Historian Stanley Weintraub will present the lecture, “Peace is Harder to Make than War: The 1914 Christmas Truce,” on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at Thompson Hall Room W101 at noon.
Weintraub is the author of, “Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce,” which examines the unofficial truce among men on both sides of the trenches on Christmas Eve of 1914. Despite orders to continue shooting, men across the front lines laid down their arms and joined in a spontaneous celebration. Weintraub uses the stories of the men who were there, as well as their letters and diaries, to bring to life the fascinating moment in time.
The talk will be followed by a reception in the Japanese Garden of Reed Library at 1 p.m. The free events are open to the campus and community.
Weinbraub is also slated to give the Murray A. Bob Memorial Lecture at Jamestown’s Prendergast Library at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
Weintraub’s connection to Fredonia is through alumnus Phil Zimmer, ’69, a History major at Fredonia as well as a writer/researcher, and admirer of the historian’s writings. Mr. Zimmer is also a former Fredonia professional staff member, heading the university’s news bureau during the early 1970s.
Weintraub is an Evan Pugh Professor Emeritus at Pennsylvania State University and the award-winning author of more than 50 books including numerous histories and biographies, as well as a former Guggenheim Fellow and a scholar of George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, James McNeill and Aubrey Beardsley. His forthcoming book, “A Christmas Far From Home” (Da Capo Press) about the Korean War was dedicated to Zimmer, who provided the impetus for the book and assisted him in interviewing local Korean War veterans. Weintraub is a decorated Korean War veteran, having served in the Eighth Army and received the Bronze Star and Korean Ribbon with five battle stars.
2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I, making Weintraub’s visit timely, especially for the students in Fredonia’s World War I history class who will be attending the talk.
