For anyone who has ever fought in the middle of a war, they know lighthearted moments are hard to come by. Between the bullets, bombs, and the deaths of your fellow countrymen, it’s hard to crack a smile. However, sometimes these are the exact moments when you need to remember that the world isn’t all evil. With this in mind, let’s look at some lighthearted moments that took place during the middle of World War 2.
Italian Christmas
In this photo, two members of the 13th Corps Signals stationed out of Chicago, Illinois, celebrate the Christmas holiday with two Italian boys. With this photo captured on December 25, 1944, the Allies had already liberated Italy, and Italian residents were well known for thanking Allied soldiers with food and hospitality.
British Beer Drinking
©Hewitt (Sgt), No 2 Army Film & Photographic Unit / Public Domain - Original / License
During the middle of the war, soldiers rose to the challenge of helping their fellow countrymen. In this image, British soldier Driver J Chalmers enjoyed a bottle of beer after giving blood in December 1943. As these men donated blood to help out injured soldiers, rewards were given in the form of beer. For the soldiers on the front line, a beer would go a long way to motivate them to donate.
Opening Presents
Sitting around a miniature “Christmas tree,” American soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Division are opening packages. It’s hard to know if these are presents from home or things they’ve found along the way. Either way, these troopers were stationed in Italy on December 16, 1943, when a break from fighting allowed them to enjoy a wholesome moment.
English Rugby
Right in the middle of World War 2, sports just never got away. This undated photo shows members of the Royal Air Force playing a game of rugby. It’s these little moments that take their mind off the destruction the war was bringing to much of the world. This match was part of the Inter-Unit championships played amongst the Advanced Air Striking Force that was stationed in France.
Military Christmas Games
©John Atherton / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license - Original / License
It’s difficult to know what’s really going on in this photo, but the soldiers look like they are enjoying themselves. Taking place on Christmas Eve 1942 in North Africa, the soldiers look to be playing some type of game while filming it for posterity.
It’s a wonder what the soldier on the far right is doing with a “hammer” or “mallet”, but that’s okay. What’s important is that these soldiers are enjoying themselves amid a grueling campaign against the Axis powers.
Christmas Carols
No matter what your day has been like, sometimes Christmas carols can make it all better. This is likely what these soldiers from the 24 Engineers, 4th Armored Division told themselves. Using a little musical instrument, these soldiers were enjoying a break in the battle. It’s unclear if they were able to go door-to-door, but sometimes it’s the thought that counts.
Papuan Native Christmas
For soldiers that were fighting in the Pacific, they received a true welcome in Papua New Guinea from the natives. To help the Americans celebrate Christmas, Papuan natives put on a native dance show in front of a few dozen soldiers. As many of these soldiers were unlikely to travel to various parts of the world on their own, the chance to see these lighthearted native displays was a real respite from everyday horrors.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Signal Corps Archive / Public Domain.
