The Great War is finally over. Guns fell silent on all fronts at 11 a.m. today, six hours after the Allies and the Germans signed an armistice.
Throngs gathered in streets across Canada and around the world to celebrate the end of four years of bloodshed.
In Toronto alone, tens of thousands met in the front of Queen’s Park, the provincial legislature. Throngs of men and women packed Yonge Street, making passage impossible. A bonfire was roaring in the middle of the street for hours.
In cities south of the border, sirens, whistles and bells woke people up before dawn. As word spread across the United States, people filed into the streets. Automobiles crept through the crowds, deliberately backfiring to add to the noise of horns and rattles.
Offices were deserted all day, and signs were tacked up on shop doors proclaiming, "Closed for the Kaiser’s funeral."
In London, a cheering crowd pressed into Downing Street shouting, "Lloyd George! Lloyd George!" When the British leader finally appeared at a second-floor window of his residence, pandemonium ensued.
Armistice signing
The armistice was formally signed on the railway car of Supreme Allied Commander Ferdinand Foch, in the Compiegne forest in northern France. The German delegation arrived at the secret location for negotiations three days ago.
German commander Paul von Hindenburg requested the meeting mostly because he feared revolution at home; the sailors’ revolt had spread across the country and culminated this week with a proclamation of a republic and the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II.
German leaders took the first tentative steps toward peace in October, when they contacted the U.S. government.
The Germans wanted a peace treaty based on U.S. President Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points, which were outlined in a speech he delivered in January and called for a "general association of nations … affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity" to all states.
Wilson was receptive to the German proposal, but his Allied partners were not. Britain opposed a ban on blockades and France wanted to impose severe reparations.
In the end, the Germans were sent terms calling for the complete demilitarization of that country. The naval blockade of Germany will continue until complete peace terms can be agreed upon.
Terms outlined
Here are some of the highlights of the 25-point agreement signed by the Germans:
(1) Cessation of operations by land and in the air six hours after the signing of the armistice.
(2) Immediate evacuation of invaded countries – Belgium, France, Alsace- Lorraine, Luxemburg – so ordered as to be completed within fourteen days from the signing of the armistice. German troops which have not left the above-mentioned territories within the period fixed will become prisoners of war. Occupation by the Allied and United States forces jointly will keep pace with evacuation in these areas.
(3) Repatriation beginning at once and to be completed within fourteen days of all inhabitants of the countries above mentioned, including hostages and persons under trial or convicted.
(4) In all territory evacuated by the enemy there shall be no evacuation of inhabitants; no damage or harm shall be done to the persons or property of the inhabitants. No destruction or any kind to be committed. Military establishments of all kinds shall be delivered intact, as well as military stores of food, munitions, equipment not removed during the period fixed for evacuation.
Stores of food of all kinds for the civil population, cattle, etc., shall be left in situ. Industrial establishments shall not be impaired in any way, and their personnel shall not be moved. Roads and means of communication of every kind, railroads, waterways, main roads, bridges, telegraphs, telephones, shall be in no manner impaired.
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