By Danny Minton

Winston Churchill called it “the greatest American Battle of the war.” It would be known in history as “The Battle of the Bulge.” The United States would suffer over 100,000 casualties as the cold winter battle drew on from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945. It was on Christmas Eve 1944 that three American soldiers and four German soldiers would find themselves cold and hungry in Hürtgen Forest and meet up in what some call “The Miracle of Christmas.”

Hubert Vinchen lived with his wife, Elisabeth, and their 12-year-old son, Fritz, in Aachen, Germany. With their home destroyed by bombings and the war moving closer, Hubert decided to send his wife and son to stay at their hunting cabin in Hürtgen forest. It was Christmas Eve 1944 when she heard a knock on the door.

When Elisabeth Vinchen opened the door, there stood three American soldiers who had been separated from their company and found themselves lost, hungry, and cold. Even knowing she could face death for aiding the enemy, she felt for the young men, one of whom was injured, and invited them in, warmed them, offered dinner, and bandaged the injured soldier’s leg. Their names were Jim, Robin, and Harry, whose leg was injured.

About an hour later, another knock sounded from the door. Elisabeth opened it to find four German soldiers standing in front of her, four German soldiers who had also gotten separated from their squadron and were asking for shelter. She told them yes, but warned them they may not like her other guests. They became agitated that she was harboring the enemy.

“Listen, you could be my sons, and so could they in there. A boy with a gunshot wound, fighting for his life, and his two friends, lost like you and just as hungry and exhausted as you are. This one night, this Christmas night, let us forget about killing.”

The soldiers agreed, setting their weapons aside. Two of the soldiers, Heinz and Willi, were just 16 years old. Elisabeth took the American weapons and all of them sat down for Christmas dinner of chicken soup and potatoes. One of the Germans worked on Harry’s leg. The Germans shared a bottle of wine with the Americans. When dinner was over, the group, except for Harry, stepped out and, together, looked at the stars of Christmas. 

Fritz would later say, “For all of us during the moment of silence, looking at the brightest star in the heavens, the war was a distant, almost forgotten thing.” The next morning, the men would shake hands. The Germans gave the Americans a compass and pointed the way to their line, then left in the opposite direction, no longer seeing each other as enemies but as friends.

Because of a woman who showed kindness without prejudice, enemies were able to live together in peace, at least for a short time. Fritz never knew what happened to the Germans, but did move to the United States after the war and learned, from the men he had met that night, that they still remember the kindness shown many years before.

We live in a world that holds too much hate and prejudice of all sorts. What we should learn is that, despite differences, all people can be friends if we set aside our “weapons” and spend time together. 

In the eyes of God, all people, no matter their nationality, language, skin color, or even life choices, are loved by Him. Jesus died to bring all men together. If we were to learn to set down our weapons, we could get along even with our differences. 

“In a 1997 interview, Fritz said, ‘The inner strength of a single woman, who prevented potential bloodshed, taught me the practical meaning of ‘goodwill toward mankind.’ I remember mother and those seven young soldiers, who met as enemies and parted as friends, right in the middle of the Battle of the Bulge.’”

Never forget, “God so loved THE WORLD, that he gave his only begotten son.” Shouldn’t we love with the same unconditional love and kindness toward one another?

NOTES: Story found in an article by Allen Frazier on the Military.com website. Also, search Elisabeth Vinchen.

Danny Minton, a member of Southern Hills Church of Christ, is a hospital chaplain