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Featuring Edmund O’Brian.
Based on the account in a German prisoner of war camp, a Sergeant recounts a most memorable Christmas. In the bleak circumstances the American soldiers faced, plans were begun to put on a talent show, and have a Christmas midnight mass. morale was lifted, and plans for a fun night distracted prisoners from not knowing how long their lives would Continue in their current substandard conditions.
Some were not willing to contribute their skills, but without much urging, organizers went into action to get comedy routines, singers, and more. Others got busy with cooking a feast, with any ingredient they had on hand. Still others griped at the idea of having to attend a mass.
Then word from the Commandant came down. No Christmas mass, on punishment of being shot. Why the change of mind? The blow to the troops was enough to make the griping men complain about not having the mass that they didn’t want to go to in the first place.
The denial is the sort of thing that might cause the prisoners to rebel in masses, but the result could be dangerous to the prisoners, more than their captors. Tension hangs in the air. Though the talent entertainment went well, and was well received, what would happen if the soldiers held their mass anyway? Slowly the men gather, until there’s no more room, and troops mill around outside the small chapel. Then the guards show up, and a Christmas miracle takes place.
