Armistice Signed: World War I Finally Ends
The Armistice of Compiegne took effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918, ending fighting on the Western Front after four years and three months of war that killed roughly 10 million soldiers and 7 million civilians. The terms, dictated by Allied Supreme Commander Ferdinand Foch, required Germany to withdraw behind the Rhine, surrender its fleet, and hand over 5,000 artillery pieces, 25,000 machine guns, and 1,700 aircraft. American units suffered 3,500 casualties on the final morning because some commanders ordered attacks right up to the deadline. The last soldier killed was Henry Gunther, shot at 10:59 a.m. The Armistice was not a peace treaty; that came seven months later at Versailles. November 11 became Armistice Day, later renamed Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth.
November 11, 1918
108 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on November 11
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