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50+ Historical Photos Of Troops Celebrating Christmas During World War II

The war brought many changes and limitations to Christmas festive. Families spent the festive apart from loved ones; many men were fighting abroad or were being held as prisoners of war. Women might also be away in the services or carrying out war work. Children spent Christmas away from home as evacuees without gifts and luxuries because they were hard to come by when basic foods were scarce. Soldiers on the battlefield also did their best to celebrate Christmas. Some soldiers also received gifts from home. The Army and Fleet Post Offices did their best to distribute presents quickly. Some bases and battalions arranged Santa visits, concerts, lunches, drinks, and parties. Take a look at these historical photos showing Christmas celebrations during and after wartime.

#1 G.I. gets a belated Christmas gift, late due to the Battle of the Bulge. Belgium, January 1945.

#2 Shown are WACs of the 2nd War Company, Norfolk Air Base, Barracks A, HRPE, seated around a Christmas tree with their mascot dog.

#3 A Christmas party held at Admiralty House, London, 17 December 1942 for allied naval officers children. ‘Father Christmas’ in a costume and mask presents a young girl with a gift.

#4 1940s Bell telephone woman operator wartime Christmas.

#5 Pvt Walter Prsybyla of B Btry, 37th Field Artillery Regt, US 2nd Inf Div writing Christmas cards for friends and family from an artillery ammunition storehouse, Heckhalenfeld, Germany, 30 Nov 1944.

#6 US Army Pfc. W. J. Kessler, Pfc. J. L. Proffitt, Pvt. B. Narter, Cpl. T. J. Barnewski, and Pfc. J. Stoll handling Christmas packages from home for their artillery unit, Germany, 26 Nov 1944.

#7 An American soldier shares presents from home with Italian children during Christmas.

#9 US Army Sergeant Joseph H. Kadlec delivering Christmas packages sent from home, near Aachen, Germany, 14 Nov 1944.

#10 An ATS girl kisses a soldier under some mistletoe held aloft by her friend, while their depot is preparing for Christmas Day. 20th December 1939

#11 S Army Pfc. Carl Anker, Pfc. Edmund Dill, and Sgt. Ted Bailey sharing the contents of the care package sent by Dill’s wife for the Christmas holiday, somewhere in Europe, 18 Nov 1944.

#13 An American soldier with Christmas presents from home.

#16 Roosevelt addresses the crowd at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony from the White House South Portico on December 24, 1941. Churchill can be seen on the right.

#17 U.S. Soldiers Caroleers Circle Globe.The Christmas spirit is universal, the traditions unchanging even in the midst of war.

#18 US 5th Armored Regiment tankers gathering around a fire and opening Christmas presents, near Eupen, 30 december 1944; note M4 Sherman tank.

#19 Soldier admires drawings on Christmas V Mail being sent to America from U.S. troops stationed in England, 1942.

#20 U.S. soldier eating ice cream with a little British boy at Christmas party given by troops of the USAAF Service Command for 100 English evacuees at a station “somewhere” in England, 1943.

#21 Left to right: Cpl. Michael J. Sabagh [381st HQ] of Lawrence, Mass., Pvt. Larry H. James [2021st Fire Platoon] of Campbellsville, Ky., Cpl. Goldmer S. Elkins [2003rd Fire Platoon] of Cyclone, W.Va., and Cpl.

#22 On a Red Cross Christmas Card, U.S. Soldiers in England sent home this scene showing a service at bombed St. Mark’s Church, London. Dec. 28, 1942s

#24 Even Father Christmas follows the war time safety precautions as he arrives this year, complete with tin helmet and gas mask case, at London’s famous Brompton road store, Harrods. 6th November 1939.

#25 This is a sad memorial – In New York City, 1944, piles of Christmas packages meant for American Servicemen who have been listed as missing or killed in action build up and await a Return to Sender stamp.

#26 War or no war, London stores are determined to have their usual pre-war Christmas season and display. 14 November, 1941.

#27 Canadian soldiers enjoying a few drinks on Christmas Day at the front, Ortona, Italy, December 25, 1943.

#28 Us Fifth Army In Italy, Lighted MERRY XMAS sign behind 65-ft. Christmas tree lit up by Italian bulbs strung up by Special Services & the 53rd Signal Battalion at the top of Radicosa Pass at 2500 ft.

#29 German soldiers of the Volkssturm celebrate Christmas in a cellar, sharing with each other cigarettes and holiday messages from home delivered on postcards. The Volkssturm was established on 18 October 1944.

#30 A nurse feeds a patient with a spoonful of Christmas pudding at a naval hospital at Kingseat in Scotland, December 1941.

#31 Christmas dinner celebrations on board HMS WESTMINSTER at Rosyth, December 1941.

#32 Christmas dinner in the wardroom of HMS MALAYA at Scapa Flow, 25 December 1942.

#33 Christmas Entertainment in the Home Fleet. Entertainment on Board a Destroyer Depot Ship at Scapa Flow, 18 December 1942.

#34 Christmas Preparations in the Royal Navy Home Fleet, September 1943.

#35 Christmas Preparations on Board the Aircraft Carrier HMS Victorious at Scapa Flow, 17 December 1941.

#36 Christmas Preparations at HMS Drake Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport, December 1940.

#37 Home Fleet Christmas- Shipwrights Build Nativity Model For Ship’s Chapel. 24 December 1942, on Board HMS Dunluce Castle, of the Home Fleet.

#38 Leading Seaman Becomes Captain For Christmas Day Only. 25 December 1942, on Board HMS Dunluce Castle, of the Home Fleet. Leading Seaman V Mccann of Belfast Was Allowed To Impersonate the Captain during Inspection.

#39 Members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service sampling the Christmas pudding at Greenock in Scotland, 19 December 1942.

#40 Tasting the Christmas pudding aboard HMS COCHRANE, November 1940.

#41 The captain of a destroyer depot ship in the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow stirring the Christmas pudding, while the First Lieutenant adds a tot of rum, 12 December 1942.

#42 The Captain of HMS MALAYA helping himself to plum pudding during Christmas dinner at Scapa Flow, 25 December 1942.

#43 The officers and wardroom cook mixing the Christmas Pudding on board HMS HOWE.

#44 The Women’s Royal Naval Service: Wrens pushing a hand cart full of salvaged driftwood on the beach at Blundell Sands near Liverpool, ready for the fire at the children’s Christmas party which they are holding at their hotel.

#45 Some of the magnificent iced cakes made by the ship’s cooks on board HMS KING GEORGE V at Christmas.

#46 Men of the USS Lexington celebrating Christmas with a Santa suited up for firefighting. 1944.

#47 Christmas sign and tree at the Italian front, 1944.

#48 American WACs decorate their tent at the Italian front, 1944.

#49 American WACs make paper chains to decorate their tiny tree, Italy, 1944.

#50 American servicemen (with Santa centre) celebrating Christmas on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 1942.

#53 Sailors carrying the Christmas tree and holly for Christmas celebrations aboard a British ship, 1941.

#54 American servicemen at a Christmas midnight mass, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 1942.

#55 Singing and lighting candles at midnight mass, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 1942.

#57 Gunners with geese and turkeys for the Christmas pot, Italy, 1944.

#58 Aloft two geese destined to become Christmas dinner, Germany, 1944.

#59 Soldiers preparing Christmas dinner, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 1942.

#60 Soldiers preparing Christmas dinner, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 1942.

#61 Finnish soldiers watching a woman stirring the pot for Christmas dinner, Finland, 1939.

#62 British soldier peeling potatoes for Christmas dinner, Germany, 1944.

#63 The Brits, of course, had to have their Christmas pudding. The commander of a destroyer stirs the pudding, while the first lieutenant adds rum, 1942.

#64 Scots preparing Christmas pudding in the Western Sahara, 1942.

#65 Announcing the Christmas pudding is ready, the Netherlands, 1944.

#66 British soldiers unpacking a Christmas parcel, complete with pudding, the Netherlands, 1944.

#67 The crew who are shown with their camouflaged tank looking like a ‘travelling Christmas tree’ had been together for three years. They had seen action in Libya and Italy before coming to Holland.

#69 British soldier eating Christmas meal in his slit trench w. holiday cards from home propped up outside, Netherlands, 1944.

#70 British and French troops sharing Christmas drinks in France, 1939.

#72 British soldiers celebrating Christmas in Italy, 1943.

#73 Aussie soldiers and their Christmas drinks, New Guinea, WWII.

#74 Admiralty Christmas Party for Allied Naval Officers’ children, 1942. This photograph shows ‘Father Christmas’ presenting Winston Churchill Junior, the Prime Minister’s grandson, with a gift of a book of nursery rhymes at a Christmas party at Admiralty House.

Admiralty Christmas Party for Allied Naval Officers' children, 1942. This photograph shows 'Father Christmas' presenting Winston Churchill Junior, the Prime Minister's grandson, with a gift of a book of nursery rhymes at a Christmas party at Admiralty House.

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#75 Leisure and Entertainment during the Second World War.

Leisure and Entertainment during the Second World War.

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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