Christmas at war, some moving images of soldiers of yesterday and today

@DefAviation ES 12·31·2023 · 22:15 0

Christmas is a Christian holiday that is traditionally celebrated with the family, but many soldiers do not have that opportunity.

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On their deployments abroad, the family with whom these soldiers celebrate Christmas are their comrades in arms. This celebration is even more special when it occurs in a war situation. You can see here some images from yesterday and today of soldiers at war at Christmas celebrations.

A German soldier offers tobacco to a British soldier during the famous Christmas truce of 1914, in the World War I.

British and French soldiers celebrating Christmas in 1939 in Kedange-sur-Canner, near Metz, France, at the beginning of World War II (photo via @WWIIpix).

Santa Claus arriving at Guadalcanal during the Christmas celebration of 1942, in World War II.

American soldiers at a Christmas mass on December 25, 1943 in Italy, near the front, during World War II (colorized photo by @PieceJake)

Christmas dinner during the Siege of Bastogne (Belgium) in December 1944. In the photo we see General Anthony McAuliffe, commander of the 101st Airborne Division of the US Army, and his General Staff, during World War II (photo via @Jason_R_Burt).

British soldiers of the 4th Armored Division celebrating Christmas in 1944 in the Netherlands, during the Second World War.

American soldiers of the 84th Infantry Division decorating a German Christmas tree in December 1944 in Westphalia, Germany, during World War II (photo via @Jason_R_Burt y coloreada por @jecinci).

American soldiers decorating a Christmas tree in Heren, Germany, during World War II (photo via @Jason_R_Burt).

American soldiers next to a Christmas tree on Hill 875 during the Battle of Dak To, in Vietnam, in 1967 (photo via @Jason_R_Burt).

Soldiers of the US Army 25th Infantry Division singing Christmas carols at Camp Ramadi, Iraq, on December 25, 2010 (photo: NARA).

Polish Army soldiers at a Christmas celebration in Afghanistan in 2018 (photo: archiwum-11dkpanc.wp.mil.pl).

Soldiers of the US Army's 101st Airborne Division decorating a Christmas tree at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, in December 2018 (photo: NARA).

Spanish soldiers celebrating Christmas in Mali in December 2019 (photo: EMAD).

Ukrainian soldiers at a 2023 Christmas celebration in Kupiansk, near the front, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine (photo: Reuters).

Ukrainian soldiers celebrating Znamyanka Christmas in 2023 (photo: Церква м.Знам'янка Успіння Пресвятої Богородиці УГКЦ).

A Christian soldier of the Israel Defense Forces with his newborn son in his arms, next to the Christmas tree, on leave upon returning from combat operations against Hamas terrorists, in December 2023 (photo: @mishel_taroni).