think?
this so far is one of there BEST music videos yet. and if think about this was probably first time the soldiers on both sides allies and germans they were away from there Familys . also be cool if they could do a christmas cd.
Homie was straight vibin at the end
Great video great music and great reaction...............congratulations....
The best christmas song 👍
awesome song and you did a great job as usual.
They need to turn this music video into a full movie
The lady :) That's Floor jansen, married to the drummer Hannes, in Sabaton. Floor are singing in Nightwish. One of the best bands live .... and Sabaton too ofcourse :) Check up Nightwish too .... Please
Check the pinned comment 🔥
I a man I dont cry. Aaaahhh...
An interesting fact is that the churched asked the generals if the soldiers could celebrate christmas but even though they said no and told the soldiers to keep fighting, the soldiers ignored the commands and celebrated christmas.
Primo Victoria Steel Commanders and Bismarck both had the backing of WarGaming in the production of those videos. This one is the most Epic of the bunch.
Greatest song I ever heard
there is an awesome movie called Joyeux Noel about this. Merry Christmas.
It wasn't rare for the fighting to stop a few hours to a whole day so that both sides can collect and bury their dead.
Nice of you to let the end credits roll. Give credit for the trench builders! Also the band members were on the opposite sides :D
the wooden cross at the end still existe near Ypres in belgium ( Ypres was almost completly destroy in the opening days of the war)
I cried when I heard the song
Actually they didn't return to combat right after the Christmas, they refused to fight and had the spread around the different sections of trench to keep the battle going, and the next year, high command had artillery fire constantly on Christmas to stop a repeat occasion.
powerfull stuff.
You should watch the Chocolate ww1 Christmas truce commercial.
That was moving.
God the song is nice and all but I really hope they release the credits song on the album as a bonus.
The generals from both sides had to come and force the troops to continue fighting...the guys didn't want to.
the sad part about all this was that Pope Benedict the 15th had begged the commanding governments of both sides the following
"that the guns may fall silent at least upon the night the angels sang"
But both sides' governments were so bitter towards each other that they refused....the soldiers didn't know each other, they had no issues with each other, but they had to follow orders
However, at christmas of 1914....several cease fires were called up along the western front with both sides sharing small gifts, christmas carols, and even playing games of soccer or cards....there was even a British commander whom sat down and talked with a German sharpshooter...and finally both sides would organize burial parties to retrieve their deceased and provide burial rites
It was the first and last time such truces would actually occur in those ways as the commanders disapproved of fraternizing with the enemy and any soldier in either army showing such actions would be court-martialed on the spot
Absolutely brilliant. Sabaton is much the same as Nightwish, in that they use music to tell the story and they are so damn good at it that it hits you hard every time. It should come as no surprise that Hannes, their drummer is husband to Floor Jansen whose angelic and operatic voice you hear at the end.
Every Sabaton piece is a history lesson. Indeed, lest we forget, as there are those who as we speak are trying to erase our history and separate us from our past. We can't let that happen.
The only thing people don't consider is the emotions of the soldiers in war between each other because it doesn't have to always have to have people die like they have famlies too
There was a story about a British captain that smoked a cigar with a German sharpshooter
i heard that some entire sections of the western front had to be moved after the truce because they refused to fire on each other
Ever since I learned about this event in school I always wondered what could have happened if this event had ended the war,
Tommy was lookin fresh in that French uniform
Floor Jansen is the 1 singing during the credits,
Yep. Just pinned my comment at the top with all my nightwish reactions.
@@whatitdodave also a real good movie to watch about this event is (2005) "Joyeux Noel" (Merry Christmas) shows the event from all 3 sides and even about the aftermath to some units involved
Epic!
I cannot watch a reaction to this song with a dry eye. Not possible. If I was there during that battle, I could not pick up iron the next day and shoot. I would not be able to. Someone would have to take me out, because I would refuse to fire on someone that I just hugged, laughed, and cried with hours before. 'Lest we forget'. We must try to be better and learn from the past ♥
Apparently, and please fact check me on this history buffs, Sabaton got the ending slightly wrong as neither side could open fire on each other due to the love they had built for each other. The COs on both sides had to switch out the troops for others. Just goes to show that love can really end wars.
most units involved were relocated to other sections of the line after the higher ups got wind of what happened.
I mean.. who can blame them. I doubt many people could just switch from talking to each other and giving each other gifts, to killing each other as if nothing happened.