Children, look at this map, the black mark of which, must be erased.
You hide it with your little fingers and you mark it with red.
Then, whatever it may happen,
promise to go and find...
...the children of Alsace who are spreading their hands to us.
Let the green branch of hope to blosom in our beloved France.
Blossom from you, dear child. Grow up!
France is waiting for you!
To rid the map of every trace of Germany, and of the Hun.
We must exterminate that race.
We must not leave a single one.
Heed not their children's cries.
Best slay all now, the women, too.
Or else someday again they will rise.
Which if they're dead, they cannot do.
We have one and only enemy.
Who is digging the Germany's grave.
With a heart full of hate, gall and envy.
We have one and only enemy,
who raises his murderous hand.
You know the enemy's name. It's England.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
This is it.
War has been declared!
Well, little brother,...
...are you going to spend the war repainting statues?
I've put you down on the list, too!
In two days, we're all leaving for basic training in Glasgow.
At last, something's happening in our lives.
Well, are you coming?
Two more minutes, Mr. Sprink.
I have been ordered to read this message from our beloved Kaiser Wilhelm.
"This is a dark hour for Germany."
"Our land is besieged."
"And we must brandish the sword."
"I hope that God will give us strength to use it well..."
"...so we can resheathe it with dignity."
Two more minutes, Lieutenant!
We're going out!
The german trenches are 100 meters away.
We're bombing their machine-guns for more than an hour.
That's good for us.
We pass their first line and then the farm which is behind.
The 134th will relieve us tonight.
So we can get some rest.
The Scots will cover us from the left.
You'll recognize them from their black caps. Don't worry about them,
you'll only pay attention to what I say!
I'm like you!
I want to go back to my home as well!
So let's do what we have to do, and in one week we'll be back home for Christmas.
Right.
Let's do what has to be done!
Fix bayonets!
Load rifles!
Forward!
Come on!
Go ahead!
Don't stay here, little brother.
Someone one of us survives.
- No. - Don't stay. - No, William. No, William.
Come... Come on. Come on, William!
Yeah.
I abandoned him...
Like a coward... I abandoned him...
...and I let him die. Oh, why?
- You had no choice. - Oh, Father.
And now we must pray for him, and for all the other casualties.
The reinforcements arrived.
We're leaving, Dale.
- You stay here with the rest of the wounded. - Yes, Lieutenant.
I'll see you back at base.
I know you're in the trenches, Father.
It's me.
It's Andrew Duncan.
I'm not far, Father.
Father, I'm hit.
Eight feet.
Father.
The others... The others are too far away, but me...
Father.
You've got to come out and help.
That's it.
Just walk straight ahead and you'll be on top of me.
I knew... I knew I could count on you, Father.
Father, what the hell are you doing? This is a suicide!
Don't run off! Don't run off like that, damn you!
Get back! Get back here.
- You bastard, Father! - Cease fire!
- He was the stretcher-bearer! - What?
You shot the stretcher-bearer!
How do you know that?
Why did you shoot first?
It was a Scots marauder, sir.
- I Think I got him! - Good.
Stay put. With the slightest move, sound the alert!
Yes, sir.
Sprink!
Come with me.
Yes, Lieutenant!
Attention every one!
Leave the enemies weapons in the main trench!
- Go help them. - Allright.
We have to rebuild it.
Don't worry. No one saw me.
Did you get hurt?
Christ! What happened?
You were for barely 15 minutes in the trench.
- Reinforcements didn't even... - Their machine-guns annihilated us.
I lost a third of my men in 5 minutes.
You saw the Scots retreat on your left
and you left the farm.
Did you learn anything new?
I tried the Red Cross, but nothing.
Impossible to get news from the enemy-occupied zone.
Information say, the Germans are treating the civilians good.
Your wife must be at her parents... with the baby...
During the bombing, one of our canon exploded.
5 of our men and an officer died instantly.
I asked for you to replace him in that unit.
Artillery is good. You'll move up fast.
No.
I don't want the artillery. I'll stay here with my men.
Find another lieutenant. There are many.
I am the Major General here and I rule according to what I feel right.
You'll do what I tell you to.
You'll make Christmas in your unit.
Then you'll go to Poitiers for training. That's an order.
If you want your visit to remain secret, you better leave.
My orderly is coming soon.
You'll stay here for 3 days.
Then, you'll move in first line to the Delsaux farm.
The sector should be quiet for Christmas.
Get some rest.
I'll see you before you leave for Poitiers.
Goodnight.
Goodnight, General.
Lieutenant, I found you some blankets for tonight.
What's wrong, Lieutenant?
My wallet! I lost my wallet.
The wallet with the photo you showed me the other day?
Yes.
What a shame.
But you don't need photos to remember your wife's face.
I had a mishap, too.
Take a look, Lieutenant.
2 centimeters higher and I'd be dead.
It's still ringing!
Unstoppable, just like me, eh, Lieutenant?
In the briefing it says we put one every 5 meters.
Every five meters?
How many is that in all?
About 100,000.
Or 20 trips with train for Lille via Brussels.
Incredible.
Christmas trees.
It will take longer to send these trees in front than it would take to send our canons.
Let Miss Sörensen in.
How is he?
He's fine.
His regiment got attacked four days ago...
...but they pushed back the enemy.
Now, about your proposal...
I'm afraid... I can't accept it.
I feel that, as a Dane, you can't understand how serious the situation is.
For 5 months now,
2 million of our men are fighting without pause.
We have neither the time nor the urge... to organize a recital.
It took me a while to realize... that I approached the wrong person.
So I contacted the Kronprinz,...
...who'd be delighted to have a recital at his headquarters on Christmas Eve.
I was told you are responsible... not just for canons and convoys,
but also the soldiers.
So if you would kindly sign here,...
...next to the Kronprinz, before informing your men.
You'll only see him for one night. What's the point of that?
It will be much more than one night.
Our minutes are longer than yours.
Mother,
William and I got your package and your letter.
Thanks for the mittens and the mufflers.
It's so cold here, they're most welcome.
The thought of you at home all nice and warm keeps us going.
Thanks for the cake, too.
I hope we'll have some left for Christmas Eve.
Your two sons, who love you.
Good morning, Father.
Three cases of whiskey. That's a lot of ammunition.
I presume I'm invited.
Sir, my men are completely exhausted.
We're all tired, Gordon,
every single one of us.
But I can bring you no relief before three days.
And if the Germans do attack tonight or tomorrow, as is suggested they will,...
...you will just have to deal with it.
Yes, sir.
Our valiant stretcher-bearer.
You're the one who nearly got one of his own men killed in no man's land.
A stretcher-bearer is supposed to save lives, not endanger them.
I gave orders,...
...very clear orders, that it was forbidden to leave these trenches...
...in case of a German counter attack.
Yes, sir. But the situation...
But you don't give a damn!
Now I suggest you drop the St. Bernard act in future...
...and never forget...
...something called military discipline!
Is that understood?
Do you understand?
Yes, sir.
Perhaps you can tell me what you are doing here...
...in the front line in the absence of any combat?
I was visiting a friend, sir.
What?
A friend.
Where do you think you are?
Your local parish?
Now you will return with me immediately to the back line.
Well, come on, man. Make yourself useful for once.
Sir.
This way is shorter.
We move up here, we take a right through the cludgie here.
- There are latrines this way. - This way?
- Yes, this way, sir. - Get me out of here, will you?
Enough.
I'm sorry that we have to go through the cludgie, sir.
- It's just, I told you... - Christ!
- Sniper, sir. Sniper, sir. - Jesus!
What a bloody disgusting mess.
A bad place to take a fall, sir.
- Just get me out of here, will you? - Yes, sir. Absolutely, sir.
Look, shut up, will you? Just shut up.
As a priest, I am used to the silence.
That's enough.
- What's going on? - Nothing.
- Just a rifle shot. It's dead calm. - Good.
Be carefull, they won't stop, even on Christmas Eve.
Follow me.
Do you know who's brilliant idea that was?
No.
That's for you, Lieutenant.
Sprink!
You'll be leaving us for one night.
To go where?
Home, in a way, where you'll be better.
Why do you dislike me, Lieutenant?
After your regiment was disbanded, I had to take you.
But I prefer masons, bakers, farmers.
Artists like you are just a waste,
nothing but a millstone.
Now go. This officer will take you.
Get a move on!
It's 10 o'clock and nothing's done!
Take it easy there.
It's not too short?
I told you, Lieutenant, I'm the best barber in Lens.
Even the mayor used to come to my shop.
And Henri Hennebicque, was he your customer, too?
Hennebicque? Doesn't sound familiar.
He was my father-in-law.
Deputy mayor. Lives at 21 Cypress Alley.
You never told me, sir.
I know Cypress Alley well.
I went there several times to get my bike fixed...
...at Narcisse Denoyelle's, number 43.
I can see it right now, a little blue gate.
I think I can tell you, now.
Sometimes, at nights, I'm heading to the road...
...towards the farm, slowly, so I won't get killed...
..and I sit there and I look.
I know the Delsaux farm pretty well.
I was going there with my bike to get eggs and milk.
Just beyond the farm is the road to Lens.
Straight to Lens.
On foot, I'd be back home in less than an hour.
With no rush.
One hour.
My mother would wait for me at the door...
...with a cup filled with hot coffee,
just like before.
What a nuisance, these damn lice!
There you go.
I think I'm done, Lieutenant.
Well?
Ponchel.
There's no mirror in front.
Christ, how stupid am I?
But I got you a great haircut, sir, you're ready for the party tonight.
- If you say so. - I do.
Welcome, Miss.
My pleasure.
Please.
Miss Sörenson, it is a pleasure.
I will not tolerate mistakes! Clean it up right now!
Excuse me. Do you know where is Nikolaus Sprink?
Where is Nikolaus Sprink?
I think he arrived an hour ago.
Sprink? The tenor?
Yes.
Miss, we owned this house for 300 years now,...
...but it is no longer our home since September 23rd.
Ask somewhere else, if you can.
If they have any taste, they will put him in my room on the top floor.
Thank you.
You poor thing! Good taste indeed!
Prussians with taste? You shouldn't even talk to these people.
No! I have lice.
We'll sing together again, just like before.
I am not like before, Anna.
Sing for me! Sing for us.
Your Highness.
I'm glad to see the war didn't affect you.
That you volunteered as a private...
...was most impressive.
I did not volunteer, your Highness.
I was called like every one else.
I congratulate you on your initiative, miss.
You remind us, that despite the war, it is Christmas.
Thanks to you and your voices...
...tonight I'll feel like I am in Berlin,...
...where I hope to return as soon as possible.
Perhaps next spring,...
...if everything goes according to plan.
Next spring.
Do you smoke?
Everyone smokes in the trenches.
You have to kill your time in any way possible.
It's five years today since the day we met.
In Oslo.
Five years passed already?
You have to flirt with death to realize how time flies away...
...that's the terrible thing.
All these fat and sated men, parading and drinking champange.
Anna, I must return to the front.
To sing for my comrades.
Tonight, more than any other time.
For months I was trying to make this true, and you want to go?
I don't want to leave you,
but I must go and sing for them.
I'll return after that.
I'll come with you.
No way!
It's too dangerous. You don't realize.
Since the time you left,
not even a single second passed without my wondering if you were still alive.
You are alive, and I am with you. Nothing else matters.
I was waiting this night for very long.
I don't want to lose a single moment.
And without my pass from the Kaiser, you'll not go far.
You have a pass from the Kaiser?
The Major General places his trust on you.
Hell, Lieutenant!
Couldn't they leave us quiet on Christmas Eve?
We always have to do the dirty work.
I volunteer to go.
I don't want trouble, Gueusselin.
Go there, approach their lines, locate their machine guns and return.
Understood?
And if they see me with this moonlight, can I return fire?
Go, be discreet and come back fast, if you want a hot meal.
Hey lads. Where'd you get the pipes?
- Aye, where'd you get the pipes, then? - I found them.
Well, the guys from 92nd heard we were going to be in the trench for Christmas.
That was decent. I don't suppose there's a spare set kicking around, huh?
Sit here. You can use mine.
Come on, Padre, give us a song.
What about I'm Dreaming of Home?
Come on, boys, louder!
Looks like they're having fun there.
Would you like us to have fun as well?
This is Anna Sörensen.
- Good evening. - Good evening.
Good evening.
What's all this?
Are you crazy, and you brought a lady here?
Lieutenant,...
...I convinced the Kronprinz that a little music wouldn't do any harm.
Good.
You can start.
Lieutenant!
Come and see. Something weird is happening.
I don't like this, Lieutenant.
Could be a diversion for some dirty trick.
Sprink!
Get down!
Good evening, Englishmen!
Good evening Germans.
But we're not English, we're Scottish.
It was very nice, but that's enough.
This is not the Berlin opera.
You're right.
It's even better than Berlin.
Well I never. That beats the lot.
Look at that. A summit meeting and we're not even invited.
Shut up, Ponchel!
What the hell is going on here?
Good evening.
Do you speak English?
Yes, a little.
Wonderful.
We were talking about a cease fire
for Christmas Eve. What do you think?
The outcome of this war won't be decided tonight.
I don't think anyone would criticize us for laying down our rifles on Christmas Eve.
Don't worry, it is just for tonight.
What the hell are they doing?
Maybe the Germans are fed up
and want to surrender.
I would be surprised.
Ponchel, give me a bottle of champagne and my beaker.
Thank you.
Merry Christmas.
Who's the idiot who did that?
Merry Christmas!
Good evening, I'm Anna.
You first. Go ahead.
Felix. Where have you been? Felix.
No, his name is not Felix. It's Nestor.
- It's Felix. - No, Nestor.
It's the cat from the Delsaux farm. No, I know better than you.
- Felix. - No, it's Nestor.
Take it, I don't want any more.
- It's Nestor. - Felix.
- See? It's Nestor. Nestor. Ee? It's Nestor. - Felix.
Nestor's is going to the French side.
My wife.
- She's a pretty girl. - Very.
This is my wife.
Montparnasse.
It's my wife's favorite part in Paris.
The Luxemburg Gardens.
By the way, you haven't shown us a picture of your wife.
No. Like you, I had a photo of her, but...
...I lost it.
I've drawn her face, but...
...that's not really the same.
Do you live on Rue Vavin?
Yes.
I think I...
...I find your wallet in my trench, the night of the assault.
I kept it because of the address.
There's a small hotel, on Rue Vavin.
I spent a week there with my wife, two years ago.
It was our honeymoon.
Thank you very much.
You're welcome.
Hold on, that's Gueusselin's bottle.
Who cares? He went to sleep.
I would be surprised if he did.
Thank you, very much, sirs.
It's good.
How many months pregnant was she on that photo?
Five months.
She was in Lens, at her parents,
last July.
Then there she had complications and had to stay in bed.
I asked to stay with her, but I couldn't.
I was called to go to war, and had to leave her there.
But don't you write each other?
How is she?
I've had no letters from her since September.
They never make it here.
I don't even know if it's a boy or a girl.
I failed you.
I failed you here.
Hey, Scotsman!
You know what I got here?
The French gave me some champagne.
Do you want to drink?
Come.
Sing for us.
Sing for them.
Good evening, gentlemen.
Please. Make way.
Thank you. Thank you.
You were wonderful.
I'm Jewish. Christmas means nothing to me.
But I'll never forget this night.
Thank you.
So, what will happen with the young lady?
Yes, I wanted to ask you.
Could she spend the night in your shelter?
I meant, when is she leaving?
Tomorrow morning.
Fine.
Unfortunately, you cannot sleep in my shelter.
I'm not alone.
There's a big rat, for 3 days now, but I'll get him in the end.
We'll find a solution.
Good night, Lieutenant.
Good night.
Don't worry, miss.
I'll find you a safe place.
Thanks, Jörg.
Tell me, Lieutenant.
What did you put in your report for HQ?
Well, I wrote, "24 December 1914."
"No hostilities on the German side tonight."
Well, that's the truth.
Tonight,...
...these men were drawn to that altar like it was a fire in the middle of winter.
Even those who aren't devout came to warm themselves.
Maybe just to be together.
Maybe to forget the war.
Maybe.
But the war won't forget us.
No more flares!
Merry Christmas.
Oskar. Oskar.
Oskar! Oskar!
Listen. Someone's digging out there.
Mines. Those damn Scots are digging a mine sap.
They'll fill it with explosives and blow us up.
No, they're not digging any sap.
They are, listen to me!
You just became too friendly with them last night.
Yeah?
- Look who's talking. - Look!
Jonathan? Jonathan, come with me.
Jonathan.
Dale.
Dale!
What the hell do you think you're doing? The truce is over.
Any minute now the Germans will start shooting at you.
Get back in the trench!
Now!
Get down!
Down!
- Morning, Lieutenant. - Good morning.
Is it possible that we officers talk about the dead?
The dead?
Ponchel!
Bring your coffee!
Thank you.
Thanks.
Thanks, Ponchel. You can leave us now.
My men will remove the bodies of the men killed last week,...
...so that you can bury them.
And we will return the remains of your men
who fell in front of our lines last November.
That makes sense.
Burying the dead on the day Christ was born.
Makes sense.
Yes.
I'm fast.
Sorry, but why do you have an alarm go off every morning at ten o'clock?
Is it for your changing of the guard?
Oh, no.
No, no, it's just that my aide-de-camp used to have coffee every morning at ten o'clock, with his mother.
He is worried he will forget about all that with the war.
We've just got used to it.
So we.
Hey, do you need a hand?
GOD WITH US
Please, will you come, Father?
In a few days, their families,...
...their wives, will receive the bad news.
It would be better not to think about it.
For them, nothing will ever be the same it used to be.
And you, too.
One day they'll cover you and dump you in a hole.
Let us go, while there's still time.
I have my pass. Holland is not far.
They have peace there, we can live.
I can't do that, I'll be a deserter.
No it's not. We'll be together.
I'm just a soldier, like every one else.
I have duties, like everyone here.
Holland is not far.
They'll get us, even your pass won't save us.
There is another way.
The French border are 100 meters away. We only have to cross it.
I've made tea. Perhaps you'd like some.
Come.
By the way,...
...the others asked me to give you these letters.
We don't trust the military post.
And as you're going back to Berlin, we thought...
Sure.
Come on, Morallec!
Go for it!
Looks like trouble for the Jerries.
I heard about your wife last night.
If you like,
I can pass a letter to her.
Why would you do that? If you get caught...
A letter won't stop us winning this war!
And anyhow, when we take over Paris, and everything has finished,...
...you can invite us for a drink in Rue Vavin.
You don't have to invade Paris to come by for a drink.
How many cartridges you have to shoot every day?
How many?
Eight.
- Eight? - Eight.
Ah, eight. Eight.
And you?
- Seven. - Seven?
- Seven, yeah. - Seven and eight.
Us, five. Doesn't surprise me.
Yesterday, William managed to bag two Jerries
who'd been sniping at us for hours.
If he keeps this up,
he'll qualify as the best shot in the whole platoon.
All our mates have got eyes on your cake,
but William and I are guarding it closely.
Lots of love from both of us.
Still here? Why didn't they send a vehicle?
We were waiting, but none came to get her.
I guess the party dragged up till morning in the headquarters and they're not awake yet.
They called me from the HQ five minutes ago.
They told me you dissapeared.
They thought you'd deserted, Sprink.
I told them you were here with Miss Sörensen.
That you came to sing for your comrades.
That really impressed them.
They told me to keep an eye on you till they arrive.
Miss Sörensen will return to Berlin...
...and you will be under arrest.
For two weeks.
For disobedience on the front.
Disobedience on the front?
I don't understand, Lieutenant.
So what's the plan for tomorrow?
A little football match...
...and an aperitif with those across the way?
Or will you shoot them like rabbits after you drink your champagne?
Well, Lieutenant?
Whats the meaning of all that?
It will be more odd if you die tommorow than if you died yesterday.
That's enough, Sprink!
Any coffee left?
Felix.
Damn that cat!
Here, Nestor.
Is the French Lieutenant here?
Yes, he just arrived.
What're you doing here?
Every one back at his camp, we said.
I know, I know but...
...our artillery will start shelling you in 10 minutes.
So I suggest you come and shelter in my trench.
If you had been relieved, I wouldn't have come to warn your successors.
They would have shot you before you take a step in no man's land anyway.
Par for the course.
Don't say a word, Sprink.
Bull's-eye.
Sorry.
Damn! We'll have to rebuild that!
By the way,...
...that letter for my wife. You told me that...
We ceased fire.
It's time for you to go back.
I hope you both make it through the war.
I don't think it's over yet.
I wouldn't be surprised if our own artillery opened fire after your attack.
Par for the course!
This time, I think we should seperate.
I'm glad I met you.
Perhaps, under other circumstances, we could have...
Yes, maybe.
Even a drink in Rue Vavin as a tourist.
Yes.
That would be, chouette. Is that how you say it?
Yes.
Your French are better than my German.
Of course. But your wife is not German.
Well...
Good luck.
You, too.
- Goodbye. - Good luck.
Let's go, boys!
Lieutenant.
I managed earlier to trace all their machine guns.
It's all there.
Jörg.
What are you doing here? Every one left already.
We want you to take us as prisoner.
Prisoner? That's impossible!
How am I going to explain your presence to my superiors?
I can't do that!
Go back to your trenches, playtime's over.
Sir.
If we go back to the German side they'll separate us.
Put us in whatever prison you like, but let us be together,
I beg you.
- Couturier. - Lieutenant?
Take these two to the rear, to the village.
They're prisoners. Put them in the schoolroom
till they go somewhere else.
And stay with them. We'll be there tommorow.
Lieutenant.
Can you give these letters to the Red Cross?
It's important.
Ponchel!
Morralec, where's Ponchel? I've been looking for him an hour now.
He said he was going to eat something, sir.
Eat?
My dear, I cling to your memory,...
...like a climber cling to his rope, so he won't fall.
The poor guy died between our lines.
Let President Poincaré come take Lorraine himself for all I care.
Try as we did,
before we knew it, they'd scored six.
They admitted later that most of them play together
in a Munich club called Bayern.
I will never forget her voice in the night.
I stayed in my trench, in peace.
Drink with those bastards? I'd rather die!
Better trenches, I must admit.
The Scots photographer promised us pictures at New Year's Eve.
Be a chance to get back together.
A Bavarian gave me his address, to visit him when the war is over.
We and the British decided to accept the Krauts' invitation.
We'll spend New Year's Eve with the Germans.
We'll sing that song the Scots taught us.
And above all, we'll drink to the health of all those bastards,...
...who, sitting at their warm houses, and sent us here to die.
Come on. Come on.
He's all yours now.
Give me some water.
You're being sent back to your parish in Scotland.
I've brought you your marching orders.
I belong with those who are in pain, and...
...who have lost their faith.
I belong here.
I am very disappointed, you know.
When you requested permission to accompany the recruits from your parish,...
...I personally vouched for you.
But then, when I heard what had happened...
...I prayed for you.
I sincerely believe that our Lord Jesus Christ guided me...
...in what was the most important mass of my life.
I tried to be true to His trust...
...and carry His message to all, whoever they may be.
Those men who listened to you on Christmas Eve...
...will very soon bitterly regret it.
Because in a few days' time,
their regiment is to be disbanded... by order of His Majesty the King.
Where will those poor boys end up on the front line now?
And what will their families think?
Excuse me, Your Grace. The boys are ready.
Oh, yes.
They're waiting for me, to preach a sermon...
...to the soldiers who are replacing those who went astray with you.
And may our Lord Jesus Christ guide your steps back...
...to the straight and narrow path.
Is that truly the path of our Lord?
You're not asking the right question.
Think about this.
Are you really suitable to remain among us, in the house of our Lord?
Christ, our Lord said,...
..."Think not that I come to bring peace on Earth."
"I come not to bring peace, but a sword."
The Gospel according to St. Matthew.
Well, my brethren,...
...the sword of the Lord is in your hands.
You are the very defenders of civilization itself.
The forces of good against the forces of evil.
For this war is indeed a crusade!
A holy war...
...to save the freedom of the world.
In truth, I tell you,...
...the Germans do not act like us,...
...neither do they think like us,...
...for they are not, like us,...
...children of God.
Are those who shell cities populated only by civilians,...
...the children of God?
Are those who advance armed,...
...hiding behind women and children,...
...the children of God?
With God's help,...
...you must kill the Germans,...
...good or bad, young or old.
Kill every one of them,...
...so that it won't have to be done again.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
May God Almighty bless you.
The Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost.
- Amen. - Amen.
Everyone to their posts!
Every man to his post!
Quickly!
No, stay here!
What're you doing? Come back!
Well, what the hell are you doing? Shoot the bloody Kraut!
What are you waiting for?
Shoot him, God damn it! Holidays are over!
What the hell do you think you're playing at?
Shoot him!
Stand down from your posts.
Shame on you, Gordon.
Shame on you.
It was very stupid to die disguised as a German, right, sir?
What the hell were you doing?
I had a German who helped me.
I saw my mother.
We drank coffee together, just like before.
You have a son.
His name is Henri.
How did you let yourself...
If you came to preach, leave now!
Don't you realize how serious this is?
It's high treason! Punished by death.
But we can't execute 200 men.
That's what saves you.
And I'm not counting all the other cases of fraternization which reported since that.
If public opinion hears of this...
Have no fear, no one here will tell.
I hope so! I mean I think so!
You think so?
The men involved in that are not ashamed of what they've done.
If they won't tell it, it's because no one would believe or understand them.
Unbelievable! Carousing with the enemy while part of the country is occupied!
The country? What does the country know of what we're suffering here?
Of what we're doing without complaining?
Let me tell you something, I feel closer to the Germans...
...than to those who cry, "Kill the Krauts!" while eating their turkey!
That's nonsense.
No. It's just that you're not living the same war as me.
Or as those on the other side.
You and your men will rejoin the Verdun sector.
You're right about one thing.
I don't understand this war.
My corps was the cavalry.
You'd make a career there, like I told you.
Today, I have to fight a way where the shovel outweighs the rifle.
A war in which people swap addresses with the enemy,
so they can meet when it's all over.
Plus the cat we found with a note from the Germans, "Good luck, comrades!"
I was ordered to arrest the cat for high treason...
...until further notice.
You're a grandfather, Dad.
His name is Henri.
What are you talking about?
How did you know that?
You wouldn't understand.
Henri?
Not bad.
Henri Audebert.
Let's try and survive this war for him.
Heh.
Sit down.
In two days, you will be in East-Prussia...
...to take part in an offensive against the Russian army.
I hope you'll show pugnacity in the face of the enemy.
This train will cross the fatherland,...
...but it won't be possible for you to see your families.
Why?
I think you know why.
Long live Kaiser Wilhelm!
Long live the Kaiser!
They're giving these to almost every one.
This film is dedicated to the memory of German, British and French soldiers
who fraternized on Christmas Eve 1914 in several places on the front.
This film is inspired by real historical events.
All resemblance to people living or dead is purely coincidental
and independent of the will of the author.