November 11, Armistice and the End of WWI
As I write this, it is November 11. In Canada, we call this Remembrance Day and it is a day we remember those who served, not just in the First World War, but the Second World War, Korea, Afghanistan and every conflict that our country participated in.
This takes place on this day because November 11 at 11 am is when an armistice went into place that ended hostilities between the two sides.
However, November 11 really wasn't the end of the war, nor was it the technical surrender of Germany. In fact the armistice needed to be prolonged a number of times before peace was finalized.
First Armistice (11 November 1918 – 13 December 1918)
First prolongation of the armistice (13 December 1918 – 16 January 1919)
Second prolongation of the armistice (16 January 1919 – 16 February 1919)
Third prolongation of the armistice (16 February 1919 – 10 January 1920)
Peace was ratified at 4:15 pm on 10 January 1920
One of the haunting aspects of the signing of the armistice was the location. Germany was forced to sign the armistice in a specific railway car. When Germany invaded and defeated France in 1940, Hitler demanded that the armistice signalling France's surrender be signed in the same car. It was a humiliating reversal for France.
If anything, November 11 should remind us that peace is neither easy nor simple. The world is messy, both on an international and a personal level.
Our thoughts are with those who have served and continue to serve for the cause of peace.