During World War II, when American soldiers fought in Europe, uniformed men and women faced a separation from home for several years. At no time of the year will this separation be more pronounced than at Christmas.
As these World War II color photographs show, American soldiers made the most of Christmas on the front lines. Although the barracks stationed in foreign territories were far from the happy holiday homes they were accustomed to, the soldiers still managed to celebrate Christmas, even if they were far from home.
The United States in World War II
For a time, the United States watched from a distance as war raged in Europe. Then, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in a surprise attack. The next day, the United States declared war on Japan. A few days later, they added Nazi Germany to the list. This meant that just a few weeks before Christmas 1941, hundreds of Americans were suddenly plunged into war. The war ended in September 1945, which meant that the U.S. military celebrated the next four Christmases during the war.
Family
During christmas on the front lines, American soldiers were eager to receive letters from their families. With more than 16 million military personnel overseas, the Army Post Office has done a great deal of work for them to receive letters and packages in a timely manner. This is especially true during the holidays. Loved ones have been advised to send Christmas gifts to their sons, fathers or husbands in September or early October to ensure they arrive before Christmas. Even so, it's not uncommon for boxes of Christmas cookies to arrive months late.
Christmas dinner
While the family kept their ration cards for weeks to make sure they had the food they needed to deliver a special Christmas dinner, soldiers on the front lines were also enjoying the best festive feast the army cooks could prepare. The U.S. military ensures that as many soldiers as possible, even those serving on the front lines, can eat turkey, ham, potatoes, pies, and all the food. This is the way they treat the sacrifices of the soldiers.
Holiday gatherings
During World War II, many U.S. military bases and camps in Europe hosted holiday parties to help avoid homesickness among soldiers and servicemen. In addition to festive dinners, the military base also sponsors dances, concerts and parties. Usually, a commander dresses up as Santa Claus for a celebration. The base has repeatedly issued invitations to nearby villages. They will serve dinner to war-torn civilians and give gifts to orphans in the area.
Church services
Men and women who served during World War II are well aware of the reasons for this season. Christmas celebrations on the front lines include religious ceremonies. Most of the troops have an Army chaplain who performs a dying ceremony, hears confessions, and provides Sunday services. Special services on Christmas Eve and Christmas helped soldiers find a sense of peace and peace in the chaotic war. Together they can pray for peace on earth.
Christmas trees and other decorations
A central focus of our holiday celebrations is the Christmas tree. Even in war, soldiers craved the sense of festivity that the Christmas tree brought. Soldiers on the front line make their own makeshift Christmas trees from any leaves they can find... Shrubs, palm trees, etc. They were also creative in terms of décor. The trees are decorated with colorful confetti or fabric, natural objects such as pine cones and shells, and metal stars cut from discarded tin cans. While some of the WWII-era Christmas trees on the front lines were very cute, most soldiers didn't care how beautiful their Christmas trees were. The important part is the friendliness and charm of this festival.