The war is ongoing, and there are a lot of souvenirs. It is normal for the coalition forces to exchange souvenirs. A market dedicated to exchanging souvenirs has been formed in Ypres. The off-duty officers and soldiers will bring their trophies to the market to set up stalls. Many residents around Ypres
will also participate in it.
It has to be said that the accumulation of old Europe's colonization of the world over hundreds of years is indeed rich. An inconspicuous country like Belgium once had more than two million square kilometers of colonies in Africa, so all kinds of trophies on the market
In terms of variety, gold products from the Amazon forest, diamonds from Africa, and gemstones from Ceylon are all very popular.
For the Southern African Expeditionary Force, ceramics from the East and ink paintings that white people cannot understand are more popular. White people mainly paint realistic oil paintings. They cannot understand the freehand style of oriental ink paintings and cannot feel the square characters.
The core message I want to convey is that since the Opium War, countless oriental cultural relics have been lost to Europe. From top to bottom, the Southern African Expeditionary Force began to pay attention to this information after they came to France.
This kind of conscious collection can be guided. The price of Oriental cultural relics purchased by the Military Service Society is higher than the price of gold and jewelry, so there are really a lot of things sent back to southern Africa during this period, which are used to build two or three museums.
All are more than enough.
On Christmas Day, the 11th Division suddenly heard the singing of "Silent Night" coming from the direction of the German positions. A hundred years ago, the Austrian country priest Joseph Mach and the organist Franz Cooper co-composed this song
Song. Last night, the Anglo-French Allied Forces and German radio stations played this song. One version was sung by Austrian opera star Olise Schumann. Her two sons were both on the battlefield, one in the Allied Forces and the other in the Army.
German Army.
"Christmas Eve, holy night, silence and radiance envelope the Virgin and Child -"
The singer was a baritone with a rich voice, who had obviously received professional training.
This is not surprising. The background of soldiers during the world wars was very complex. There were Olympic champions, university professors, and opera singers. They are all fighting for what they think is justice, just like ordinary soldiers.
“How kind, how warm, the Holy Child sleeps peacefully in God’s blessing and peace——”
There are also talented people here in the coalition forces, and people will soon continue singing.
“I want to see who is singing——” Sergeant Ruiz of the 2nd Los Angeles Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Brigade of the 11th Division suddenly stood up.
"You are crazy, the Germans will shoot you -" Corporal Wilson grabbed Ruiz.
"No, today is like our New Year for Europeans. No one wants to shoot on this day." Ruiz insisted. He also knew that it was risky, but he was willing to give it a try.
"You have to think clearly, if the Germans shoot -" Wilson disagreed and winked at Private Tommy next to him.
Tommy is a supplementary soldier who just arrived in France before Christmas. He and Ruiz Wilson formed a combat team.
Before Tommy could find the company commander, Ruiz put down his rifle and jumped out of the trench.
This was really a risky move. When Ruiz had just jumped out of the trench, Wilson heard the singing on the German position opposite stopped for a moment, and then the sound became louder, followed by a man wearing a traditional German pointed helmet and wearing a standard military uniform.
German soldiers in coats and without rifles walked out of the German trenches with their hands raised.
After suffering so many losses, the Germans finally learned their lesson, and the trenches were no worse than the expeditionary force.
This was to be blamed on the British and French troops who lost their positions. If they had not lost their positions, the Germans would not have known the trench structure of the Southern African Expeditionary Force.
Well now, realizing the benefits of trenches, the pragmatic Germans quickly absorbed and improved them. In the future, the casualties of the attacking troops will be greater, and it will be more difficult for the British and French allied forces to win.
In the current position, in order to facilitate the troops' attack, there are no barbed wire fences or minefields in front of the trenches. Wilson and Tommy watched Louis walk out of the trenches, then put down their rifles and walked out with their hands raised.
He was still singing "Silent Night". Although he was a bit out of his mind due to his guilty conscience, the message he conveyed was still very definite.
More soldiers also came out of the German position.
Soon, the two troops, who were still at war, met in the center of the battlefield.
Ruiz finally saw a living German soldier up close.
The German who sang was burly and bearded. There were blood stains and mud on his military coat. It was obvious that he had fought bloody battles before.
The bearded German soldier also had scratches and frostbite on his face. It seemed that the German army's measures to keep warm were not very good.
While Ruiz was observing the bearded German soldier, the German soldier was also observing Ruiz with cautious and curious eyes.
Soon the distance between them was only about two meters. Ruiz scratched his head and stretched his right hand towards his chest pocket with slow movements.
The bearded German soldier's body trembled visibly, and his voice began to tremble.
Ruiz pulled out a pack of cigarettes issued by the Southern African Expeditionary Force.
A large group of German soldiers let out a sigh of relief at the same time, and the sight of more than a dozen people blowing out white air at the same time was simply ridiculous.
Ruiz threw the cigarette to the bearded German soldier from a distance.
The bearded German soldiers hurriedly caught it, and then a large group of German soldiers began to carve it up.
This pack of cigarettes was smoked by Ruiz, and it wasn't enough. The German soldiers who didn't get it looked at Ruiz with sad eyes.
Immediately more cigarettes were thrown.
The bearded German soldier threw a bar of chocolate to Ruiz, then took out a bottle of wine and took a sip before handing it to Ruiz.
Ruiz reached out to take it. Perhaps because the bottle had been carried in his arms, the bottle was not cold and felt very warm.
Ruiz opened the bottle and took a big sip. He grinned and quickly took a bite of chocolate. Then he handed the bottle to Wilson beside him. He took out a can of peas from Tommy's backpack. After thinking about it, he put the can of peas in again.
Put it back and replaced it with a box of lunch meat.
Luncheon meat was obviously more popular with the German soldiers. A box of luncheon meat was not enough for a dozen people. Soon more luncheon meat was handed over in exchange for more ham and bacon. A thin and small German soldier
The soldier actually handed Tommy a bottle of beer. Drinking beer in the winter, you deserve to lose weight.
"Hello -" the bearded German soldier suddenly spoke in English.
It would be great to be able to speak English, and the atmosphere immediately became warm. Some idiot with a brilliant mind even brought a football, and a friendly horse race started immediately.
It will definitely still be Germany versus the British and French forces.
As a result, the British and French forces, whose cooperation was not smooth and unskilled, were defeated ten to zero by the Germans.
When the score was 3 to 0, Ruiz asked for the team from the Southern African Expeditionary Force to take over. The team composed of the British and French forces did not agree. When the score was 10 to 0, they realized that there was no way to save the situation, and then gave the ball to Southern Africa.
An expeditionary force.
Alas, I don’t forget to take the blame at times like this, it’s hopeless!
The team composed of the Southern African Expeditionary Force did not admit defeat and soon gave the Germans a score of ten to zero.
Thanks to Roque for attaching great importance to training. Sports such as football and rugby are very popular among the southern African military. They are educational and entertaining, and can also strengthen the physical fitness of officers and soldiers and cultivate their team awareness. When Roque was still at the Johannesburg Police Station
, the Johannesburg Police Department has a football team.
After playing songs, exchanging food, and playing football, the bearded German soldier gave Ruiz a big hug before leaving.
Ruiz knows what this hug means. After today, it will still be until death.
"My name is Ruiz, I come from Los Angeles in Nyasaland. If you have the opportunity to come to Nyasaland, don't forget to come to me. I will invite you to drink in the best tavern in Nyasaland -
—" Ruiz did not give a detailed address. There is a high probability that everyone here will not survive the war.
"My name is Hofkins, a Hamburg man. If you go to Hamburg, go to Hank's at Cooks, and I'll treat you to the most authentic burger -" Hofkins had sadness in his eyes, and he thought for a moment.
, took off a silver cross from his neck and handed it to Ruiz, with Hofkins' body temperature still on it.
Ruiz took the cross and put it around his neck, took out a lighter engraved with "Every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the world" from the inner pocket of his coat and handed it to him. He hugged Hofkins again, and then walked over without looking back.
Walk to the position of the British and French allied forces.
Back in the trench, what awaited Ruiz was the anxious-looking company commander and the indifferent-looking military police.
The matter was quickly reported to Roque. Joffre and Frenzi did not make a fuss about it, but just emphasized that similar incidents should not happen in the future.
Haig was the most violent, demanding the harshest punishment for all soldiers who walked out of the trenches on Christmas Day.
On Christmas Day, this kind of thing happened not just once, but several times, in different positions.
Rock firmly disagrees with punishing soldiers. Soldiers are also human beings and have the right to rest between wars. Even if the war is cruel, it cannot cover up the light of humanity.
Rock doesn't want a war machine with only killing in his mind. Soldiers will eventually leave the battlefield and return home to resume a peaceful life. The trauma left by the war may stay with them forever, but Rock hopes that the world war will leave a lasting legacy for the soldiers.
The memory of the battlefield is not just the bloody battlefields and the cold and dirty trenches.
"This is collaboration with the enemy and must be resolutely stopped. All soldiers must accept punishment!" Haig insisted, his howling echoing back and forth in the headquarters, like a lone wolf abandoned by the pack.
Joffre and Ferenczi were very stubborn, and they would not express their opinions easily on such matters.
There were also staff officers and adjutants like Angel Barton in the headquarters. These people looked at Haig with undisguised hatred.
"You are an inhumane butcher. In your eyes, soldiers are victims that can be consumed at will. You can do whatever you want with your soldiers, but don't even think about touching a hair of my people. If you push me harder, I will
Believe it or not, I will beat you up!" Rock's voice was not soft at all. If the ball is a big deal, is it worthy of being put on the line?