The 1918 armistice, signed on November 11, 1918, at 5:15 a.m., marks the end of the fighting in World War I (1914-1918), the victory of the Allies, and the total defeat of Germany, but it is not a capitulation in the literal sense.
It was signed at Rethondes in what became known as the “armistice train,” by Marshal Foch and, on behalf of the German Empire, by the representative of the government Matthias Erzberger.
The human losses of World War I amount to approximately 18.6 million deaths. This number includes 9.7 million military deaths and 8.9 million civilian deaths. The Allies of World War I, as well as the Central Powers, lost more than 9 million lives.
The number of French deaths is recorded at 1.4 million.
In Nice, yesterday late in the morning, the civil and military authorities participated in the traditional ceremony at the War Memorial in the presence of veterans’ associations and a large public audience.
Previously, the Bishop of Nice, Monseigneur Marceau, held a Holy Mass in remembrance at the Sainte-Réparate Cathedral.
