The First World War Armistice Takes Effect
The armistice between Germany and the Allies took effect at 11 a.m.
Published · Updated · 1 min read
The Event
The armistice between Germany and the Allies took effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. It ended fighting on the Western Front.
The Wider Story
The agreement had been signed earlier that morning. Soldiers and civilians received the news after years of mass casualties and deprivation.
Putting the Event in Perspective
An armistice is not the same as a final peace treaty, and violence continued in other regions.
Reading the Historical Record
A careful account distinguishes the ceasefire from the Treaty of Versailles and the complicated aftermath of the war.
About the Historical Recreation
The accompanying visual is an illustrative reconstruction: an empty Western Front trench in morning light, distant soldiers standing quietly. It is not authentic archival footage, an eyewitness record or additional evidence for the event.
Sources
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