It seems like all the soldiers were aware of the other side as flesh and blood people trying to survive under the same conditions without some overriding thirst for vengeance. Or at the very least everyone had some sense of basic decency.

And for the record, democracies go to war if and only if a great many people become convinced that some cause justifies massive amounts of death and destruction. And not just leaders who’s careers will end if they alienate their power base too badly.

(Granted politicians seem to be able to piss off a surprisingly high percentage of the population and still get plenty of support.)

People in olden times weren’t very good at waging war. They were better as cannon fodder. You really have to have absolute disregard for human life to be good at war.

I am reminded of a poster we had in the Vietnam days. It read : What if they threw a war, and nobody came?
World peace shouldn’t have to be “managed” with sanctions, threats, and wrangling.
It should just BE DONE.
To all on this planet I plead for you to lay down the arms & stop dropping bombs.
There IS enough of everything on this rock to take care of everyone, plenty of food , fuel and land.
Learn to share, accept peace.
Quit sacrificing our children to an invisible deity, regardless of it’s name, Allah, Jesus, Muhammad, or God. We are supposed to the highest thinking creatures on this world, so why do we continue to act like ants?