BBC - Days that Shook the World Series 2 (2004) Part 2 The Christmas Truce

Through dramatic reconstructions, eye-witness accounts and archive footage, each episode in the “Days That Shook the World” TV series pieces together the thrilling stories of the landmarks of our time; the moments in history - human tragedies, scientific breakthroughs and calamitous events that have profoundly affected the way the world thinks and acts. Days that Shook the World examines some of the most important days in history, creating a detailed and forensic analysis of 24 hours that changed the world. It covers some of the biggest themes in World history - from the history of flight, to the rise and fall of Communism. This fresh and unusual BBC production explores mankind's defining moments. A gripping anatomy of some of the most important days in history, hour by hour as they unfolded. Incisive, fascinating & dramatic, the complete series builds a compelling picture of the seismic moments in world history. From ancient Egypt to the Berlin Wall, these episodes look at events that had a lasting impact on human history, from technological breakthroughs to political tragedies. Finding new angles and putting events into historical context, the series spans centuries and continents with one common thread On each of these days, the lives of millions were changed forever. Incredible breakthroughs, acts of shocking brutality, and stories of hope form the themes of these compelling programs. As the clock ticks, the events of the day climax, and we learn just what happened and how the day affected the course of history. The series focuses on events that defined the 20th century, from the discovery of the first dinosaur remains to the Hindenburg disaster. The programmes also investigate Yuri Gagarin's space flight; the Great Train Robbery; the abdication of Edward VIII; the events leading to the fictional Day Of The Jackal; the theft of the Crown Jewels; the hoax that was Piltdown Man; and disasters such as the Oklahoma bombing and the Challenger explosion.

A Lion Television Production for BBC in Association with The History Channel

Part 2 The Christmas Truce

The Christmas Truce (1914) the greatest demonstration of Christmas spirit, one incredible day when the guns were silent and the fighting stopped. World War I battle trenches, France. It is December 25, 1914. World War I (aka The Great War) began a new world order of violence that spawned the hallmarks of 20th-century conflict machine guns, tanks, air raids, gas–and it turned the common soldier into a unit of sacrifice, to be processed on an industrial scale.The war machine was born, a machine that ran on men. In the course of four years, it would get through 20 million soldiers of all nationalities. But there was one day when the war machine faltered. The Christmas Truce marked a day when men who were meant to operate as killing machines stopped. A day when they put down their guns, shook hands, exchanged gifts and discovered they had more in common with each other than with their leaders, kings or governments. Enemies became friends, and for a brief time the world was at peace. It was Christmas Day, 1914.

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