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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

Who, if anyone, said the first world war would be ‘over by Christmas’?

Christmas truce in the trenches, 1914 … then the war went on and on. Photograph: Alamy
Christmas truce in the trenches, 1914 … then the war went on and on. Photograph: Alamy

We frequently get told that people in 1914 thought the war would be “over by Christmas”. Did anyone in a serious position to know – an admiral, general or cabinet minister, say, on either side – ever say that?

Nigel Agar, Hitchin, Herts

• Post your answers – and new questions – below or email them to nq@theguardian.com. Please include name, address and phone number

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