Coach of the armistice

The coach of the armistice is the coach in which were signed the armistices of November 11th, 1918 and of the June 22nd, 1940 between the Germany and the France.

Armistices

The parlor car (which is in fact a transformed restaurant car, n° 2419 D) was placed in the Clairière of the Armistice (also called the Clairière of Rethondes ), in the Forêt of Compiegne (Oise). It is at this place that was signed, at the request of Germany, the armistice of the November 11th 1918 with France.

The armistice of the June 22nd 1940, this time requested by France from Germany, was signed by the will of Hitler in this same historical Wagon placed exactly at the same place as in 1918. This desire to place the coach at the same place as for the preceding armistice, shows the spirit of revenge which Hitler towards France had, which, according to him, Germany at the end of the First World War had humiliated.

Retort

After the signature of the armistice of June 22nd, the coach was transported to Germany. It was destroyed by the S, in 1945, at the end of the Second world war when nothing any more could make move back the allied troops .

A coach pertaining to the same series arranged to identical, the n° 2439 D, replaces it in the Clearing of Rethondes, since November 11th 1950.

History of the historical coach

The coach of the armistice is in the beginning the restaurant car n° 2419 D of the international Compagnie of the sleeping cars (CIWLT). This car, delivered to the CIWLT the May 20th 1914, ensured its first rotations at the beginning of Paris-Montparnasse towards the Brittany (Saint-Brieuc). It ensured thereafter various services on the network of the State, in particular towards Bordeaux and Rennes, then on the network of the East. It ensured its last service on the course Paris - Thionville in August 1918.

In October 1918, it was decided to transform it into coach-office in order to incorporate it in the train of staff of the Maréchal Foch. It was actually placed at the disposal of the staff the October 29th 1918.

Its Réquisition was raised in September 1919. The government directed by Georges Clémenceau having requested the CIWLT to yield this car to him to expose it to the Museum of the army, the CIWLT decided to make gift in the State of it

After the Great War, it was exposed during six years, of the April 28th 1921 with the April 8th 1927 in the main courtyard of the Invalides.

The June 24th 1940, the Germans transported it by road until Berlin and exposed one week in front of the Porte of Brandebourg, then it was garaged on a shunt track to Anhalt.

In 1944, it was evacuated with Ohrdruf (Thuringe) where it was destroyed by S, in accordance with the orders of Hitler, whereas the US Army tie-beam in the city.

See too

Armistice of November 11th, 1918
Armistice of June 22nd, 1940

External bonds

the Coach of the armistice, on Encylopédie of the railroads

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