When American soldiers were fighting in Europe during World War II, the men and women in uniform faced a few years away from home. At no time of the year was this separation more noticeable than at Christmas time.
Aviation engineers working on a B-29 base in the Marianas, pause in their work long enough to wish the folks back home a Merry Christmas. (Getty Images)
As these colorized photographs from WWII show us, American soldiers made the most of Christmas on the front lines. Although a military camp on foreign soil was a far cry from the happy holiday homes they were used to, soldiers still found ways to celebrate Christmas even though they were far from home.
The U.S. in WWII
Proud servicemen with their Christmas tree. (pinterest.com)
For a time, the United States watched from afar 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. That meant that hundreds of Americans were suddenly thrust into war just weeks before Christmas, 1941. The war ended in September of 1945, meaning that U.S. troops celebrated the next four Christmases at war.
Word From Home
Soldiers fighting WWII still remembered the importance of the season. (calvetconnect.blog)
During Christmas on the frontlines, American soldiers longed to hear from their families back home. With more than 16 million military members overseas, the Army Post had their work cut out for them getting letters and packages to their recipients in a timely manner. This was especially true during the holidays. It was suggested that loved ones mail their Christmas goodies out to their sons, fathers, or husbands in September or early October to ensure that they arrive by Christmas. Even so, it was not uncommon for boxes of Christmas cookies to arrive months late.
Christmas Feasts
Soldier preparing a Christmas feast. (nationalww2museum.org)
While families back home saved their ration cards for weeks to make sure they had the food items they needed to serve a special Christmas meal, the soldiers on the front lines were also enjoying the best holiday feasts the Army cooks could prepare. The U.S. military made sure that as many soldiers as possible, even those serving on the front lines, could have turkey, ham, potatoes, pies, and all the fixings. It was their way of acknowledging the sacrifices the soldiers were making.
Holiday Parties
Soldiers having a Christmas party of Italian orphans. (ww2online.org)
Many U.S. army bases and camps in WWII Europe hosted holiday parties to help stave off homesickness among the soldiers and military personnel. In addition to holiday meals, the military bases sponsored dances, concerts, and parties. Often, one of the commanding officers would dress up as Santa for the festivities. Many times, the base would extend invitations to the nearby villages. They would serve up dinner to war-torn civilians and give gifts to area orphans.
Church Services
Christmas celebrations often included the nearby townspeople. (ww2online.org)
Service men and women during World War II were keenly aware of the reason for the season. Christmas celebrations on the front included religious services. Most units had an Army chaplain that gave last rites to the dying, listened to confessions, and delivered Sunday services. Special services on Christmas Eve and Christmas day helped the soldiers find a sense of calmness and peace amid the chaos of war. They could all come together to pray for peace on Earth.
Christmas Trees and Other Decorations
For soldiers away from home, the size of their Christmas tree didn't matter. (nationalww2museum.org)
A central focus of our holiday celebrations is the Christmas tree. Even in the midst of a war, the soldiers yearned for the sense of normalcy that came with Christmas trees. Soldiers crafted their own makeshift Christmas trees on the front, using whatever foliage they could find … shrubs, palm trees, and more. For decorations, they also got creative. The trees were decorated with scraps of colorful paper or fabric, natural items like pinecones and seashells, and metallic stars snipped from discarded tin cans. Although some of the WWII Christmas trees on the front were quite lovely, most of the soldiers didn’t care how beautiful their Christmas trees were. The important part was the fellowship and magic of the season.
