Cavalcade of America – Barbed Wire Christmas. 521216

Presenting a dramatization of a real experience of prisoners of war in a particular German stalag. Facing waning spirits, bitter cold, and without adequate food, shelter, or clothes, the prisoners look forward to their Christmas festivities.

A talent show and meal is planned. The meager rations get stretched to make the event something special. The midnight mass though doesn’t get full support, at least not until the guards forbid it.

The lack of support doesn’t come from the multi religious crowd, but from those who have no convictions, or are at least on the religious fringe. The forbidding of the service unites even the reluctant to join in the support of it. The moment arrives, the Christmas pageant and talent show is a big hit, but where are all the guards? Will the soldiers be gunned down if they dare to head to the chapel? An unexpected Christmas miracle provides more than just a unified mass of cross denominational soldiers.