The Armistice of 1918, signed on November 11, 1918, at 5:15 am, marks the end of the fighting of World War I (1914-1918), the victory of the Allies, and the total defeat of Germany.
French casualties were 1,397,800 military personnel and 300,000 civilians, with 4,266,000 wounded out of a total population of 39.6 million at the time. In total, nearly 20 million people perished during the conflict. This underscores the magnitude of this humanitarian catastrophe.
Every year, civil and military authorities, as well as numerous veterans’ associations, gather at the Monument to the Dead in Nice for the celebrations of this Day of Remembrance.
Wreaths were laid by the authorities in honor of those who perished, and to emphasize the importance of passing on memory to future generations, each dignitary was accompanied by young students.
Prefect Adolphe Colrat concluded the speeches with the reading of the official text from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, read in all communes of France.
A crowd of elected officials and dignitaries participated in the ceremony, which was accompanied by traditional military tunes, the Hymn to the Dead, and the national anthem.
An attentive and respectful audience, as is fitting, attended an emotional event in memory of those who, by sacrificing their lives for peace, deserve the Nation’s gratitude.
