Yeah it’s Christmas, so today’s FTPF is themed. Now I know what you’re thinking, “OH GREAT JAMES IS TALKING ABOUT A SANTA GAME.” No – and stop shouting – it’s better than that. A brief history lesson –
The first Christmas during World War I showed the beginnings of a populist movement. The brief waning of the nationalism that so swept countries into the war to begin with allowed a “live and let live” phenomenon to occur. At small levels, soldiers would not fire on opposing forces if they were acting in a non-aggressive manner, such as exercising or eating. The additional stresses of modern combat (trench warfare, machine guns, gas, etc) lent to a level of understanding between low-ranked soldiers, who had no real need to kill someone just minding his own business.
This was most documented with the Christmas Truce, which was a widespread unofficial truce between forces on Christmas Day 1914. Soldiers crossed into no-man’s land to exchange news and gifts, sing, and in a few (admittedly, anecdotal) cases play soccer. Then, come the 27th, they were back to war.
Relay, this week’s Free To Play Friday, puts you in the harried shoes of a telegraph operator during those days. While the time leading up to Christmas is full of troop and supply requests, a twinkling rendition of Silent Night lets you know that maybe there can be even the briefest of truces.
I used to be really into the history of WW1 – it was truly the first industrial age war, and the philosophies and mindsets that started the war changed in just four years, to a completely different paradigm that was bleak, jaded, and world-weary. It’s a fascinating subject. Relay touches on just a single week of a 200+ week slaughterhouse, and it is all the better to show its humanity.
Relay can be played for free in your browser right here.