Christmas Truce of 1914 in World War I

The 1914 Christmas Truce occurred December 24 to 25 (in some places December 24 through January 1), 1914, during the first year of World War I (1914 to 1918). After five months of bloody fighting on the Western Front, peace descended over the trenches during the Christmas season of 1914. Though not endorsed by the high command, a series of informal truces occurred that saw troops on both sides celebrate together and enjoy singing and sporting events.   Background With the beginning of World War I in August 1914, Germany commenced the Schlieffen Plan. Updated in 1906, this plan called for German forces to move through Belgium with the intention of encircling French troops along the Franco-German border and winning a fast and decisive victory. With France knocked out of the war, men could be shifted east for a campaign against Russia. Put into motion, the first stages of the plan achieved success during the Battle of the Frontiers and the German cause was further enhanced by a stunning triumph over the Russians at Tannenberg in late-August. In Belgium, the Germans drove back the small Belgian Army and beat the French at the Battle of Charleroi as well as the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) at Mons. A Bloody Autumn Falling back to the south, the BEF and French finally were able to halt the German advance at the First Battle of the Marne in early September. Stymied, the Germans retreated behind the Aisne River. Counterattacking at the First Battle of the Aisne, the Allies failed to dislodge the Germans and took heavy losses. Stalemated on this front, both sides began the Race to the Sea as they sought to outflank each other. Marching north and west, they stretched the front to the English Channel. As both sides fought for the upper hand, they clashed in Picardy, Albert, and Artois. Ultimately reaching the coast, the Western Front became a continuous line reaching to the Swiss frontier. For the British, the year concluded with the bloody First Battle of Ypres in Flanders where they sustained over 50,000 casualties. Peace on the Front After the heavy fighting of the late summer and fall of 1914, one of the mythic events of World War I occurred. The 1914 Christmas Truce began on Christmas Eve along the British and German lines around Ypres, Belgium. While it took hold in some areas manned by the French and Belgians, it was not as widespread as these nations viewed the Germans as invaders. Along the 27 miles of front manned by the British Expeditionary Force, Christmas Eve 1914 began as a normal day with firing on both sides. While in some areas firing began to slacken through the afternoon, in others it continued at its regular pace. This impulse to celebrate the holiday season amid the landscape of war has been traced to several theories. Among these was the fact that the war was only four months old and the level of animosity between the ranks was not as high as it would be later in the war. This was complemented by a sense of shared discomfort as the early trenches lacked amenities and were prone to flooding. Also, the landscape, aside from the newly dug trenches, still appeared relatively normal, with fields and intact villages all of which contributed to introducing a degree of civilization to the proceedings. Private Mullard of the London Rifle Brigade wrote home, we heard a band in the German trenches, but our artillery spoilt the effect by dropping a couple of shells right in the centre of them. Despite this, Mullard was surprised at sunset to see, trees stuck on top of the [German] trenches, lit up with candles, and all of the men sitting on top of the trenches. So, of course, we got out of ours and passed a few remarks, inviting each other to come over and have a drink and a smoke, but we did not like to trust each other at first. The Sides Meet The initial force behind the Christmas Truce came from the Germans. In most cases, this began with the singing of carols and the appearance of Christmas trees along the trenches. Curious, Allied troops, who had been inundated with propaganda depicting the Germans as barbarians, began to join in the singing which led to both sides reaching out to communicate. From these first hesitant contacts informal ceasefires were arranged between units. As the lines in many places were only 30 to 70 yards apart, some fraternization between individuals had taken place prior to Christmas, but never on a large scale. For the most part, both sides returned to their trenches later on Christmas Eve. The following morning, Christmas was celebrated in full, with men visiting across the lines and gifts of food and tobacco being exchanged. In several places, games of soccer were organized, though these tended to be mass kick abouts rather than formal matches. Private Ernie Williams of the 6th Cheshires reported, I should think there were about a couple of hundred taking part...There was no sort of ill-will between us. Amid the music and sports, both sides frequently joined together for large Christmas dinners. Unhappy Generals While the lower ranks were celebrating in the trenches, the high commands were both livid and concerned. General Sir John French, commanding the BEF, issued stern orders against fraternizing with the enemy. For the Germans, whose army possessed a long history of intense discipline, the outbreak of popular will among their soldiery was cause for worry and most stories of the truce were suppressed back in Germany. Though a hard line was taken officially, many generals took a relaxed approach seeing the truce as an opportunity to improve and re-supply their trenches, as well as scout out the enemys position. Back to Fighting For the most part, the Christmas Truce only lasted for Christmas Eve and Day, though in some areas it was extended through Boxing Day and New Years. As it ended, both sides decided on signals for the recommencement of hostilities. Reluctantly returning to war, the bonds forged at Christmas slowly eroded as units rotated out and the fighting became more ferocious. The truce had largely worked due to a mutual feeling that the war would be decided at another place and time, most likely by someone else. As the war went on, the events of Christmas 1914 became increasing surreal to those who had not been there.

Walt Disney Company s Organization - 967 Words

Introduction According to Investor Relations, The Walt Disney Company’s â€Å"exemplifies an organization composed of four strategic business units which, with the consideration of the consolidated revenue, represented roughly an enormous 35.5 billion dollars in 2007.† They are â€Å"Disney Consumer Products, Studio Entertainment, Parks and Resorts, and Media Networks Broadcasting, and these can be further subdivided into 28 categories and are composed of an overabundance of brands† (Walt Disney, 2013). The only two important commonalities that can be deduced upon inspection of the entirety of the Walt Disney Company’s holdings are entertainment and information. Every business activity the organization is engaged in is related in some manner. To providing its consumer base entertainment and/or information. Despite the two commonalities of the Walt Disney Company’s activities, there exists an incredible range of variability in its maneuvers. One of the growth strategies that have helped the conglomeration reach its current level of success is the fact that the organization has expanded, both vertically and horizontally, into new markets by targeted segmentation. In most cases, it reaches these market segments with an acquired brand, such as ESPN, ABC, and Miramax Films. Also, it is only through the branching out in branding that Disney has grown simply because the children’s brand is somewhat restricted in terms of the target demographic (Walt Disney,Show MoreRelatedWalt Disney Company s Organization921 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction According to investor relations, The Walt Disney Company’s exemplifies an organization composed of four strategic business units which, with the consideration of the consolidated revenue, represented roughly an enormous 35.5 billion dollars in 2007. 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Sex education Essay Example For Students

Sex education Essay Sex Education is Ineffective Perhaps one of the most controversial issues arising today is that of sex education in Americas public school system. In todays world, where information travels at the speed of light and mass media is part of our everyday lives, teenagers are more exposed to this world than ever before. In this country, teens have access to television, newspapers, and of course, internet. Sometimes, teenagers can misinterpret what they see in the media regarding sex and make unwise decisions, such as having unprotected sex. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and teenage pregnancies is a growing problem in the U. S. Every year, one million girls aged 15 to 19 become pregnant each year in this country alone (Schools Skimping 13). Sex education was introduced to help solve the problem of STDs and teen pregnancies by giving teenagers real facts and correct information about sex. Teenagers can therefore make wise and safe choices about sex. However, there are major flaws in sex education. While it is extremely important to educate teenagers about sex and sexuality, putting sex education in the American educational system in not the correct solution. Sex education is flawed in that it is ineffective when it comes to lowering teenage pregnancies and STDs because sex education programs leave out important information, teachers who teach it are unqualified, and because teenagers are more greatly affected by their parents, peers, and popular media than by their teachers. There is a myth that sex education provides teenagers with good and important information. Sex education supposedly gives students the means to make responsible and wise decisions. Pamela DeCarlo, from the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, is a firm believer in sex education, and believes it must be taught in order to reduce the spread of STDs and teenage pregnancies (DeCarlo). According an article in USA Today, however, Congress passed in 1996 a legislation allocating two hundred and fifty million dollars to fund sex education programs. These programs excluded medically accurate information about birth control and STDs (Schools Skimping 13). These programs cannot possibly hope to have any significant benefits. Teenagers are deprived from getting the type of information they need about sex. The whole purpose of sex education is to educate teenagers about sex and help lower teenage pregnancies and the spread of diseases. If these so-called sex-education programs are lacking in information about birth control and STDs, then it defeats the whole purpose of having sex education in the first place. Another argument that is often made is sex education provides teenagers with the type of information that they cannot receive from a parent. The argument is that sex education provides students with qualified instructors to help answer questions that might have been too embarrassing to ask a parent. According to a Teen Talk survey taken by Durex Consumer Products, a manufacturer of condoms, teenagers are more likely to talk to their parents only about dating and relationship issues. Only about thirty percent of them talk to their parents about buying or using contraceptives (Schools Skimping 13). However, most teachers who teach sex education are unqualified. Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, vice-president of the Institute for American Values, says, Principals have to do little more than buy a sex-education curriculum and enroll the coach or home-economics teacher in a training workshop, and their school has a sex-education program (Whitehead). It is unsettling to think of how just anyone can teach a program. Workshops cannot possibly provide teachers with enough skill and expertise to adequately educate teenagers about sex. Workshops, at most, would only cover the basics, which would put teenagers at a loss if they ever wanted to know something that was not taught in the workshop. It seems that sex education is not taken very seriously, considering that math and English teachers need degrees in their respective subjects in order to teach it, whereas sex education teachers need no such requirement. Until sex education teachers are more adequately trained, the responsibility of educating teenagers about sex should lie with the parents. Since many teens may be too embarrassed to initiate a conversation about sex, the parent should be the one to bring up the subject. Although parents, too, may not .

Roberto Clemente free essay sample

Roberto Clement was a legend in the game of baseball and he was the first Latin-American baseball player. He played 18 seasons as a Pittsburgh Pirate was won many awards for fielding and batting. He was one of the best defensive players of all time; he could catch almost any ball hit to him. Also no one dared his arm because he could throw anybody out at home. He broke many milestones including hit number 3,000 on the last game of the season in 1972. He died three months later in a plane crash in which he attempted to bring supplies to people in Nicaragua for survivors of an earthquake.His body was never found and his death was a big mystery. On August 18, 1 934 Roberto Clement Walker was born in Carolina, Puerco Rich. Walker was the last name of his mother and thats what it will read on his hall of fame plaque. We will write a custom essay sample on Roberto Clemente or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Roberto grew up in a very poor community and they could afford anything So they played baseball with sticks and rocks, and basically anything that could be used to play baseball with. Then from playing with sticks and stones he was signed by the Sentence Crabbers of Puerco Rican winter league for $5,000 on October 9, 1952. He played a couple seasons there and was a very good player.Then the Brooklyn Dodgers signed him in 1953 for S 10,000 dollars. This was the team that called up the very first black player Jackie Robinson. Now they were signing the first Latin-American baseball player. He was a right-handed outfielder and a right-handed batter. Just as Jackie Robinson broke the barrier for blacks to come play major league baseball in America Roberto Clement broke the barrier for Latin-Americans. It took very little time for people to realize how special of a player he was. He gave the term complete a new meaning. He made the word superstar seem inadequate.He had about him the touch of royalty. Former ML Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. He had phenomenal career stats including a batting average of . 317, 240 home runs, and 3,000 hits. He won twelve gold gloves from 1961-1972, he made it to twelve all-star games, four national league batting championships in 1961, 1964, 1965 and 1967. Also he won a National league MAP award in 1 966, two world serious rings, and one World Series MAP award. The list goes on and on of his accomplishments but his that was not the only reason why he was such and important person in assessable.He was a very nice person who was willing to give up a lot for others. He made several trips to Puerco Rich to give baseball supplies to young children and he told them to keep their spirits up and that if they put there mind to it they could do anything. Of course as being the first Latin-American baseball player in America he endured many harsh fans that booed him and made rude comments to hi on the field. But he dealt with it and just played baseball. Soon enough they fell in love with his talents and he was a world wide favorite.On November 14, 1964 he married Vera Cabala at San Fernando Church in Carolina, Puerco Rich. He also had three children, Roberto Jar. , Luis Roberto and Unripe Roberto. Growing up in Puerco Rich we got to learn a lot about his character, it was obvious that not only was he one of the greatest players, but a great human being as well. Bernie Williams, New York Yankees. Roberto Clement played his last game on October 3, 1972 in which he accomplished the milestone of 3,000 career hits. After that season Roberto spent a lot of time in Latin countries doing community service and charity ark. Roberto Clemente free essay sample During his first year in high school, he was watched and later recruited by Roberto Marin so he could play softball with the Sells Orzo team after Marin saw Clement playing baseball in San Antn. He was with the team for two years playing as a shortstop. Roberto Clement joined Puerco Rices amateur league when he was only 16 years old. He ended up playing for the Ferdinand Juncos team. Clementines professional baseball career began when Peed[n Gorilla offered Clement, who was 18 at the time, a contract with the Congress DeSentence, which was a winter league team and franchise of the Puerco Rican Professional Baseball League (LABOR). He sat on the bench for his first year but he was later promoted to the Sentence Congress starting lineup the next season. While Clement was playing in the LABOR, the Brooklyn Dodgers offered him a contract. Roberto ended up signing the contract on February 19, 1954 and moved to Montreal to play for the Montreal Royals. We will write a custom essay sample on Roberto Clemente or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Clyde Superiors, who was a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates, noticed that Clement as being used as a bench player for the Royals and talked to him about being drafted to the Pittsburgh Pirates.