Christmas Every Day

American soldiers in World War I were called “doughboys”, for reasons that are still obscure. Here one of the lads holds an artillery shell while wishing you a Merry Christmas.

The collaborationist French government based in Vichy was led by World War I hero, Marshal Philippe Pétain. Here children are encouraged to produce patriotic art work as a Christmas “surprise” for their beloved dictator.

The German Schnellboot, a fast torpedo boat capable of handling heavy seas in the English Channel and Baltic, were designated “E-boats” by the Allies. 

Here’s the sort of Christmas card the crew of “Das Boot” would have been sending out.

So, you’ve conquered and looted France and now 2 ½ years later it’s Christmas. You need to go to a church service to remind you of a real German Christmas. “Heimatsehnsucht” is German for homesickness.

So, you’ve conquered the Caucasus. What to do but dream of Christmas at home?

So, you’ve conquered western Russia. What’s a lonely Luftwaffe pilot to do for Christmas? Send a picture of a Heinkel He 111 buzzing the desolate landscape, of course.

So, you’ve just conquered France. What’s a lonely soldier to do for Christmas? Why, cozy up with his Wehrmacht buddies, listen to carols from home on the radio and gaze at the map of the land you’re occupying.

To replace St Nicholas, a Christian Christmas gift-bringer, the Communists introduced Grandfather Frost, Ded Moroz, to bring good things at New Year’s. Here he unloads a bag of explosive whoop-ass on German invaders.

The Soviet Union hoped to create the first atheist state and discouraged the celebration of Christmas. They transferred midwinter gift-giving and celebration to New Year’s. Here is a New Year’s card with a Red Army Santa sending a shell to Nazi invaders.