Silent Night: Maxwell's View, Part 4

Maxwell's View, Part 4

Silent Night: Maxwell's View, Part 3 

On December 29^th, The ISLP Congress met in Paris, and voted overwhelmingly in favor of a General Strike, to commence on January 8^th, when the law was to take effect in Germany. The Maxwells listened to the BBC radio announcer with dismay when it was announced six days later that the German government had rounded up several key leaders of the German Socialist Labor Party. European leaders from Britain to France to Italy condemned the actions being taken by the Junkers. America championed the new anti-Union bill as a brave stand against aggressive Euro-socialism. On January 6^th, the European Congress voted to formally condemn German actions and begin the measures to put sanctions on the German state for its violation of the European Civil Rights Charter, which guaranteed the right to form Unions and to strike and use other tactics of collective bargaining. Berlin vowed defiance.

            The fateful day arrived. January 8^th, 1945. The economy of Europe ground to a halt, as the General Strike went into effect, to last a minimum of one week, possibly longer. Massive rallies were held in London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, and elsewhere. In Germany, the police and army had been called out in advance of the General Strike, with orders to disperse any demonstrators. However, they were totally unprepared for the sheer numbers that took to the streets. All the major German cities were shut down with protestors. In Berlin, it was estimated that nearly half a million people clogged all the major city thoroughfares. Near the Reichstag building, a major standoff developed between the police, army, and the marchers. Those in uniform continued to order the marchers to disperse. Finally, someone gave the order to open fire, and total pandemonium ensued. Many of the protestors fled, but some charged forward to attack the soldiers and policemen. In the chaos, others started looting government buildings as they fled. By nightfall, hundreds were dead, and the city was on fire. Similar scenes played out in Hamburg, Cologne, Bonn, and Munich. The German Revolution was about to begin.

            On January 9^th, as Jack sat at his desk at work, the BBC announced that German Socialists in Frankfurt had proclaimed the German Workers Republic, and Jack felt as if the whole of Europe was now holding its breath, waiting to see what would come next. That evening, shortly after he arrived home, it was announced that French delegates in the European Congress were calling for “more concrete” actions against the German Junkers. Earlier that day, the French government had already announced their full support for the German Workers Republic. Byron asked his father, “What do they mean, “more concrete actions”? Are they talking military actions?”

            Jack sighed, “I think that is exactly what they mean. And from what I’m hearing at work, there is definitely support in our own government to send forces in and oust the Junkers.”

            “All this over union rights? A war over unions?” Byron was baffled.

            “Worker’s rights are important, Byron. And this also has to do with European unity. If Germany goes off on such an independent course, all we’ve worked for the past thirty years could unravel.” Samantha said, with much conviction.

            “But aren’t we about to toss the Pax Europa out? Isn’t that what we were just in Strassburg celebrating?” Byron expressed frustration at the world of the Adults.

            “I won’t disagree with you son, it is crazy. The Junkers knew that the rest of Europe wouldn’t just sit by and watch. And if they hadn’t ordered their troops to fire, we wouldn’t be talking about military action. But the murder of hundreds…”

            “Thousands!” Interjected Samantha.

            “thousands, you’re right, the murder of thousands is unacceptable. We can’t just sit by and do nothing.”

            And indeed, Europe did not sit by and do nothing. On January 10^th, The European Congress voted to condemn the actions of the Junker government in Berlin. It stopped short of full military action, but stated that the Junker representatives were being expelled from the Congress, to be replaced with representatives from the new Frankfurt government. Then, on January 12^th, the French People’s Assembly voted to send military aid to assist the German Worker’s Republic in “putting down anti-Worker rebels,” and called on the European Congress to call on the rest of the members to do the same. Vigorous, heated debate erupted in Parliament, the results of the daily deliberations being the hot topic everyone listened to on the BBC. Would Britain heed the call to arms to protect the German workers from the Junkers, and indeed protect the system of a united, socialist Europe from unraveling at its center. When the Junker government declared war on France on the 14^th, that pretty much settled it. At just before noon on the 15^th, the BBC carried a live address form Prime Minister David Landsbury, Jr., announcing that the United Kingdom was declaring a state of war against the “German Empire,” and officially recognizing the socialist government in Frankfurt. Three Days later, on January 18^th, the European Congress voted to call for a “united military action,” to intervene in the German Civil War, on the side of the Worker’s Republic. Russia voted against, as did Spain, and neither nation would commit troops. Austria, eager to placate socialists in their own country, voted in favor, however would not commit troops for some time. The early days of the conflict, the European Coalition Forces consisted primarily of British, French, and Italian troops. On January 20^th, the Russian Empire declared support for the German Empire and simultaneously pulled out of European Federation.

            At first, this seemed like it would be a relatively straightforward a short conflict, and one that would be confined primarily within Europe. But then in February, everything ballooned out of proportion. It was a Saturday morning. Saturday, February 17^th. The Maxwells were returning from an afternoon outing at the park. Despite the war on the continent being declared, life was going on as normal. Troops were being deployed for France. Draft notices were going out. Discussions were being had about blackout and preparations for possible bombings. So far, very little actual fighting had taken place due to the cold, wet winter weather. As the family settled back into their townhome for the afternoon, Byron turned on the radio, and music filled the room, a popular new singer from Liverpool, followed by a song by Glen Miller. Before the second song finished, it abruptly stopped. Byron looked up to make sure the radio was still working, which it was. Then an announcer came over the airwaves, “Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a BBC breaking news report. Moment ago we received confirmed reports from our stations in Canada that a multi-pronged attack against the dominion was underway. It appears that American warplanes have bombed Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. There has been no official communique from the United States as of yet, but this appears to be a massive surprise attack. Thousands are feared dead.” The announcer went on, but the Maxwells just stared at each other in shock. The so-called “German Union War” was turning into the first-ever world-wide conflict.

            Later that evening, American President Horace Thurman addressed the U.S. Congress, declaring that America was standing “firmly behind our German and Russian brethren in the face of indiscriminate socialist aggression.” It was announced that Congress had voted in secret the night before to declare war on the whole of the European Coalition, and that America would fight the forces of Socialism in North America and abroad. Already there were reports of American troops streaming across the border into Canada, overwhelming the Canadian regulars. Most of Britain’s Imperial Forces had been pulled out to assist in Europe. It appeared as if the United States could have Canada’s major population centers overrun within weeks. Several days later, Japan bombed Darwin, Australia, launching an expansionist war in Asia to continue to build their Empire. By March, there was some sort of fighting on nearly every continent other than South America. In a speech made in April by King Edward VIII, the monarch declared, “Our World has devolved into a state of war, from Vancouver to Cologne, Bombay to Sydney. Our young men bear arms to defend our way of life, to defend the rights of workers everywhere. Gone are the days when the rich can have their way, unimpeded by concerns for the common man. We must stand firm and united in this Global War, and in the end we shall prevail.”

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This concludes Maxwell's View. The next installment of the Silent Night Story will pick up and tell the story of the Global War.  

Silent Night: Maxwell's View, Part 3

Maxwell's View, Part 3

Silent Night: Maxwell's View, Part 2

The Maxwells were able to snag a taxi once they stepped out of the terminal, and within the hour they were in central Strassburg, arriving at the Hotel Weihnachten, one of many post-War hotels that had sprouted across the cities. It was a modest 5 stories, rather unremarkable in architecture. Not Art Moderne, but not Art Nouveau either. This was not the Grand Europa or the Congressional Palace Hotel that sat within walking distance of the Notre Dame de Strassburg and the Rohne Palace. That evening, once settled in their rooms, the family ate at the hotel restaurant, and rested up for a full day exploring the city.

            When the family awoke, they, like everyone else in the city, discovered a fine white coating of snow now bedecked the city. As they listened to the morning radio forecast while getting ready, they learned that the light snow fall would continue, but wasn’t expected to be a major problem for the upcoming festivities. As they finished breakfast at the hotel, they were greeted by Jack’s friend Lee Mansford.

            “Lee! It’s so good to see you!” Jack said, as he embraced his friend in the lobby of the hotel.

            “You too old chap. Welcome to my new homeland.”

            “Going native?” Jack asked with a smile.

            “Sed kompreneble.” Lee answered in Esperanto. Byron perked up, as he recognized the phrase and translated to his father, at which point they all chuckled.

            “And who are all these lovely people Jack?” Lee asked, gesturing to the rest of the Maxwell clan. Jack went through the introductions.

            “It’s a pleasure to meet all of you,” Lee said, after shaking all of their hands. “Well, let’s be off! I’ve brought a taxi, and I’m ready to play tour guide!”

            In no time, the taxi was whisking the group off to the other side of Strassburg, where the Christmas Miracle Memorial stood. The journey took them through the heart of the city, and all of the Maxwells were glued to the windows, taking in the sights as Lee explained what they were seeing. They passed the large Miracle Plaza in front of the cathedral, the Palace Rhone, which was decked out for the fast approaching holiday, and then crossed the river and headed towards the “New City,” where the memorial was located, along with the Palace of Europe and the mass of buildings that housed the bureaucracy of the Congress of European States.

            The memorial itself was on the Europaplatz, opposite the Palace of Europe. it consisted of a central, 4 story rotunda, and three halls that shot off from the rotunda equidistant from each other. The rotunda itself contained the “Eternal Peace Tree,” an evergreen that some newspapermen quipped was the most looked after and protected tree in the whole world. Adorning the perimeter of the rotunda were banks of candles, lit by visitors as a way to remember those who were lost fighting for the Peace. The walls of the space were nearly floor to ceiling windows, allowing in beautiful natural light, and at night creating a beautiful spectacle as the candle light could be seen flickering from outside. As it was every Christmas, the tree had been carefully decorated with ornaments reflecting each nation that had joined the European Congress, and at the top a beautifully hand crafted angel watched over the visitors. The ceiling was painted in the constellations, and hanging from the ceiling were chandeliers in the artistic shape of snowflakes (these were changed out with different fixtures every year).

            Each of the halls was in honor of one of the three founding contingents of the Peace: France, Britain, and Germany. They had separate memorials to the fallen from each nation, as well as artifacts from each army, such as the standards from each unit, uniforms, and weapons from every day soldiers. Each hall had a tomb to an unknown soldier as well, which were each watched over by special honor guard units from the Congressional Army that were dressed in the uniform worn by each nation at the time of the War.

            It was both a hopeful and somber place, and the Maxwells were awed into reflective silence as they walked in. Jack and Samantha lit a candle and placed it in an open spot along the perimeter of the rotunda. Other visitors milled about, some standing, others sitting on benches, and still others at small altars offering prayers in remembrance of those lost in 1914. Jack had once read in an editorial printed in the Times that the Christmas Miracle Memorial was likely the most holy and sacred place for modern Europeans on the whole continent, maybe even more so than Rome. Jack wasn’t inclined to argue, as he took it all in.

            After over an hour at the memorial, the Maxwells and their “native” guide crossed the square to the Palace of Europe for a tour. Thousands of tourists came each year to the Palace, to get a glimpse of the beating heart of a united Europe. Outside the neoclassical domed congress hall, the flag of every member nation fluttered in the light breeze on the left side of the entrance, moving farther away from the entrance in order that the nations joined the Congress: Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Russia, the five founders, followed by Alsace-Lorraine, Poland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Serbia, Greece, and Romania. Closest to the entrance, however, and on a flag pole taller than all the rest, flew the flag of the Congress of European States: a light blue field with a stylized laurel wreath surrounding a large E. There was endless discussion on creating a better flag, but so far nothing had been able to win enough consensus to replace the current design that had been adopted in 1917.

            The Maxwells and the other tourists in the group were shown the Great Hall, where the actual delegates met, along with the archives, the Hall of Honor (which housed statues of influential Europeans in the arts, sciences, and politics), and the deliberation chambers of the Congressional Executive Committee. Jack noticed that, for the twenty-fourth of December, the Palace seemed to be quite busy, with various staff members and he assumed mid-ranking officials buzzing about carrying papers and the like. He’d assumed that most of the staff would have headed home by now, so found the sight rather puzzling. He commented on this to Lee as the tour was wrapping up.

            “It’s the Germany crisis. The Kaiser has just two days after Christmas to veto the new anti-union bill, otherwise it receives unofficial consent and becomes law. And if that happens…” Lee allowed the thought to trail off, but the conclusion was obvious. If the new legislation became law, banning most trade unions, or their ability to conduct most forms of collective action, the ISLP would call for a Federation-wide General Strike. Not only that, it would put Germany in conflict with the Federation’s civil rights charter, which protected the worker’s right to form a union. Sanctions would follow on the heels of a General Strike. And if the German Junker’s tried to use force against the strike action in Germany, things could escalate quickly.

            The gloomy thoughts soon fled from everyone’s mind, as the tour ended and the group made their way back out into the Europaplatz. The light snowfall continued to come down, adding to the almost magical air of the city. As the group headed to a streetcar stop at the edge of the square, the church bells of the city rand out the 1:00 hour.

“Well, we should get you back into Old Town for some lunch, and then you have to visit the city Christmas Market, near the cathedral.” Said Lee, as they stood at the stop. In the near distance, a bell chimed, signaling an approaching streetcar that would take them back to Old Town.

“Oh a German-style Christmas market!” squealed Tabitha with delight. “I’ve read about those in my magazines. They’re supposed to be marvelous! Father, mother, can we go?”

“Of course!” Said Jack, and all the family beamed. The streetcar made its stop, and the family was soon on their way back to Old Town.

They found lunch in a small café within walking distance of the Christmas market. The street, a pedestrian only zone, bustled with people. In addition to the Christmas market down the street, most of the shops in the area were geared towards the Christmas-time tourists that descended on Strassburg. Everywhere evergreen garland, red ribbon, and fairy-lights abounded. Christmas music, mostly instrumental, played from radios and record players up and down the street. Live music could be heard distantly from the Christmas market. Inside the café, everyone was chatting away happily, the mood from the street clearly penetrating the eatery. As they finished their lunch, Jack quickly excused himself to use the loo, located in the back of the restaurant by the kitchen. On his way back to the table, he heard a radio with the news on and briefly paused as he caught part of the story.

“…unconfirmed reports that the Kaiser will sign the anti-Union bill into law the day after Christmas. The ISLP Chairman could not be reached for a comment, but the party communications director stated that the party congress was already planning to meet in emergency session on Friday, December 29^th, to address the issue. Party members across the continent continue to call for a Europe-wide General…” Jack moved away and went back to his table. If the report turned out to be true, that Kaiser Frederick IV was going to sign the anti-Union bill, things could deteriorate quickly. It would be bad enough if he just allowed to receive unofficial consent by neither signing or vetoing the bill. However, the German monarch to officially attach his name to the law signaled much more support for the Junkers from Stadtpalast than previously believed. It could also lead to more radical action from the hardline leftists in Germany too.

Jack rejoined the group, and pushed the thoughts of the growing crisis to the back of his mind. It was now time to explore the Christmas market. The smell of evergreen, cinnamon, and other spices filled the air. People were bundled up but cheerful. Laughter could be heard throughout. Both Samantha and Tabitha were enchanted by the handmade wooden Christmas figurines. Tom found a Zeppelin mobile and was transfixed. Byron found handcrafted figurines from the Tolkien book, truly an unexpected find. They all enjoyed the baked goods and hot chocolate as they listened to the band play a medley of popular Christmas music. Sometime after 4 in the afternoon, the Maxwells headed back to their hotel and parted ways with Lee. They had special tickets to attend the Christmas Eve Mass at the cathedral as part of the Memorial Foundation’s trip package. Samantha wanted to make sure that they had plenty of time to get ready and look their best. The Foundation, in coordination with the Strassburg organizations that took care of the Christmas celebrations, had provided Jack with a special Christmas Army uniform to wear to the official celebrations on the 24^th and 25^th.

After they were all dressed, they went from their hotel to the Grand Europa, where the city was throwing its annual reception dinner for veterans and their families. That hotel was an exquisite building, clearly Art Nouveau in style, built in the 1920s as the first of several luxury hotels in the capital of Europe. Following the dinner, the Maxwells, along with most of the dinner attendees, made their way to the Notre Dame de Strassburg Cathedral, where the Christmas Eve Mass was held every year. They entered from the West Entrance, with the north tower soaring to its peak of 466 feat, one of the tallest churches in the world. The Cathedral’s façade was lit in red and green, the lights highlighting the sculptures and flourishes that adorned the high gothic architecture.

The service itself was conducted by Pope Benedict XVI, the successor to the “Peace Pope,” Benedict XV, who had passed away in 1922. Benedict XVI was a much younger man, having been only 52 when he was elected pope twenty-two years prior, and appeared to be very spry and in good health for someone in his early seventies. The current Pope, a Frenchman, had made history as the first non-Italian pope in exactly 400 years (the last having been Adrian VI, elected in 1522 and born in what was now the Netherlands).  Most expected that, barring any unforeseen tragedy, the current leader of the Roman Catholic Church would live on into the 1950s or even 1960s, likely to be one of the longest serving popes in modern history.

The Maxwells were not Catholic themselves, though Jack had been brought up High Anglican and the service felt very similar. He could see his wife holding back a small amount of disdain for the whole affair, as she’d been brought up Methodist and since had become rather secular. But even she seemed to be caught up in the historic moment, celebrating 30 years of the Peace of 1914. And whatever she may have thought about the service itself, she was clearly enraptured, as they all were, by the Strassburg Memorial Choir singing  Silent Night, along with other carols, throughout the service.

After the service, the attendees joined the crowds of people outside, and at the stroke of midnight, special red, green, and white fireworks lit up the sky. That had started at the 10^th anniversary in 1924, and had since become a favorite part of the Strassburg Christmas tradition.

The following day, the family woke up for the special hotel Christmas breakfast, and then dressed and headed to the New City, where the Maxwells had special seats with other veterans to watch the Christmas Day Peace Parade as it made its way past the Christmas Memorial and the Palace of Europe. Jack had been offered a place to march with other veterans in the British contingent, but chose to stay with his family. The celebrations started at 10 that morning. The snow had stopped the night before, and the sun shone down on the city brilliantly, glistening off the snowfall and all the decorations. The parade lasted well over two hours, with floats, bands, and special Christmas Army units from the original founding nations, in addition to other contingents from other members of the European Federation. That evening, Jack and Samantha attended the Christmas Memorial Ball at the Congressional Palace Hotel. He wore his special uniform, she wore a dazzling light blue dress that sparkled with stones and lace. It had been an extravagant gift for her, and he’d beamed that afternoon when she’d opened it. “You can thank your sister, Trudy. She helped me pick it out and have it mailed here for you as a surprise.”

The next day, the Maxwell family packed up their bags and prepared to return to Britain. They made it to the airport on time for their noon flight that would go straight to London, this time on the R138 Londoner. It flew more direct routes, and wasn’t quite as luxurious as the Strassburg Limited that they’d traveled on earlier. Still, Tom insisted on exploring the ship before takeoff, which Jack obliged. Later, after takeoff, Jack settled into his seat and began to read a copy of the Strassburg Internationalist, that city’s premier English-language newspaper, and probably the biggest English-language newspaper in Europe that wasn’t produced in the UK. The headlines weren’t promising. It was now confirmed that the Kaiser was going to sign the anti-Union bill, either sometime that day or the next. The move was already being condemned by prominent ISLP members in France, England, and Germany itself. A General Strike was all but a foregone conclusion at this point, thought that would likely only make the situation worse. Sabers were rattling for the first time since 1914. 

Silent Night: Maxwell's View, Part 2

Maxwell's View, Part 2

Lunch in the grand salon was as luxurious as the setting, and as luxurious as one would expect on a British Airways vessel. The room buzzed with conversation, as the passengers sat at large round tables and got to mingle with their fellow travelers. Waiters slipped in and out silently, refilling drinks and taking away plates. The sound of cutlery clinking on porcelain had died down as conversation increased. Those seated seemed in no hurry to get up and leave their new companions. The Maxwells were seated at a table with a retired couple from London, the husband had been a mid-level banker, and served in the War, along with a newly-married couple who had postponed their honeymoon until Christmas, and finally a middle-aged reporter from America, who was stationed in London and had been asked by his paper to cover the 30th Anniversary ceremonies. Jack had asked the reporter, Gary Smithfield, why he hadn’t taken an airplane. Yes, airships still ruled, but most industry experts agreed that the airplane would overtake it, and a ticket on an American-built DC-3 would be cheeper and quicker. 

“Oh I know that,” he’d said, “and Lord knows the paper didn’t pay for my passage today. I decided to use some vacation time and money and splurge a little. Grew up fascinated by airships, and I take any opportunity I can to sail on one.”

Jack had chuckled and commented that his youngest son Tom would really get along with the reporter. The whole table had laughed lightly at that. Tom himself just beamed, and went off on a short ramble about how wonderful airships really were. Jack had also traded a few stories from the war with the older gentleman at the table, Hiram Winters. Winters had been in a unit that had accompanied the French troops to Paris, one of the few British Christmas Army units that hadn’t marched on Strassburg in January of 1915, like Jack’s own unit. 

“Was such a wild time, when we entered Paris. Every building was draped either in the tricolor, our truce banner, or in socialist red. We still couldn’t quite believe it when we found out that Juares had been able to take control during the chaos and proclaim the world’s first socialist state.”

“The first of many, thankfully.” Samantha chimed in. Jack himself had grown up in a politically moderate family of Old Liberals, whereas Samantha’s parents had been radical Labour members. She’d grown up having regular trips to Red Paris, and actually served as university representative to the founding of the ISLP, but had mellowed some with age and marriage to a political moderate. But only some.

“You younger ones are more adept in this new world of socialism than I, Mrs. Maxwell,” Winters had said, “though I cannot deny the benefits that it has brought to quality of life as a whole on this continent, or at least where it’s been allowed ot take root. And no matter my personal qualms, I would take David Landsbury’s government, or his fathers, over that of America’s Thurman any day. No offense meant to present company.” Winters had nodded apologetically to Smithfield.

“Oh none taken. I grew up in Chicago, even if I work for a New York paper now, and many say that Chicago is as red as Paris.” The table chuckled. “I sure didn’t vote for Thurman.”

As there conversation had gone on, the Maxwells learned that the new bride, Sara Giles, had an uncle who had been part of the Christmas Army and stayed in Strassburg when the fighting ended. Her and her family had visited Strassburg for many a Christmas, and the holiday itself and a Strassburg Christmas in particular, held a special place in her heart. 

“We had wanted to marry at Christmas, but decided we didn’t want to wait quite that long. George did propose on Christmas though.” She had smiled at her husband and then leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

Jack commented, “I have a friend, Harry, who stayed in Strassburg too. I read a report at work a few months back, and apparently it’s estimated that 1/3 of Strassburg’s population is made up of Christmas Army emigres and their families and descendants, and throughout all of Alsace-Lorraine it’s believed to be somewhere between 1/5 and 1/8 of the entire national population. Hard to imaging such a cosmopolitan nation in the heart of Europe like that.”

“Sounds almost like a miniature version of America, with all those immigrants moving to make a new life in a new home.” Smithfield said.

“Somewhat,” Sara chimed in, “though different, too. It’s still not quite the melting pot that America is, or is supposed to be. But my uncle says they’re trying to change that, making a truly new people out of all the emigres and locals alike.”

“I read in the Times that the Congressional Republic has really been pushing the learning and use of that constructed language, called…..oh, Esperanto, I think?”

Byron piped up at this. “I heard that from one of my teachers at school. We have an Esperanto club, and they’re discussing adding a formal course of it next year.”

“What a brave new world we are in.” commented Mrs. Winters. She didn’t look so thrilled, more resigned. 

“I’m not sure just how new,” Jack said. “With all the noise coming from Germany over the conflict between the ISLP and the Junkers, we could find ourselves in quite an old world very quickly.”

George Giles tried to sound optimistic, showing the naivety of someone born after 1914. “Surely it won’t get as bad as that. It’s like old Landsbury said, this is the Century of Peace. We’re all going there to celebrate that very event now. The Junkers will back down. The Kaiser will keep them in line as he has for the past three decades.”

“One can hope, young man, but one should also be careful to not let wishful thinking cloud reality.” That was Mr. Winters.

Before Giles could offer a rebuttal, an announcement came over the intercom. “Ladies and Gentlemen, we are now approaching Paris. You should be able to see the city from either of the promenades, and the dining salon. We will be stopping briefly at Juares Memorial Aerodrome before continuing on to Strassborg.”

With that, the lunch conversation broke up, and the group joined many of the other passengers who wanted to look out and gawk at the French capital. Early fears after the Revolution that the new government would completely remake Paris in their own socialist image had been largely unfounded. The great palaces had been kept and in some cases restored. The Eiffel Tower was still the icon of the city. The only major addition to the center of the city was the Palace of the People, built at the site of the old Tuileries Palace. No one could deny that this building, the center of the new socialist regime, did stick out a bit. It was built in the new Art Moderne style that many within the socialist movement loved. It’s streamlined designs and lack of ornamentation were in stark contrast to much of the city. 

The Palace of the People’s main structure faced the Seine, flanked on either side by smaller wings. in the courtyard facing the river stood a large statue of Juares, father of the Revolution, carrying a red banner. The building was decked out in red banners of the French Socialist Party, along with the modified tricolor of the People’s Republic. As the passengers looked down on the city, the pianist in the salon began to play “La Marseillaise.” 

Before long, the aerodrome was in sight, and the ship began to descend to the Earth. “Ladies and Gentlemen, please return to your seats. We will be landing at Juares Memorial Aerodrome shortly. We will be on the ground for approximately half an hour to take on passengers, before we resume our flight to Strassburg. Thank you for your cooperation.”

With that, the salon emptied quickly. The Maxwells waved goodbye to their table companions, who had seats on the other side of the ship. Jack had enjoyed the conversation. You never knew who you’d meet while traveling. To him, it was one of the best parts of making such a trip. 

It was after 1:30 in the afternoon when the Limited moored at the aerodrome, and after taking on two dozen or so more passengers, a mix of British tourists in Paris and native French, the vessel was aloft before 2:30. The passengers were informed once in the air that they were right on schedule and should arrive in Strassburg by 6:00 pm. The weather was getting overcast, and they should expect a light snow in Strassburg overnight. The children were excited about the snow, especially Tabitha, who frequently said that snow was her favorite part about winter and Christmas time. 

The rest of the flight passed uneventfully. Jack took Tom to explore the ship a bit more, but they weren’t offering tours of the interior of the ship on this flight, so there was only so much to see in the passenger section. It got cloudy and hard to see much of the scenery below about an hour after Paris, so the rest of the flight the family sat reading their various books and magazines, and also played a round of canasta with cards that Samantha had packed. Her own parents had loved the game and she’d shared that with the children when they were old enough to learn how to play. Finally, at a quarter till 6, the announcement that they were beginning their descent into Strassburg International Airport chimed over the intercom. Tom cheered, as did several others of various ages in the passenger cabin. Soon the ship escaped the clouds, and they could all see the lights of the airport and the city beyond. Searchlights waved through the evening sky, finding the ship and locking on, helping the landing crews bring the gentle giant back down to the ground. The ship was then guided into an awaiting hangar, where the passengers would finally disembark. 

As the Maxwells went down the gangway stairs and on to the hangar floor, they were directed to an entrance hall that would presumably take them to the main terminal and ultimately out of the airport. Jack chuckled mildly to himself as they went through the door. Above the door there was a large sign that said “Bonvenon al Strassburg!” Yes, he thought to himself, Esperanto is definitely alive and well in the capital of Europe. He just hoped that the language of peace would spread its influence east and keep Germany from shattering modern day “Pax Europa.”

As they emerged into the main terminal, all thoughts of gloom and war faded from memory. Everywhere imaginable, evergreen garland and twinkling fairy-lights decorated the space, and several large Christmas trees filled the center of the hall, as passengers came too and fro. Somewhere in the hall, out of immediate view thanks to the travelers and Christmas trees, a choir sang Christmas carols. And, prominently displayed at either end of the main terminal hall, the flag of the Congressional Republic of Alsace-Lorraine: A white banner, with a single red and single gold stripe at the bottom (added to represent Lorraine), a simplified Christmas tree in the center, and three red stars in the upper left-hand corner of the flag.There had been some discussion after the Peace of 1915, which established the Congressional Republic, as to whether or not a new flag should be adopted that was different from that used by the Truce Army. However, since much of the Truce Army leadership had stayed in Strassburg and helped set up its new government, the flag of the truce fighters was kept. 

Silent Night: Maxwell's View, Part 1

An aside from the Author:
 So, I realize it has literally been ages since I've posted anything on this blog. A mix of travel and work (lots of work), and other mundane "life" things kept me from writing much, and when I did write it was a lot of odds and ends and nothing complete enough to post here. 

FINALLY, this past Christmas break I finally had some downtime to start this little project, a first-person perspective set thirty years after the events of the previous 7 posts. Set in 1944, we see the Maxwell family of London embark on a vacation to Strassburg to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Christmas Miracle. This is the first in what I hope to be at least a 3-5 post series showing a little snapshot of what the world has developed into in a world where World War 1 ended at Christmas, 1914, instead of dragging on for four more bloody years. 
I also am looking at another project to get me back into writing and posting on here regularly. But more on that later. For now, enjoy the first installment of "Maxwell's View"

Maxwell's View, Part 1

Jack Maxwell took one last glance at the hallway mirror. The tie was straight, his shirt and jacket looked presentable. HIs short brown hair was slicked back. He sighed a tad as he saw the grey hairs creeping in around his temples. Forty-seven this year, he could hardly believe it. Sometimes Jack felt as though it was just yesterday that he was that bright-eyed and eager young recruit on a boat crossing the Channel to France. How the world had changed since 1914.

He glanced at his wristwatch. Nearly 8:00 in the morning. As he turned to call out for his wife, Samantha, she appeared coming down the stairs, flanked by their nine-year-old son, Tom. She wore a fashionable blue dress, with her blonde hair done up in a side bun, the latest fashion from Paris. Despite the doomsday sayers, the socialist revolution had not snuffed out the French capital’s central place in the world of fashion. Her blue eyes sparkled a little as they met his. He was once again struck, as he often was, that he must have been the luckiest man on earth. 

“Hello there sweetheart. Everything ready to go?” She asked, as Tom went passed them both and into the parlor, where his older sister Tabitha and brother Byron sat waiting. Thirteen-year-old Tabitha sat reading the latest copy of London Girl Magazine, reading about the latest fashions, movie stars, and the most recent gossip about crown princess Elizabeth. Tabitha’s dark blonde hair was in a long, stylish braid, similar to what the crown princess herself sported. Where Samantha’s hairstyle came from Paris, Tabitha’s had been made popular by the Kaiser’s daughters and imitated by much of the lady royals in the British court. Byron sat in one of the arm chairs in the quaint little parlor, the spitting-image of his father. The sixteen-year-old was reading the new and best-selling novel by J. R. R. Tolkien, Andor’s Quest. Telling the story of a young wizard’s quest to master his newfound powers at the same time as he had to try and fight evil and restore balance to the world, the book had become immensely popular since it’s publication a few months ago, and Byron and all his friends had really taken to it. It wasn’t Jack’s cup of tea, but he preferred this interest to the comic books coming from America. 

Pointing to the suitcases stacked by the door, Jack answered his wife, “We are all set. The cab should be here any minute to take us to the train station.”

At the mention of their impending departure, Tom perked up and shouted “We’re flying on an airship! I can’t wait!” Jack chuckled. His youngest son was fascinated with the graceful giant of the skies. He had a mobile of famous German and British zeppelins in his room. He’d been so excited when Jack had told the family he’d set up a trip to Strassburg for Christmas this year aboard the R132 Strassburg Limited. 

Jack and Samantha both chuckled at their son’s outburst. Just then, a horn beeped outside, announcing the arrival of their taxi. “Byron, come help me with the luggage!” Jack called out to his son. Before picking up any bags himself, Jack grabbed his fedora hat of the rack on the wall, and looked at his wife for approval. She smiled and went to straighten it out. She then kissed him before she herded Tom and Tabitha out the door. Byron had already grabbed some of the bags. Jack grabbed the rest and followed his family out of their townhouse. On the street, the black cab sat waiting. The driver got out and opened the boot and starting helping Byron with the bags. Jack took his handful of bags to the curb then went back up and locked the house. On the front door hung a big evergreen wreath with red ribbon wrapped about. Most of the other houses on the street were similarly decorated for the upcoming holiday. No snow, however. The weather had been cool and wet, but no snow was expected until New Years Day, and by then the Maxwells would be back in Great Britain. 

With the house locked up and the bags secured in the boot of the cab, Jack piled in with the rest of his family and they were off to Victoria Station. The railway hub was bustling with Londoners going to and fro. Like the Maxwells, many were starting their holiday journeys, as it was a mere two days before Christmas Day. The station was decked out in garland and ribbon and even twinkled with fairy lights. Jack had read that in America that more and more people were decorating their own private homes with those lights. As of yet, the trend hadn’t crossed the Atlantic, but as with so many things, it was probably only a matter of time. 

A porter helped the Maxwell’s with their luggage, and in no time they were waiting on the platform for their train. A newsboy came by shouting the day’s headlines. “EXTRA! ISLP Considers General Strike!“ “German Junkers Crack Down!” and “30th Anniversary of the Christmas Miracle!” Jack paid a boy for a copy of the Times to read on the train. Moments later their train came into the station to carry them to the newly completed King George V Airport outside London. The new state-of-the-art facility replaced the hodgepodge of smaller airports that had serviced the airplanes and airships that flew in and out of the British capital. The train ride took about 45 minutes, and the train arrived directly at the airport (one of the first airports in Europe to boast direct train service). More porters came and took their luggage away to be loaded up on the airship. The Maxwells walked into the main terminal and checked in at the British Airways counter. They were directed out from the central terminal out to the primary airship departure hangar. At this point, Tom is about to burst from excitement. He finally broke from his mother’s hand and ran to the window. “I can see the airships! I can see them they’re so big!” Jack smiled at his son’s enthusiasm. 

When they actually entered the massive departure hangar, Tom wasn’t alone in his awe at the huge sky ships. All of the Maxwells were impressed by these huge machines. Uniformed British Airways officials directed them to the lowered stairs that had been lowered from the bottom of the ship. Several other passengers were already queued up and waiting to board. Jack and his family got in line. He noticed from the corner of his eye that their luggage was being loaded onto the ship via a lift platform further to the back to the ship. They wouldn’t need it until they got to Strassburg, as the flight was only 8 or so hours. It could actually be made in less time, but the Strassburg Limited took the scenic route over Paris. And unlike the larger trans-oceanic vessels that flew from Europe to America and elsewhere, this ship didn’t have private cabins. It was designed for same day travel and so was set up more like a train cabin, with individually assigned seats, with lounge and dining spaces as well. Jack handed the tickets to the agent at the bottom of the stairs, and then he and his family ascended into the ship. This entire trip had been organized by the War of 1914 Memorial Foundation, which provided a way for veterans to attend the annual celebrations in Strassburg each year, and the foundation always provided good seats on transportation and nice accommodations in the “City of Peace.” This trip proved to be no exception. The seats were set up like a train berth, two comfortably upholstered benches facing each other with a table in the middle, with a wonderful window to look out at the world below. The passenger areas of the ship were all done in the popular Art Nouveau style, with flowing and fanciful lines and patterns seeming to dance about the rooms. Once they were settled, Tom begged his father to take him exploring. Jack agreed, and the two got up, and Byron decided to join. Samantha and Tabitha had started talking about the latest news, styles, and gossip that his daughter had read about in The London Girl and agreed to stay with their seats. 

Tom walked slightly ahead, eager to see each part of the ship he could before take off. Jack planned to find out if he could get his son access to see the non-passenger sections before they landed if possible. Byron kept pace with his father, and started asking him about the articles in the Times. 

“Do you really think Socialist Labor will call for a general strike?”

“It’s possible. They’ve called for an emergency meeting of the European-wide Party Congress to discuss the matter in one week, the first friday after Christmas.”

“How bad could things get if that happens?” Byron had an inquisitive mind, and for all that he loved to read his fantasy novels, he payed more and more attention to world events.

“Could get very bad. We’ve never had a Federation-wide general strike before. The last large general strike happened in the mid-twenties during the Tory Twilight, when it looked like a bulk of the Landsbury reforms might get dismantled. France joined that strike along with Denmark and Ireland, but the ISLP didn't come about ’til 1930.”

“Why are the Junkers fighting back so much?”

“The same reasons the Tories did here. Germany is basically following the same path we did, they’re just further behind because of how much slower they’ve been to adapt to change and how much further behind they were at the start after 1914. The Junkers don’t want to lose their place in society, the power they’ve held for so long.”

“So they’d plunge the whole of Europe into chaos rather than share power with the workers?”

“It could be worse than that.”

“How could it be worse than the whole European economy at a stand-still?”

“War.” That one word answer struck Byron hard. It was unfathomable to someone his age. There had been no real conflict in Europe since 1914. A few minor clashes, mostly internal revolts as the ideas of socialism spread from France, but nothing on the scale of the Last Great European War. 

“War? Over a general strike? Surely that’s not on the table Father. Why would Frederick IV make war over this? Wasn’t he the great man of peace after 1914?”

“His hands will be tied if the Junker-controlled Reichstag want war. And if Prime Minister Landsbury and First Consul Perrot publicly support the general strike, they will want war.”

“I hope you’re wrong.”

“So do I son. War is ugly, and it’s something I hope you don’t have to see for yourself to find out.”

At this point, Tom came back to join them. they'd walked through the passenger seating areas, the interior shops, the library and now were at the grand dining salon. The two level room was breath taking. It was the full width of the ship, and flanked on either side by floor to ceiling windows that allowed for some amazing views of the world below. Like the rest of the ship’s interior, the room was ornately decorated in the popular Art Nouveau style. At one end of the room was a large clock being held by the statue of a goddess, and at the other a beautiful mural showing a graceful airship floating above Strassburg at Christmas time. As Jack and his sons milled about the dining room, an announcement came over a nearby loudspeaker: “Attention passengers, please take your seats, we will be taking off shortly.”

With that, Jack escorted his two sons back to their seats. Shortly thereafter, a chime rang out, and ship began to move forward, out of the hangar and into the openness of the tarmac.  Tom was glued to the window, but the whole family watched eagerly as the Strassburg Limited glided out of the hangar. The chimes sounded again, and a voice crackled from the overhead speaker: “Up ship!” 

And with that, the silver giant began its ascension into the sky. Tom practically squealed with glee. Jack noticed that both Byron and Tabitha both looked excited as well, though they tried to hid that fact and show themselves to be more mature than their youngest sibling. Soon the airport began to shrink away, looking like little more than a tiny diorama, like something you’d see at the science and industry museum. In no time, the ship was headed south east towards the continent. As the Maxwell’s gazed out their window at the passing landscape below, another announcement came over the speakers, “Ladies and Gentlemen, we have now reached our primary cruising altitude, and you are free to move about the cabin. It is now 10:20 a.m. We have clear skies ahead, and we should arrive in Strassburg just after 6 p.m. British Airways and the crew of the Strassburg Limited hope that you have a pleasant flight.”

While Tom stayed glued to window, the rest of the family quickly settled in to the flight. Samantha pulled out the latest romance novel she was reading. Byron pulled out his Tolkien novel, and Tabitha got her magazine back out. Jack quickly re-immersed himself back in the Times he’d bought at the train station. The main pages were of course totally focused on the growing possibility of a general strike and what some were already calling this generation’s Sarajevo Crisis, though Jack silently prayed they were wrong. Having read those articles, his attention turned to the international section. American President Horace Thurman was bellowing support for the German Junkers in the face of what he called “continued socialist aggression.” Thurman had just won a comfortable reelection to a second term in November, and for better or for worse Europe would have to deal with the hard-line anti-Socialist Democrat for at least four more years. Thurman alarmed Jack, as he alarmed many good British and European socialists. He’d taken the presidency in 1940 as a bit of a shock. America had become increasingly isolationist in the 1920s and 30s, following increasing European integration and international involvement. He’d been able to draw away enough support from the Republican party to prevent the insurgent Progressive-Socialist party from taking the White House, and in the past four years had cracked down hard on PSP activity and labor rights that had been granted during previous administrations, claiming to be “cleansing America of Euro-socalist ideology.” Thurman seemed to stand for the opposite of everything that the nations of the European Congress had been working for the past thirty years. What was worse, Thurman had started a massive build up of the American armed forces and seemed to be abandoning isolationist tendencies of the previous decades. 

America wasn’t the only place with less than happy news. Russia was growing more and more unstable, something that Jack and his colleagues at the Interior ministry weren’t to surprised by. After the War of 1914, Czar Nicholas II had managed to stave off crisis by issuing a series of reforms between 1916-1929, when Russia became a fully constitutional monarchy with a true power-sharing structure between the Czar and the Duma. But there was still a great gulf between the rich and poor, and Russia still lagged pitifully behind Western Europe in industrialization. And ever since Nicholas II’s death in 1936, there had been growing unrest. The International Socialist Labor Party was but one voice in the cacophony of left-wing parties demanding reform, and far from the most radical. And Czar Nicholas III’s health was poor. If the Czar died it was unlikely that his young son Michael would be able to save the monarchy. Some feared revolution, though Jack personally didn’t know if that wouldn’t be a good thing. It had worked in France, after all. 

Elsewhere in the world, Japan was continuing to consolidate it’s empire in East Asia, at the expense of China and the European powers. Jack suspected that if the Germany situation didn’t explode within the next six months that the next Imperial Congress would be directly addressing the situation when it gathered for it’s next pentennial meeting in Toronto this summer. Australia was continually screaming about increasing Japanese aggression and encroachment, and Hong Kong was also worried. For that matter, if the trend continued India may start feeling the pinch. Most expected Japan to slow it’s territorial appetite now that China had essentially capitulated, along with former European colonial holdings that had briefly gained their independence in the 1920s.  The watchword for the Pacific was appeasement. Jack personally wondered if that was the wisest choice, but knew that Britain, and indeed the Empire as a whole, to say nothing of the European Congress, would not willingly get involved in a drawn out conflict with Japan. 

Jack looked up from the paper and sighed quietly to himself, as he looked at his children, especially Byron. His eldest son was nearly the same age he had been when he went off to fight in France. It seemed like a lifetime ago. The world was so different then. And until recently, Jack had believed that the world his children would grow up to enjoy would be the one of peace that he and his comrades had fought to achieve thirty years ago. Now, it seemed as if the idea of making the 20th Century the “Century of Peace” that George Landsbury spoke of after the signing of the Strassburg Treaty in 1915 might have just been a pipe-dream after all. For the sake of his children, he hoped not. 

Having had enough of world events for one day, Jack folded his paper and decided to lean his head back and take a nap before lunch. 

To be continued...

Silent Night, Part 7: Interlude

Hello to all my readers. I realize it's been literally ages since I've posted anything new. Due in part to starting my first "real" job after college, and also in part due to some writer's block, I haven't come up with much in the way of new, postable material. 

As we approach the holiday season, and more importantly for this particular series, the 100th Anniversary of the 1914 Christmas Truce, I wanted to keep this story alive. I'm hoping to get more of this story written this month as time allows. 

Enjoy!

INTERLUDE

(click here for Part 6)

The early years of the European Federation were filled with many ups and downs as the diplomats and politicians and generals navigated the unknown. Up until the Miracle of 1914, cooperation between the Great Powers in Europe had been spotty at best, and the break down in that cooperation had led to the War of 1914 in the first place. The unprecedented peace agreement that followed at Straßburg radically altered the continent forever. The first meeting of the Congress of European States began on September 1, 1915 at the Palace Rohan in Straßburg, where a total of twenty-five men gathered in the great hall that had been home to the Peace Congress earlier in the year, and from their ranks selected 5 men to serve as the newly created Executive Committee  of the European Congress. John Keynes, a noted economist and Liberal Party member represented the United Kingdom. René Viviani, who had served as the first Minister of Labor in the old French regime and was a key leader in the moderate opposition party in the new People’s Assembly after the revolution, represented the new French republic. Philipp Scheidemann, a leader of the SPD who would later become Chancellor under the Reformed Constitution of 1917, represented Germany. Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich, brother of Czar Nicholas II, represented the Russian Empire. And finally, Jakob Reumann, Austrian SPD leader, represented the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Keynes was elected as Chairman of the Committee, and would lead the CES through much of the early years as the new council struggled to establish it’s legitimacy and authority. 

The first thing for Chairman Keynes and the other committee members had to tackle was what to do with the money paid by the Signatory Powers into the new War Relief Fund. In mid-September, with the approval of the CES, the Executive Committee set up the Relief Fund Bank, which would be the precursor to the European Federal Bank. The RFB would manage the funds and how they would be distributed throughout Europe for war recovery. Set aside at the bank was an allowance for war widows from all countries to help them get on their feet after the lose of their husbands. Families who’s unmarried sons died in battle also received money in compensation for their sacrifice. Money then began to be released for projects aimed at, in the words of the committee members, “bringing the continent closer together.” 

In the first five years of the existence of the Congress, several key foundation stones were laid for creation of what would amount to a unified European continent by the dawn of the twenty-first century. Chief among them were the creation of the European Trade Zone and the European Railway Authority. The ETZ helped regulate international trade on the continent and helped to lower or eliminate most trade tariffs by 1925. The ERA helped standardized rail travel throughout the continent, using funds from the Relief Fund to build new rail lines or modernize existing lines throughout the continent, and then successfully lobbied to create the Pan-European Passport in 1919, which eliminated most travel restrictions and allowed freedom of movement among the initial Signatory Powers and nations that would sign the Straßburg Treaty in the years to come. 

-Hamilton, Dr. Alexandra. Europe United. London: Bayle House, 2011.

With the conflict on the Continent over and done with, by the end of July 1915, the issue of Irish Home Rule quickly began to rise back to the fore in British politics, at the same time as pressure for new elections for parliament reached a boiling point. Prime Minister Grey announced on August 2nd that new elections for Parliament would occur on October 5th, to the wide approval of the public still upset at those in the old Asquith government and the War Faction of the Liberal Party that had supported early violence against truce fighters. Grey also announced that implementation of the Third Irish Home Rule bill would be enacted after the elections, saying he hoped that the devolved Irish government would be set up before the beginning of 1916. George Lansbury had become a vocal leader of the Peace Faction, and had quickly become the new leading voice in the Liberal Party.

When the vote was held, Peace Liberals and the Labour Party swept through, to the fear of hardline Torries and many in the upper classes. Fear that the red revolution in France would cross the channel was palpable, and although it wasn’t widely known at the time, some members of the military establishment set up plans to act against the radicals if they went too far. On October 11, Lansbury became Prime Minister, despite some mild objections from other members of the Liberal Party. Grey resumed his post as Foreign Minister, and David Lloyd George became Home Secretary. While not a revolution like in France, British society would be greatly altered in the coming years by Lansbury’s government. Peace became the new policy of Number 10 Downing Street. 

Parliament began discussing implementation of Irish Home Rule on October 18th. The Government supported quick action on the matter, with Prime Minister Lansbury saying “swift action on this matter is paramount for our nation’s quick and speedy recovery from the war.” Opposition MPs called for patience, and reignited discussion on possible partition of Ireland, since citizens in the northern Irish counties were still balking at the prospect of Home Rule. Unionist MPs from Ireland suggested dividing northern and southern Ireland equally, with both having Home Rule based on the original set up in the Third Home Rule bill. After it became clear that Northern Ireland would never submit willingly to a government in Dublin, David Lloyd George and other members of the government presented the Fourth (and Final) Home Rule Bill to parliament in December of 1915. It called for the creation of the Dominion of Ireland, centered on Dublin, and the Dominion of Ulster, centered on Belfast. Both dominions would be required to recognize religious toleration and equal status to all protestants and catholics within their borders, and free movement between the two states. Home Rule MPs from Ireland were not thrilled, and there were demonstrations in both Northern and Southern Ireland in opposition to the bill (those in the north flatly opposed to any separation from Great Britain, and those in the South opposed to the partition of Ireland in any form for any reason). In the end, the bill would be pass Parliament and be enacted in February of 1916. Elections would be held in May, and formal devolution to the dominions would go into effect on June 31st 1916. 

- Hayworth, Dr. Samuel. The Lansbury Years. London: Random House, 2009. 

In late September, the newly elected Constitutional Convention of Alsace-Lorraine met for the first time in a few chambers in the Palace Rohan, which was also occupied by the European Congress. It became immediately obvious that new buildings would need to be built to house both the government of the newly formed nation, along with the European Congress. While the delegates debated the new constitution, a joint committee was formed with members from the European Congress, along with delegates from the Straßburg city government. The Straßburg Capital Committee, as it became known, began by drafting out some basic goals for the new city: to preserve, as much as possible, the historic old city, while at the same time accommodating the city’s new status as the capital of both a new nation and of the European Congress. It was ultimately settled that the hamlet of Neudorf, to the south of the city, would be acquired and used as the location for the new European capital. There a congress hall and administrative buildings would be built, along with headquarters for the Relief Fund Bank and the Christmas Miracle Memorial. The Alte Fischmarkt Strasse, which runs essentially in front of the cathedral in the old city, would be renamed the Weihnachtsallee and widened and extended, more or less in a straight line, from the cathedral to Neudorf, and the blocks between the street and the cathedral would be demolished to create a larger central plaza in the old city (of all the plans, this would be the most controversial since it would involve the most demolition of historic buildings in the city center). The Palace Rohan would be given to the Alsace-Lorraine government, and new administrative offices would also be built on the south side of the river across from the palace. 

The basic plan would be approved by the end of October by both the Alsace-Lorraine Provisional Government and the European Congress, and official plans were drawn up by German and French architects, and presented in mid-November.  Ground would be broken on the memorial in December, and then the real work would begin in mid January. 

- Gerhardt, Dr. Franz. Europe’s Capital, a History. Berlin: Random House, 2002. 

Members of the European Congress, along with the Parliament of Alsace-Lorraine and veterans associations in France, Britain, and Germany began planning in the fall of 1915 for a ceremony to mark the one year anniversary of the Christmas miracle. Alsace-Lorraine had already approved plans for a massive monument in Straßburg to commemorate the event, and it was decided early on by the Remembrance Committee that the ground breaking ceremony for the memorial would be incorporated into the event. After some discussion, Pope Benedict XV agreed to come and do a special Christmas Eve mass to start the ceremonies. During November and early December, the city of Straßburg saw a flurry of activity to make the city ready for the thousands that were expected to descend on the city. Hotels were built or expanded, special stands were built for the parades that were planned. 

Prime Minister Lansbury of Great Britain, Chairman Juares of France, and Chancellor von Bethmann Hollweg of Germany all were in attendance, along with representatives from Russia and Austria-Hungary. In all, close to 50,000 people gathered in Straßburg to mark the first anniversary of the War of 1914. The ceremonies began with the Christmas Eve mass presided over by the Pope in the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg, which was filled to capacity. The mass ended almost perfectly at midnight, and it was then that one of modern Christmas’ most famous traditions was born: the world-wide ringing of the bells. At exactly the stroke of midnight, Central European Time, nearly every church and clock bell in Europe chimed furiously for two minutes, marking the one year anniversary of the truce. From London to Moscow, the chimes rang out. And it did not occur in Europe alone. Many major cities in the United States, Canada and Australia took part as well. Following the bells, the International Christmas Choir, which had been founded that summer and was headquartered in Straßburg, began singing Silent Night, alternating verses between English, French, and German. 

The following day, there was a grand procession of dignitaries, units from the Christmas Army (both units that now made up the Army of Alsace-Lorraine and veteran’s remembrance units), several marching bands, and a number of festive holiday floats made its way from the center of Straßburg out to the “Neustadt,” or “New City,” where, among other things, the new Palace of Europe and the Christmas Memorial were to be built. As of Christmas of 1915, the site had been prepared and the streets were laid out, but it was mostly open fields and trees. Real construction wouldn’t begin until the early Spring of 1916. On the site of the New City, ground was officially broken on future memorial. 

- Collins, James. Remembering Christmas: Birth of the Modern Holiday. New York: Scholastic Corp. 2001. 

Silent Night, Part 4

PART 4: Writing the Peace, Act I

(click here for part 3)

Diplomats discuss the Strasbourg Peace, March 1915

AMERICA WILL ATTEND CONGRESS

WASHINGTON, JAN 21 - The American Vice President, Thomas R. Marshal, is en route to Europe, hoping to arrive by January 25 in order to attend the Strasbourg Peace Congress as an observer to the negotiations working to end the Great European War. After a request from the American Ambassador to Great Britain, the Three Consuls of the Christmas Army, along with Pope Benedict XV, issued an official invitation to the United States to attend as a non-participating observer. The American President, Woodrow Wilson, has been very supportive of the peace movement and the Truce Fighters. He has actually offered to mediate between the warring nations of Europe, but the Pope’s offer to do so was taken instead. The American government has stayed very outspoken in support of ending the war, and before a ceasefire was declared, the United States congress was taking up legislation that would have curtailed American shipping to those nations involved in the war. President Wilson told reporters that “sending Vice President Marshal, such a high ranking member of the American government, to the Peace Congress shows America’s commitment to peace around the globe.”

-”America Will Attend Congress,” The Times (London), January 22, 1915.

As the day of the start of the Congress approached, the world was abuzz with excitement. there were a great many hopes that people had for this meeting of diplomats and world leaders. In church meetings across Europe and America, people prayed for peace. The Christmas Army leaders secured Strasbourg and the surrounding area, and much of the province was under the control of the Christmas Republic. However, not all were thrilled about what was going on. In Germany, although somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 of soldiers on the front lines had acted in support of the truce, the rest were very much loyal to the Kaiser, and were very upset about the actions of their fellow soldiers. The situation inside Germany was very tense. There were some that wanted to support the truce. While others wanted the army to reengage the French now that they were divided in Civil War. Wilhelm II was behind going to the Congress, but he did not have the full support of everyone in Berlin. 

In France, most civilians, regardless of who they were supporting in the Civil War,  supported the Truce. The news from the Front in the previous months had been disheartening, and support for the war had waned across the nation. It would be this factor that Clemenceau and his republicans underestimated in their attempt to undermine the socialist government in Paris that would ultimately lead to their downfall later in the year. However, as the statesmen gathered in Strasbourg, the outcome of France was anything but clear and this made some fear that the Peace Congress would be fruitless. 

Like in France, the English public was firmly behind the Peace Congress. However, what it was not behind was its government. Ever since King George V and Prime Minister Asquith had ordered loyal troops to fire on the troops that had joined the Christmas Army, there had been great unrest in the major British cities of London, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Glasgow and Edinburgh. There were calls for the Prime Minister to resign, and even some saying that King George V should abdicate and allow his younger son to take the thrown instead. The high levels of unrest would lead to a vote of no confidence in Asquith’s leadership in Parliament in February, and ultimately new parliamentary elections would happen in September. 

-Franklin, Dr. David. Peace on Earth: Christmas 1914. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1975.

POPE HOLDS SPECIAL MASS IN STRASBOURG

STRASBOURG, JAN 24 - At the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg, His Holiness Pope Benedict XV held a special Mass this Sunday evening in advance of the Peace Congress. The Cathedral was packed with diplomats that had already arrived in the city, including Comrade Juares, British Foreign Minister Grey, and German Foreign Minister von Jagow. The service began with a special performance of the song “Silent Night,” performed in both German and English, in tribute to the lives lost in the conflict throughout 1914. The song, which according to popular accounts was the song German troops started singing on Christmas Eve that sparked the truce, has become a sort of anthem for the Truce Movement. Following this and other songs, His Holiness spoke to those gathered in the Cathedral. 

“We gather in this city as a result of what can only be described as a Christmas Miracle, that men on opposite sides of a terrible conflict would lay down their weapons and join hand in hand to defeat this terrible war. It is now up to those of us here in Strasbourg to ensure that their Miracle does not go to waste. May our Lord in Heaven give us guidance and wisdom to put aside our differences so that our children will have a better world, and that there truly shall be Peace on Earth in our time.”

-”Pope Holds Special Mass in Strasbourg,” Le Monde, January 25, 1915. 

The first meeting of Strasbourg Peace Congress began at 10:00 a.m. on January 25, 1915 at the Palais Rohan, exactly one month after the start of the Christmas Truce. The nations in attendance included France, represented by Jean Juares, the head of the Council of State of the People’s Socialist Republic of France, Great Britain, represented by both Prime Minister H. H. Asquith and Foreign Minister Edward Grey, Germany, represented by Foreign Minister Gottlieb von Jagow, Russia, represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Sazonov, Austro-Hungaria Count Leopold Berchtold, and the Ottoman Empire, represented by Grand Vizier Said Halim Pasha. Two days later, American Vice President Thomas R. Marshal wold also arrive. With these movers and shakers was an army of staff members, advisers, and civil servants who’d accompanied the statesmen to Strasbourg. In the opening session, Pope Benedict XV addressed those assembled, and presented his now famous “7 Points for Peace,” which were:

1) Demobilization of all armies in Europe

2) General Pardon for all soldiers who joined the Christmas Army

3) Establishment of Barrier Nations between the Three main European Powers (one between Germany and France, the other between Germany and Poland)

4) Creation of the Congress of European States, which would meet annually to handle diplomatic disputes between European nations, and also manage Supra-national bodies set up by the Congress

5) Creation of the European War Relief fund, which would be managed by the CES leadership, and funded by all nations who participated in the war with the goal of helping the continent recover.

6) Creation of the European Disarmament Council, managed by the CES, to help work together between all European nations to see a draw down of armaments across the continent. 

1. Official declaration that there was no single nation responsible for the start of the war.

As you can expect, these proposals caused quite a stir. It was obvious that one of the states referred to in Point 3 was Alsace-Lorraine, which Germany in particular balked at giving up (despite the fact that this proposal had originally come not from the Pope but from the Christmas Army leadership). Russia was also wary of giving up territory, even if it wasn’t to the Germans. Russian Foreign Minister Sazonov stated to an aide that “We haven’t lost, why should we give up territory?” Russia also wanted to place the war blame on Austro-Hungaria, and the Austro-Hungarians wanted to blame either Serbia or Russia. Though generally amiable to the proposals, Chairman Juares stated that he wasn’t quite convinced that every nation should share equally in the rebuilding costs, telling a French reporter that, “after all, most of the war in the West was fought on French soil. We should pay less and receive more, especially when compared to Germany.”

When the “7 Proposals for Peace,” were circulated in the press the following days, there was definitely a mixed reaction across the continent. George Clemenceau, who was preparing to lead his Republican faction on an attack on the Socialist government in Paris, stated, “giving up sovereign French territory up for any reason, even this proposed “buffer state,” is unacceptable.” Most Germans seemed more or less okay with the points, although in the military classes and the elites, the reaction was more varied and generally less supportive. While negotiations were early on, Kaiser Wilhelm II was attempting to remain quiet so as to not upset one faction or the other or interfere with the peace process. In what would become the Kingdom of Poland, when news of the proposed buffer state between Germany and Russia was heard, agitation for a new Polish nation started almost immediately. This was initially suppressed by Russian authorities, but eventually became overwhelming, and, worrying about agitation for reform closer to home and fearing further deterioration if they continued to clamp down, the Tsar would end up supporting this proposal. 

-Franklin, Dr. David. Peace on Earth: Christmas 1914. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1975.

CLEMENCEAU’S ARMY ON THE MARCH!

PARIS, JAN 29 - The government has confirmed reports that the traitor Clemenceau and his fellow rebels holed up in Lyons are preparing an army to march northward in an attempt to take Paris. It is estimated that roughly a third of the French Army that was fielded during the War of 1914 have joined the ranks of the Christmas Army. Of the 2/3s remaining, approximately 1/4 have joined Clemenceau’s supposed “Free Republican Army,” the rest remaining loyal to the Socialist revolution that was proclaimed on January 8. At the request of the rest of the members of the Council of State, First Comrade Juares is returning from Strasbourg to oversee the coming battle with the rebel forces. Replacing him at the Peace Congress is the Council Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Paul Faure. 

Council Secretary for Defense, Albert Thomas, told the press that the French Revolutionary Army was being deployed south of the city of Paris to prepare for the oncoming rebel troops, and that conflict could occur by the beginning of next week. Some soldiers will be left behind in Paris itself as a second line of defense, augmented with members of the Red Guard. 

• “Clemenceau’s Army on the March!” Le Monde, January 30, 1915. 

The first real battle of the French Civil War, and one of the largest, occurred on February 4, 1915, near the town of Auxerre. The French Revolutionary Army had moved in to the area on February 1 and taken up defensive maneuvers. The battle started just after 9 in the morning, with the FRA opening up artillery on the advancing Republican Army. The battle would go on for 6 hours, and the FRA forced the rebel army to retreat southwards, where they reformed and were able to stall the advance of the socialist soldiers. It is often speculated that had the Civil War continued on this course, that the war could have dragged on for months, or even into 1916. However, due to several major gaffes by Clemenceau, along with events that would happen in the south, the Republican resolve to fight would deteriorate by summer. 

The worst and most damning gaffe made by Clemenceau occurred on February 15, 1915, when he was interviewed by local reporters in Lyons and was asked what he intended to do after he defeated the socialists, answering, “Why, of course, defend French honor and reengage the enemy. The deserters who fled the ranks to join this so-called Christmas Army are why we are in this precarious situation. After our victory over the socialists, we must take that victorious momentum and strike against our enemy, Germany, and put an end to this truce nonsense.” This was hugely unpopular amongst nearly all the common people of France, and crippled the Republican’s support in many regions. 

-Nelson, Dr. Henry. Vive la Revolution 1915! Birth of the French socialist state. New York: Colombia University Press, 1980.

HEADWAY IN PEACE CONGRESS: RUSSIA AGREES TO BUFFER STATE

STRASBOURG, FEB 17 - The Russian Empire has agreed, in principle it says, to the idea of creating a buffer state between itself and the German Empire, the first major break the diplomats trying to hammer out a peace deal in Strasbourg have received. The Russians had initially balked at the idea of giving up so much territory in order to create this buffer zone, but has since had a change of heart. It is likely this has something to do with the increasing nationalist agitation occurring in the territory that would likely become that buffer state, which is home to large population of ethnically Polish people. In addition, there has been increasing agitation for reform in Russia proper, and it is believed that the Tsar did not want to wish spreading agitation throughout the Empire. 

So far, all parties have agreed to the First and Second Peace Points initially presented by Pope Benedict XV on January 25, and this is the first major headway given for Peace Point Three, calling for buffer states between Germany and Russia along with Germany and France (which would essentially be Alsace-Lorraine, the hotly contested territory that lies on the French-German boarder). So far, the French support creating an independent buffer state out of the Alsace-Lorraine territory that lies on the German side of the line. However, the German authorities have stated that these terms are not acceptable, and that France should have to give up some of it’s own territory as well. 

“Headway in Peace Congress: Russia Agrees to Buffer State,” The Times (London), February 18, 1915. 

NO CONFIDENCE IN ASQUITH GOVERNMENT

LONDON, FEB 20 - A final vote of no-confidence in Prime Minister Asquith has occurred today in Parliament, and was overwhelmingly in support of removing Asquith from power. The Prime Minister, who has been in Strasbourg at the Peace Conference with Foreign Minister Grey since the end of January, is expected to return to London within the next few days and formally resign. As for who is likely to become the next Prime Minister, the most likely candidates are David Lloyd George, currently the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or Foreign Minister Edward Grey. 

This move comes amid great political pressure throughout the country against what is perceived by many to be Asquith’s poor handling of the initial stages of the Christmas Truce crisis, including his signing off on the order to have loyal troops open fire on soldiers that had joined the Truce Army. Members of Parliament are hoping this will quell some of the protests, but it may be too little too late. There is a growing call for new parliamentary elections by the end of the year, led in large part by Liberal politician and former MP George Lansbury, who is a quickly rising star in the Liberal Party since the Christmas Truce crisis began. Lansbury is known as an outspoken pacifist, and has gained a huge following from those who want to see this war over and see to it that future conflicts are avoided. 

-”No Confidence in Asquith Government,” The Times (London), February 21, 1915. 

When Herbert H. Asquith returned from the Strasbourg Congress with Foreign Minister Earl Grey on February 23, 1915, he promptly resigned as Prime Minister, and the members of the Liberal Party met and voted on who would succeed him. David Lloyd George was one of the likeliest candidates, followed closely by Edward Grey. In a close vote, it was decided that Grey would become Prime Minister, and he was formally appointed on February 29, 1915. Grey tapped former Home Secretary Winston Churchill to serve as Foreign Minister. Grey and Churchill would head back Strasbourg on March 5, 1915. 

Grey’s government would only last until the next parliamentary elections in the fall of 1915. By then, George Lansbury and other pacifists had seen a huge rise in popularity and would become the new leaders of the Liberal Party that would see an increase in power after the 1915 election. 

• Thomas, Dr. George, History of British Politics of the Early Twentieth Century. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987. 

FIRST DRAFT OF STRASBOURG TREATY NOW UNDER REVIEW

STRASBOURG, MAR 27 - The delegates of the Strasbourg Peace Congress have hammered out a first draft of a treaty that they are now sending out to the capitals of Europe, attempting to find a settlement to bring about the end of the Great European War. If accepted by all parties, the treaty could be signed sometime in mid April, bringing the war to an official close. The official text of the treaty draft has not been released to the press, but from several sources we have learned that the treaty essentially meets the 7 Points for Peace that Pope Benedict XV proposed back in January. Now, whether all these terms will be acceptable to the major powers of Europe or not remains to be seen. There had been a lot of discussion about the proposals, and not everyone was happy with the different items of the proposal. People in France and Germany have both voiced qualms about giving up Alsace-Lorraine, and there are those in Russia who are appalled at giving in up Poland, though the Russian government has officially endorsed such a proposal. There are also those in the military establishments across Europe that think that some sort of punishment should be laid against the soldiers who mutinied and deserted their posts to join the Christmas Truce Army. Vice President Marshal, who has been in Strasbourg for the duration of the discussions to provide an American opinion, stated he had serious concerns about what sort of precedent it would set if the soldiers weren’t reprimanded. He told American reporters in Strasbourg that, “if the soldiers who joined the Christmas Army are let off the hook, what’s to keep other soldiers in future conflicts from hijacking those wars and threatening their governments with revolution.” 

-”First Draft of Strasbourg Treaty Now Under Review,” The New York Times, March 28, 1915. 

After the failure to push forward against the French Revolutionary Army at Auxerre, the Republicans consolidated their forces and control over the region around Lyons and south. It was Clemenceau’s plan to start setting up a functioning government in Lyons and consolidate total control over southern France before striking against the revolutionary government in Paris. At first this went well for Clemenceau, with the area around Lyons supporting the Republicans enthusiastically, and parts farther south remaining fairly loyal. All this would unravel, however, after the Emergency Governing Council of the Fourth French Republic (the official body that governed the anti-Socialist forces in France), passed the now infamous Order 413 on March 1, which authorized large scale mandatory conscription of men ages 16-40, to “help save our nation from the horde of revolutionaries.” Army units were sent out to enforce this Order, and that’s when the once patriotic support of the Clemenceau resistance began to unravel. People were upset that the army was being sent out to essentially arrest all able bodied men and drag them into the army. 

In Marseilles, local socialists, who’d stayed mostly in hiding once the city declared allegiance to Lyons, came out of the wood work and rallied the citizens, a vast majority of whom opposed Order 413. This would lead to the birth of the Marseilles Commune, which overthrew the city government on March 17th, and prepared the city to resist the Republican troops that were headed their way. On March 26, the Battle of Marseilles began. After day of street fighting, the army retreaded, having lost too many men. Word of this victory spread quickly, and towns and cities across the “Free French Republic” rose up against the the Republican Army. With this momentum, the FRA mobilized and planned to attack. The Revolutionaries and the resisters would meet for the Second Battle of Auxerre on April 12, 1915. 

-Nelson, Dr. Henry. Vive la Revolution 1915! Birth of the French socialist state. New York: Colombia University Press, 1980.

CLEMENCEAU’S ARMY ON THE RUN

PARIS, APR 16 - The Socialist French government of Jean Juares has reported that forces loyal to anti-socialist leader George Clemenceau have been defeated at the Second Battle of Auxerre and are retreating towards Lyons, which is reportedly preparing for a siege. Early casualty reports are hovering above 70,000 troops in total. Socialist Leader Juares, who has been in Paris while the French government deliberates over the proposed Strasbourg Treaty, told reporters that, “this is an encouraging day for the People’s Revolution. The forces of reaction and capitalism are on the run, and I am optimistic that by summer, France will be unified under the red banner of socialism and freedom and equality. 

The French War Minister, Albert Thomas, reportedly said that he believes the Revolutionary Army will reach Lyons within a few days, and could defeat the Republicans in a number of days. “The War in France should be over by May.”

-”Clemenceau’s Army on the Run,” Frankfurter Zeitung, April 17, 1915. 

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