On this day, 107 years ago, World War I came to an end — at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. The date became known as Armistice Day, marking the moment when the Allied Powers and Germany signed an agreement to cease hostilities. The armistice brought an end to a brutal conflict that had raged for more than four years and claimed over 15 million lives worldwide.
Unlike a formal surrender, the armistice was a mutual decision to lay down arms as the fastest way to end the immense suffering and devastation caused by the war. It paved the way for peace negotiations, which culminated in the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919 — officially ending the “war to end all wars.”
The Final Days of the War
By late 1918, the German army was collapsing under the relentless advances of British, French, and American troops. The Allies, despite being in a position to invade Germany, opted for peace rather than pressing further, recognising that an invasion of Berlin would demand enormous manpower and resources.
The Armistice Negotiations
Germany, aware that defeat was inevitable, began seeking peace as early as September 1918. The German government reached out to the United States, hoping for terms based on President Woodrow Wilson’s “peace without victory” principles.
Negotiations were led by Marshal Ferdinand Foch, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, who made it clear that Germany would not dictate any terms. When the German envoys asked if the Allies had proposals to offer, Foch famously replied:
“I have no proposals to make.”
What Germany Agreed To
Under the Armistice terms, Germany was required to:
- Withdraw all troops from France, Belgium, and Luxembourg within 15 days, or risk capture.
- Release all Allied prisoners of war without demanding reciprocity.
- Surrender massive quantities of military equipment, including:
- 5,000 artillery guns
- 25,000 machine guns
- 1,700 aircraft
- 5,000 locomotives, 5,000 trucks, and 150,000 railway wagons
- Return the Alsace-Lorraine territory to France.
- Accept Allied occupation along the Rhine River, which lasted until 1930.
The Birth of Armistice Day
In 1919, Britain’s King George V declared that Armistice Day would be observed annually with two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. — the exact time the ceasefire had taken effect.
“The thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead,” the King proclaimed.
In the Commonwealth nations, November 11 later became known as Remembrance Day. Each year, a National Service of Remembrance is held at The Cenotaph in London, where people wear red poppies as a symbol of sacrifice and remembrance. Sporting events and public gatherings across the UK and other nations observe moments of silence as bugles sound “The Last Post.”
Armistice Day in the United States
A few days after King George’s announcement, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson declared that Americans too would mark the occasion.
In his proclamation, Wilson said:
“With splendid forgetfulness of mere personal concerns we remodelled our industries, concentrated our financial resources, increased our agricultural output, and assembled a great army, so that at the last our power was a decisive factor in the victory.”
Later, in 1953, Alvin J. King of Emporia, Kansas, proposed renaming the holiday Veterans Day to honour all U.S. military veterans, not just those from World War I.
The Legacy of November 11
Today, November 11 stands as a solemn reminder of peace and sacrifice. Across the world, ceremonies, poppy tributes, and moments of silence pay homage to those who served and fell in the Great War and beyond.
What began as a day to mark the end of World War I has evolved into a global tradition — a universal reminder of the cost of war and the value of peace.