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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Products: feature films, short-films, animations, commercials, softwares Key people: †¢ Ed Catmull, President,Walt Disney Animation Studios Pixar Animation Studios †¢ John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney Animation Studios Pixar Animation Studios †¢ Steve Jobs, former CEO ofRead MoreInnovate the Pixar Way1285 Words   |  6 PagesINNOVATE THE PIXAR WAY by Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson Company Profile Founded: 1979 as Graphics Group, but 1986 as Pixar Founders: Ed Catmull and Alvy Ray Smith Headquarter: Emeryville, California, U.S.A. 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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.

Benefits to Getting a College Degree

Benefits to Getting a College Degree Being in college is hard in many ways: financially, academically, personally, socially, intellectually, physically. And most students question why they are trying to get a college degree at some point during their college experience. Simple reminders of the reasons why you want to get a college degree can help keep you on track when you feel like getting off. Tangible Reasons to Get a College Degree Youll make more money: figures range from several hundred thousand to a million dollars or more over your lifetime. Regardless of the details, however, youll have more income.Youll have a lifetime of increased opportunities. More job openings, more chances at promotions, and more flexibility with which jobs you take (and keep) are just a few of the doors that will be opened when you have your degree in hand.Youll be more empowered as an agent in your own life. Youll be better educated about the things that have an impact on your day-to-day existence: knowing how to read a lease, having an understanding of how the markets will influence your retirement accounts, and handling the finances of your family. A college education can empower you in all kinds of ways to be more in control of your lifes logistics.Youll be better able to weather adversity. From having more money available (see #1 in this list!) in a savings account to having marketable skills and an education during an economic downturn, having a degree can come in handy when life throws you a curve. Youll always be marketable. Having a college degree is becoming increasingly important in the job market. Consequently, having a degree now will open doors for the future, which will in turn open more doors and make you more marketable later ... and the cycle continues. Intangible Reasons to Get a College Degree Youll lead a more examined life. The critical thinking and reasoning skills you learn in college will stay with you for a lifetime.You can be an agent of change for others. Many social service positions, from doctor and lawyer to teacher and scientist, require a college degree (if not a graduate degree). Being able to help others means you have to educate yourself to do so through your time in school.Youll have more access to resources. In addition to the financial resources, youll have access to through your higher income, youll also have resources in all kinds of unexpected and intangible ways. Your roommate from freshman year who is now an attorney, your friend from chemistry class who is now a doctor, and the person you met at the alumni mixer who may offer you a job next week are the kinds of benefits and resources that are hard to plan for but that can make all the difference in the world.Youll have future opportunities in ways you may not be considering now. When you graduate from college, you may have never even given a second thought to graduate school. But as you get older, you may unexpectedly develop a strong interest in medicine, law, or education. Having that undergraduate degree already under your belt will allow you to pursue your dreams once you realize where they are going. Youll have a strong sense of pride and self. You may be the first person in your family to graduate from college or you may come from a long line of graduates. Either way, knowing you earned your degree will undoubtedly give a lifetime of pride to yourself, your family, and your friends.

Imagine the Experience essays

Imagine the Experience essays Imagine being trapped in a small, enclosed space for over two years with people you can hardly stand seeing. Imagine having to eat the same food every day for every meal. Imagine not having the ability to go outdoors or even look out the window. Imagine falling asleep every night wondering whether or not youd wake up the next day. These are just a few of the horrors young Anne Frank had to go through when she was forced into hiding during the evil reign of Hitler. She overcame so much, yet had so little. Anne Frank is a true archetypal hero; she received a calling to go on a mission; she faced many hardships, but saw them through, and conquered the world. When Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, he blamed the Jews, a degenerate race that was evil, dishonest, and dangerous to all Germans, for all the problems in Germany at that point in time (van der Rol, Verhoeven 16). The Franks, a Jewish family living in Germany, were forced to take action towards the events effecting them. After Margot Frank, Annes older sister, received a call-up notice from the SS stating that she would be sent to a concentration camp, the family decided to go into hiding. Although this note wasnt for Anne in particular, it did, however, cause a drastic change in her life. Hiding... where would we hide? In the city? In the country? In a house? In a shack? When, where, how... These were questions I wasnt allowed to ask, but they still kept running through my mind (Frank 20). Hitler and the Nazis would have easily found the Franks and taken them away to a concentration camp, but they were able to escape the hell that awaited them. During the two years in which Anne was enclosed in her Secret Annexe, she was faced with the continual arguments between Mr. and Mrs. van Pels, the fights over food, and the feeling of utter loneliness. Anne, being the youngest member of the eight living in the annex,...

Never Give Up - Difficulties Raise Will Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Never Give Up - Difficulties Raise Will - Essay Example My father is a role model in my village. His story is legendary and has inspired the people of my village to overcome seemingly impossible obstacles. I am fortunate to have him as my father and friend and to receive his love and guidance that I am sure will continue to help me in times of distress throughout my life. My father was born into a poor family. His father died when he was just 8 years old leaving him to take care of his mother and sister. Circumstances forced him to work at a tender age to make both ends meet. He told me how he had to beg to feed his family in a severe famine that lasted months. He worked as a laborer and farmer while attending evening school. With little education to speak of, he joined the air force and from the lowest level, he rose through the ranks to become a captain.   After serving the force for 23 years, when he retired at Forty, he had completed not one but two bachelor degrees, one in law and the other in management. Then he joined the local court where he became a successful lawyer and eventually was appointed the president of the court. I was an average student in junior school and, perhaps in the hope of improving my studies, my father enrolled me in the best high school in town. Then something happened that would change my life forever. I had just given my first exam and was waiting for the results. Then, my teacher called me to her chamber and announced that I had failed because of cheating in the exam. I understood that somebody had wrongly reported my name to her. Within minutes the news spread through the whole school like wildfire. Everyone was looking at me, some laughing and pointing, some sympathetic and sad. I felt humiliated and was afraid of facing my father. I was sure that he would beat me to death for bringing disrepute to him and the family name.      By the time I reached home, father had got the news. But, completely different from what I expected, he asked me calmly â€Å"Did you cheat in the test?† I shook my head and he just came over and hugged me. â€Å"Then there is nothing to worry about†, he said adding â€Å"this is the opportunity that God has given you, you got to show them all your true mettle, you have to surprise them with your determination. Go for it, my boy†.   I instantly got the message and was transformed.