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What is the Christmas Truce?

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What was the Christmas Truce?

World War One affected nearly everyone in Britain, as men and boys were sent to fight in some of the toughest conditions.

One of the most interesting stories to come out of the conflict was the Christmas Truce, when German and British soldiers went into no man's land to shake hands, sing carols and play a football game.

Image source, Getty Images
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The Truce - shown here in an illustration - allowed German and British soldiers to have Christmas together and stop fighting

No man's land

In trench warfare, two sides dug ditches, known as trenches, opposite each other and fought over the land in between.

That land in the middle was called No Man's Land.

For the last two years, the Premier League has been running a Christmas Truce football tournament in Ypres.

This year, youth teams from England, Belgium, Germany and France all took part.

Conrad plays for Manchester City and the trip to the trenches had a big impact on him.

"It's hard to imagine what it must have been like because we've got such good lives to what it must have been like in the war," said Conrad.

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Martin and CJ talk about their visit to Ypres

Every night since the war, local people gather to remember those soldiers who died at the Menin Gate memorial in Ypres.

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Trench Cam

As part of the Christmas Truce Tournament, the players visit both Christmas Truce sites where they leave a football and wreath as a mark of respect.

Media caption,

How to research your family's WWI history

The players attend the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate and one of the players says the Ode to Remembrance.