The End of the First World War The signing of the Armistice on the 11 th November 1918

Why did Germany surrender? Review of last lesson: Review of last lesson: Final Allied offensive began on the 17 th October 1918 Final Allied offensive began on the 17 th October 1918 Germany’s Allies signed peace treaties and were no longer taking part in the war Germany’s Allies signed peace treaties and were no longer taking part in the war The Kaiser, Wilhelm II abdicated to Holland on the 9 th November 1918 The Kaiser, Wilhelm II abdicated to Holland on the 9 th November 1918 The German people declared a Republic and approached the Allies for peace The German people declared a Republic and approached the Allies for peace The German people were suffering from food shortages, poverty and low morale The German people were suffering from food shortages, poverty and low morale

The Armistice At 5am on the morning of the 11 th November 1918 the Armistice was signed At 5am on the morning of the 11 th November 1918 the Armistice was signed The signing took place in a railroad car parked in a French forest close to the front lines The signing took place in a railroad car parked in a French forest close to the front lines It was agreed that fighting on the Western front would end at 11am that day It was agreed that fighting on the Western front would end at 11am that day Germany was represented by politicians from the new German Republic, not the Army Generals Germany was represented by politicians from the new German Republic, not the Army Generals

Reactions to signing the Armistice Mixed reactions – Mixed reactions – Some soldiers on the front line thought it was a temporary measure Some soldiers on the front line thought it was a temporary measure At Home the news was met with celebration At Home the news was met with celebration The reaction in Germany was mixed, the starved and poor civilians welcomed it, but the Army did not – why do you think this is? The reaction in Germany was mixed, the starved and poor civilians welcomed it, but the Army did not – why do you think this is?

Source A Picture of The Strand in London 11 th November 1918

Source B A Letter dated 11 th November 1918 by Capt. Charles S. Normington, Co. E., 127th Infantry, 32nd Division ‘was on the street today when the armistice with Germany was signed. Anyone who was not here can never be told, or imagine the happiness of the people here. ……………Immediately a parade was started on the Rue De Italiennes and has been going on ever since. In the parade were hundreds of thousands of soldiers from the U.S., England, Canada, France, Australia, Italy and the colonies..’ ‘was on the street today when the armistice with Germany was signed. Anyone who was not here can never be told, or imagine the happiness of the people here. ……………Immediately a parade was started on the Rue De Italiennes and has been going on ever since. In the parade were hundreds of thousands of soldiers from the U.S., England, Canada, France, Australia, Italy and the colonies..’

Source C Colonel Thomas Gowenlock served as an intelligence officer in the American 1st Division. He was on the front line that November morning and wrote of his experience a few years later : My watch said nine o'clock. With only two hours to go, I drove over to the bank of the Meuse River to see the finish. The shelling was heavy and, as I walked down the road, it grew steadily worse. It seemed to me that every battery in the world was trying to burn up its guns. At last eleven o'clock came - but the firing continued. The men on both sides had decided to give each other all they had-their farewell to arms. It was a very natural impulse after their years of war, but unfortunately many fell after eleven o'clock that day My watch said nine o'clock. With only two hours to go, I drove over to the bank of the Meuse River to see the finish. The shelling was heavy and, as I walked down the road, it grew steadily worse. It seemed to me that every battery in the world was trying to burn up its guns. At last eleven o'clock came - but the firing continued. The men on both sides had decided to give each other all they had-their farewell to arms. It was a very natural impulse after their years of war, but unfortunately many fell after eleven o'clock that day