There are approximately 450 German troops stationed in the International Security Assistance Force camp in Kundus province in north Afghanistan. Over the Christmas period they've come up with various ways of getting into the spirit.

It’s not a normal Christmas for the German troops -- they are in a dangerous region of Afghanistan, 5,000 kilometres away from home. To overcome homesickness, the soldiers have come up with the idea of organising their own Christmas market: Pancakes, mulled wine and carols have helped them get into the Christmas spirit.

As a general rule, Sergeant Rainer Henze stands behind the bar in the camp’s recreational centre, cheering his colleagues up with jokes.

But right now, he is grilling sausages at the Christmas market: "Yes, as you can see, I am wearing a Christmas hat, and I am standing at a sausage stall here in Kundus. We're here to offer support to our comrades and soldiers. We're doing our best to make everything nice and Christmassy – just to create some kind of atmosphere."

From soldier to Santa

Klaus Fleischer is standing a few yards away, dressed up as Father Christmas. To his left is his helper dressed in a black robe and to his right is an Afghan camel. Soldiers are having their pictures taken with this trio to send them home. Fleischer says it feels good to cheer up his mates.

Many soldiers in Kundus feel that only friendship can help them overcome this difficult time.

Major Henning Loss is planning a special Christmas dinner for his company: "I come from a big family, I have four siblings and this is the first time I 'm not going to be there with them. But I think it’s even harder for those at home. Here I have friends who I get on with. But my girlfriend at home feels very lonely. She might well miss me more than I miss her."

Christmas shopping

During these cold days, with the camp often coming under fire, the soldiers constantly think of their loved ones at home.

So the Christmas market is busy as the soldiers buy duty-free gifts for their families.

Staff Sergeant Michael Schmidt explains which presents are most popular: "Small perfumes and of course, sweets for the kids to fill Christmas stockings […]. That’s just the right thing for Christmas. Tomorrow, they will be sent home with the post, and if everything works out, they will arrive in time."

Midnight mass

Several Christmas masses have been arranged for the soldiers. Not only aimed at devout Christians.

"The mass will be particularly aimed at the soldiers from Germany‘s former Socialist federal states who don’t have very strong ties with the Church, but who want to attend a mass at Christmas. The mass will be a little bit easier so that it is more accessible to those soldiers," explains Rainer Stahlhacke, a Catholic military priest serving with the 15th contingent in Kundus.

"I will serve a Midnight mass for the Catholic or Protestant soldiers so that they can discover things they would have discovered had they been at home. And that’s very important for the guys and the girls over here. They should be able to find a piece of home in the mass,".

Until the soldiers can go home for real, these Christmas events are helping them feel connected to their loved ones at home during the festive season.