53 – The Landing of Britain
Paris, capital of the French Republic
Germany’s plan, which was designed in response to the Ottoman provocation and Russia’s declaration of war, was successfully carried out. Just like Russia, the French Republic was greatly shocked by this.
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If the Ottoman Empire joined the war, it would have put Russia in a stranglehold. Even if Russia was already struggling, if it were to sink, France would be left alone.
Fortunately, a new friend was stretching its legs outside the ring.
It was Britain.
The peace mood created by Kaiser a while ago was completely shattered by the sudden Ottoman naval attack on Russia. Admiral Chersil did not miss this opportunity and clung on like a bulldog.
Newspapers wrote columns and shouted for a confrontation with the German Empire.
“It is clear that Kaiser’s peace plea was a lie. How can they move warships that are supposed to be neutral and make them attack their own enemies? Isn’t it obvious that it’s not a maneuver to forcibly increase the number of allies? Kaiser is nothing but a human without international law!”
Chersil’s argument received some resonance.
Nevertheless, there were also many British people who felt fear as they saw Germany gaining the upper hand day by day.
“It’s only been four months. In such a short time, Germany is trying to conquer the European continent. Kaiser is a more dangerous existence than Napoleon.”
“Isn’t it time to stop Germany’s expansion now?”
The psyche of the British people who feared the appearance of a superpower on the European continent began to lean towards the need to contain Germany.
“The words of Chul are not entirely wrong. If we let the scoundrel who disregards international law become the master of Europe, won’t our house catch fire?”
When the traditional interventionists gathered and lent their support, Chul stepped forward and swung his sword.
“We cannot overcome the current crisis with a weak prime minister who avoids war with Germany. We need a leader with firm determination!”
“Esquivas should resign!”
“Lloyd George for prime minister!”
Minister Lloyd George was promoted to the forefront.
Chul thought he would be the next prime minister, but the world didn’t think so. In the eyes of the people, Chul was just a nobleman with good bloodline and had never shown any achievements worthy of becoming a prime minister.
“I understand. If you all want me to resign, I will.”
When Kaiser moved the Ottoman Empire, Esquivas’ political blow as a leader of the peace policy was inevitable.
After Esquivas resigned, David Lloyd George, who took over the leadership of the Liberal Party, became the new prime minister.
The new prime minister, Lloyd George, declared that Esquivas’ peaceful neutrality policy had failed and that he would make the outlaws who broke the rules retreat with a strong response.
“We will no longer tolerate Kaiser’s provocations! The Ottoman Empire must provide Russia with appropriate compensation and return as a neutral country to ensure free passage through the Dardanelles-Bosphorus Strait. If they still break international norms, the British Empire will exercise its rightful authority as the guardian of international law.”
As Britain took a strong stance, France also gained strength in their political position. However, some politicians argued that at this point, they should seriously consider strengthening their ties with Germany, carrying the pessimistic public opinion about the war on their shoulders.
“If we become disadvantaged, the conditions will only become harsher. Now is the time to reconcile with Germany at a reasonable level while Britain sets the tone for intervention. Negotiation is the best option.”
“If Russia signs a separate strengthening agreement with Germany before us, our negotiating power will hit rock bottom. Start negotiations before that happens.”
Russia and France were allies, but they did not deeply trust each other. Russia was an autocracy, and France was a republic that proclaimed democratic socialism. Their systems were polar opposites. The only factor that bound them together was their “common enemy,” Germany. If they reconciled with Germany, the meaning of their alliance would be practically nonexistent. Whether it was reconciliation or surrender, it meant joining hands with Germany.
There was also a significant shift in public opinion within the republic.
“Let’s stop this tiresome war now. How many young people are we going to send to German soil to die?”
“The damn Germans! The price of bread keeps rising, and we’re dying!”
Amidst this, an incident occurred that shook the morale of the French army.
December 24, 1914, at the Metz-Gagetown Fortress in the western part of the German Empire.
The French army carried out large-scale tunneling operations to demolish the Gagetown Fortress. Initially, the German army was unaware of this fact, but they soon realized through the continuous vibrations caused by the excavation and aerial reconnaissance that the French were digging tunnels. The German army responded by constructing counter tunnels.
During this process, at the end of December, the tunnels of both sides intersected for the first time. The engineering units of both sides engaged in fierce combat, wielding shovels, pickaxes, and other tools in the dark underground.
It was already hot and difficult to breathe in this place, let alone having to constantly dig the ground and engage in combat. As a result, there were quite a few casualties among soldiers who collapsed from heatstroke or respiratory difficulties.
Despite these harsh conditions, the French 6th Engineering Brigade tried to expedite the tunneling as much as possible. However, it was not easy to complete the tunnels to the level where they could collapse the ground of the Gagetown Fortress within the deadline communicated from the higher-ups. It seemed that they would have to endure another month of grueling mole-like existence to finish the work.
“Since it won’t be finished on time anyway, it’s better to give the exhausted soldiers some rest.”
Colonel Henri Bernard, the commander of the engineering brigade, requested additional troops to guard the tunnels from the combat units while giving the fatigued soldiers a break. The request was gladly accepted, and during Christmas Eve, the soldiers of the engineering brigade were able to enjoy the fresh air on the ground.
The soldiers were very pleased with this order.
Coincidentally, the arrival of cigarettes, wine, chocolate, and other treats sent from the home front to boost morale during the Christmas Eve festivities further heightened the atmosphere.
As the French soldiers joyfully drank their beverages and enjoyed the night sky they rarely got to see, they suddenly heard familiar singing coming from the German camp across.
“Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright.”
“It’s a carol.”
The French soldiers chuckled as they briefly listened to the German soldiers’ singing.
“Those cowardly Germans. Trying to boost morale by resorting to all sorts of tricks.”
They thought the Germans were using deceitful psychological warfare.
But as they continued to listen to their chorus, they couldn’t help but feel a strange resonance.
“I can’t stand their terrible German pronunciation. Let’s sing for them!”
As a few soldiers started singing carols in French, the rest joined in.
“On a silent night, a holy night,
All is calm and bright.”
The soldiers on both sides raised their voices, as if in competition, creating a strange harmony. For a brief moment when their songs came together, a peculiar sense of solidarity was felt.
Though they aimed their rifles at each other, they were people of the same Christian civilization. The deep-rooted animosity between Germany and France, as well as intense nationalism, momentarily gave way. Some of the soldiers hummed along to the songs and had this thought:
“It’s Christmas Eve, I wonder if those German fellows are enjoying a good wine. German wine is trash, after all.”
“But we can’t give them any, so what’s the point?”
It was an absurd conversation, but it sparked a soldier’s interest.
“What if I brought them some?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Hey, Jean!”
One French soldier, intoxicated by the atmosphere, climbed up onto the parapet, holding a bottle of wine. The no-man’s-land between the trenches was a deadly zone where shells fell sporadically, and setting foot there was considered suicidal.
But he boldly walked towards the German side. It was an act even a madman wouldn’t do.
“Should we shoot him?”
“Let him be for now.”
The German soldiers were momentarily dumbfounded at the sight. They debated what to do and eventually lowered their aimed barrels.
“Hey, German friends. Even in war, a glass of wine isn’t a bad idea, right? Huh?”
As the French soldier shouted, shaking the wine, one German soldier who understood French cautiously approached, climbing up onto the parapet.
“Hey, the French guys might shoot us too.”
Despite the objections from the German soldiers, the soldier boldly walked towards the French side.
“Do you really mean to give that to us?”
When the German soldier approached and pointed at the wine, the French soldier handed it over, answering.
“Yeah, that’s right. It’s one of those days today. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.”
The German soldier hesitated for a moment before accepting it, then handed over the cigarettes and cookies he had received as Christmas gifts.
As the two soldiers met and exchanged stories, a strange atmosphere enveloped the battlefield. One German officer, holding a white flag, shouted towards the French trenches.
“I am a German officer. In return for your kindness, I would appreciate it if one of your officers could come out as well.”
In response to the German officer’s call, a French officer replied and jumped up onto the parapet.
“Let’s do it.”
The two officers met in no man’s land and shared cigarettes. The German officer said he would send a Christmas tree to commemorate Christmas Eve to the French army. The French area had completely cleared all the trees to secure their view for the clock, so the soldiers had no materials to make a Christmas tree.
The two officers made an agreement to cease fire for 24 hours for the exchange of the tree and a Christmas break. It was a unilateral action without the consent of the military high command.
Once the agreement was reached, the soldiers from both sides went up to the no man’s land and exchanged the items they had. Some soldiers cleaned up the area and created a makeshift soccer field, where they held a football match between the two countries. After the game, soldiers from both sides embraced each other and took pictures.
The commanders from both sides, who were unaware of this situation until they were belatedly informed, were taken aback by the fact that the soldiers had entered into a ceasefire voluntarily.
“Does that make any sense? Such behavior in Her Majesty’s army is an act of mutiny! Arrest them immediately!”
The French generals were equally furious.
“Our Republic’s fate is at stake in destroying the Gettysburg, and they made a truce and played around? Find the ringleaders immediately! They are traitors to the Republic who must be brought to military trial!”
The senior officers who received the generals’ orders came out to the scene and scolded the soldiers, but it was not easy to restore order once the atmosphere had become chaotic. The soldiers did not return to the trenches, no matter what they were told.
This commotion shocked the French.
“They were enemies fighting with guns, but they’re both Christians. Isn’t shedding blood like this pointless?”
“It’s already a losing war. Take advantage of the situation and put forward a proposal to strengthen ourselves, pretending we can’t defeat Germany.”
In the last week of December 1914, France fell into a complete state of paralysis. The French branch of the Second International began a nationwide strike, putting pressure on the government for an armistice.
The boiling public opinion, disobedience, and demands for strengthening completely undermined the power of the French government.
The French government, having lost half of its political power, lacked the strength to launch an aggressive offensive.
“100,000 people have died. We just need to take a few more steps. To waste so many sacrifices.”
The French military believed that now was their only chance, but they couldn’t launch an offensive without the government’s approval.
Thus, France’s time leading the offensive had come to an end.
Now, the fate of the negotiations rested with the newly appointed British Prime Minister, Lloyd George.