Signing of the Armistice

How peace was concluded after WWI, 100 years ago

“PEACE came so suddenly we were stunned, asking ourselves was it possible, we were dreaming” was the remark from a French officer following the biggest military conflagration the world had seen in 1918.

After four years of trench war on the Western Front in northern France, few could foresee such an abrupt end. As this year marks the 100th anniversary of the ending of World War I, it is significant to reflect how the peace was concluded.

By November 1918 the situation for Germany had turned dismal. After the retreat of the German army during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, the entry of the US and starvation due to the Allied blockade, General Erich Ludendorff, the German high commander, had no hope of winning the war.

In the face of revolutionary unrest the German Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II, abdicated and fled to Holland. However, it was to be the initiative taken by a few German citizens, particularly by Matthias Erzberger of the German Catholic Party, to pass a resolution in favour of peace. Widespread strikes and mutiny in the German navy forced the Germans to commence peace discussions.

During the night of November 7, an automobile caravan from the German headquarters in Spa in Belgium, with a delegation of six Germans, including Erzberger, came to a stop at the misty forest of Compiegne. Their journey was appalling as Erzberger was in discomfort, losing his glasses after an accident on the way. On arrival, a French officer informed them that Marshall Ferdinand Foch, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, would receive them at 9am.

During the morning, the delegation crossed a line of duckboard laid between the rail tracks and entered Foch’s headquarters, then a luxurious dining car on France’s railway.

Walking towards Foch, the delegation met the general and the British Admiral Rosslyn Wemyss. Foch asked: “What brings those gentlemen here? What do they wish of me?” Erzberger responded that they would receive the Allied proposals for peace. In a frosty reply, Foch said: “I have no proposals to make. Do you ask for an Armistice? If you do, I can acquaint you with the conditions under which it can be obtained.”

The Germans asked for peace. The atmosphere was intense when an aide read out the terms while Foch was motionless and the admiral toyed with his monocle. The 34 terms left the delegation in tears. The terms stipulated that Germany evacuate all its territories in Belgium, a sixth of France, including Alsace and Lorraine, their fleet to be interned at the British naval base at Scapa Flow, and war materials to be surrendered. Surprisingly, Foch acknowledged that as the “Germans fought well, let them keep their [rifle] weapons” (sic).

Considering the German revolution at home, Erzberger asked for a ceasefire, but Foch would not accept one without the acceptance of the Armistice’s terms. He gave them a 72-hour ultimatum, but a day was lost as the messenger was trapped in the French trenches because of German soldiers shooting at him. When Berlin received the message, it announced: “The German government accepts the conditions of the Armistice”.

Thus, on November 11, 1918 at 5.20am, meeting in the same railroad car, Erzberger signed. There were no handshakes, only a single photograph. In response to the German’s disillusioned utterances, Foch replied with disinterest: “Très bien ( very well)”.

The harshness of the terms and Foch’s intransigence caused a humiliated Germany that sowed the seeds of World War II. Erzberger was to be assassinated by embittered German nationalists three years after the war.

For practical reasons, the armistice was to take effect after a six-hour interlude at 11am By exacting the time to the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the significance of this day was to be immortalised in the annals of history. By wireless and word of mouth, peace was announced.