Armistice of 1918
The signature of the Armistice of the First World War (1914 - 1918), the November 11th with 5:15, marks the end of the engagements and the capitulation of the Germany. The Cessez-le-feu is effective at eleven hours, involving in the worldwide of the full peals of bells and the ringings of bugles announcing the end of a war which will have left more than eight million died and six million mutilated invalids or . The German and allied generals met in a restaurant car arranged (*) of the general Foch, in the clearing of Rethondes, in Forêt of Compiegne. Later in 1919, in Versailles, they will sign the treaty of Versailles there.
Chronology
Since the failure of the German combat in June and July 1918, the reinforcement of the Allied American and English withdrew in Germany any hope of victory. Moreover, the working revolution of Berlin precipitated the country in the storm. During October, the Germans and the US president Wilson exchanged notes in which this last was charged, in the line of its fourteen points suggested in January in a resounding speech, to take in hand the re-establishment of peace.
The October 3rd 1918, the emperor Guillaume II named new a chancellor: max of Bade. But that is not enough to control the country, whose many sailors and soldiers refused to go to the combat, in particular with Kiel. The November 7th, it ordering Paul von Hindenburg, chief of the German Staff, had proposed in Foch a meeting.
Five cars crossed under escort the devastated zone of the north of France to go instead of meeting hitherto a41dernier $c-b1, e,10 $c-b26 ce $c-b16 $c-b43, bn,84 held secret. During the three days, the Germans had only few occasions truly to negotiate. They had quickly to yield in the conditions developed in a text which was subjected to them. This text had been established lastly by Foch, supreme under commander of the allied forces, after one month of divergent positions of Wilson, Clemenceau, Orlando and Lloyd George.
The November 9th, Prince de Bade advised with the Kaiser the Abdication. This one left in Exil in Holland. This event was an important element of pressure with respect to the German delegates brought together in the coach of Compiegne. The following day, the new chief of the German government, Friedrich Ebert, signed a pact with the leaders of its army and beseeched its representative with Rethondes to close without delaying the negotiations.
November 11th, the armistice was signed, for one 36 days duration. Following this armistice the treated of Versailles, the June 28th 1919 was signed.
Homages
November 11th 1920 appeared the idea to pay homage to the dead soldiers for France but not identified. The mortal remains of a soldier of Verdun was buried under the Triumphal arch.They are only three years later that the flame was lit which never dies out, giving to the tomb unknown soldier a strong symbolic range and policy.
November 11th is a Bank holiday in France (Jour of the memory since the law of the October 24th 1922), in Belgium and with the Canada. To the the United States, its commemoration was extended to all the veteran S of war.
Participants
Side of the allies, soldiers:- General Ferdinand Foch, supreme commander of the allied forces
- Admiral Rosslyn Wemyss, British representative
- General Weygand, chief of staff of Foch
German side, the representative Plénipotentiaire civil, was assisted military advisers:
- Matthias Erzberger, representing German government
- Count Alfred von Oberndorff, representing the German Ministry for Foreign Affairs
- General Detlof von Winterfeldt, armed German
- General Von Gruennel, armed German
- Captain Ernst Vanselow, marine allemande
Principal clauses
- A) On the face of occident
- I) Suspension of the hostilities, on ground and in the airs, six hours after the signature of the armistice.
- II) Immediate evacuation of the invaded countries: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, as well as Alsace-Lorraine, regulated so as to be realized within fifteen day from the signature of the armistice.
- IV) Abandonment by the German armies of the weaponry in good état.
- VI) In all the territories evacuated by the enemy, any evacuation of the inhabitants will be prohibited; it will not be brought any damage or damage to the person or the property of the inhabitants. Nobody will be continued for offense of participation in measurements of war former to the signature of the armistice. It will be made any destruction of no sorte.
- VII) Il will be delivered to the associated powers: 5 000 assembled machines and 150 000 coaches in good state of bearing and 5.000 automobile trucks in good état.
- B) Relative tendencies at the Eastern borders of Germany.
- XII) All the German troops which are currently in the territories which formed part before war of the Austria-Hungary, of the Romania, of the Turkey, must return immediately in the borders of Germany such as they were with the 1914. All the German troops which are currently in the territories which formed part before the war of the Russia will have to also return in the borders of Germany defined as above, as soon as the Allies judge at the proper time, taking into account the interior situation of these territoires.
- C) In the Eastern Africa.
- XVII) Evacuation of all the German forces operating in Eastern Africa within a time regulated by Alliés.
- F) naval Clauses.
- XXII) Delivery in Combined and the United States of all Underwater s.
- G) Duration of the armistice.
- XXXIV) The duration of the armistice is fixed at thirty-six days, with faculty of prolongation.
(*) the unused coach is a museum piece today (see a photograph of the coach).