MCQ Detailed View

The Armistice of 11 November 1918 was the agreement that ended fighting on the Western Front during World War I. Signed between Germany and the Allied powers, it marked the formal cessation of hostilities after more than four years of devastating conflict. The signing took place in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiègne, France. By late 1918, Germany’s military position had weakened severely. The Allied forces had made significant advances, the German population was suffering from shortages due to the naval blockade, and morale among soldiers was low. Political unrest and revolutionary movements inside Germany further pushed the leadership to seek peace.

The armistice came into effect at 11:00 a.m. on 11 November 1918 — famously remembered as the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” This moment is commemorated every year as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in many countries.

The treaty’s terms were strict for Germany. It required the withdrawal of German troops from occupied territories, the surrender of military equipment, and an end to all military operations. Although it stopped the fighting, it was not a formal peace treaty. The actual peace settlement was concluded later with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

The signing of the armistice brought relief to millions but also left political and economic tensions unresolved. These unresolved issues, combined with the harsh terms imposed on Germany, contributed to the conditions that eventually led to World War II.

Key Points:

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  Event: Armistice of 11 November 1918

  
  


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  Signed By: Germany and Allied powers

  
  


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  Location: Compiègne, France

  
  


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  Time: 11 a.m., 11 November 1918

  
  


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  Effect: Ended fighting in World War I

  
  


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  Follow-up Treaty: Treaty of Versailles, 1919