These four stamps from Tuvalu featured the original illustration of British and German soldiers exchanging cheerful conversation. It first appeared in an artist's impression from The Illustrated London News of 9 January 1915. The caption read "British and German Soldiers Arm-in-Arm Exchanging Headgear: A Christmas Truce between Opposing Trenches". The selvage included the name of the artwork as well as text stating "Legend has it that some British and German trench soldiers made a temporary truce for Christmas in an incredible act of humanity in the middle of one of the world's most infamous wars."
The Christmas truce (or, known in German as Weihnachtsfrieden) was a series of widespread unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front of the First World War around Christmas 1914. The truce occurred five months after hostilities had begun. Lulls occurred in the fighting as armies ran out of men and munitions and commanders reconsidered their strategies following the stalemate of the 'Race to the Sea' and the indecisive result of the First Battle of Ypres.
In the week leading up to 25 December, French, German and British soldiers crossed trenches to exchange seasonal greetings and talk. In some areas, men from both sides ventured into no man's land on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to mingle and exchange food and souvenirs. There were joint burial ceremonies and prisoner swaps, while several meetings ended in carolling. Men played games of football with one another, creating one of the most memorable images of the truce. Hostilities continued in some sectors, while in others the sides settled on little more than arrangements to recover bodies. This would be less so in the following years as commanders on both sides had given orders not to fraternise with the enemy.
Sources: Tuvalu Post and Wikipedia
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