Terms of the Armistice, November 11, 1918:
I. Military Clauses on Western Front One - Cessation of operations by land and in the air six hours after the signature of the armistice.
Two - Immediate evacuation of invaded countries: Belgium, France, Alsace-Lorraine, Luxemburg, so ordered as to be completed within fourteen days from the signature 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. All movements of evacuation and occupation will be regulated in accordance with a note annexed to the stated terms.
Three - Reparation beginning at once to be completed within fifteen days of all the inhabitants of the countries above enumerated (including hostages, persons under trial or convicted).
[snip]
VII. The Limit for Reply Thirty-five - This armistice to be accepted or refused by Germany within seventy-two hours of notification.
This armistice has been signed the Eleventh of November, Nineteen Eighteen, at 5 o'clock French time.
F. FOCH.
R. E. WEMYSS.
ERZBERGER.
A. OBERNDORFF.
WINTERFELDT.
VON SALOW.
From First World War.Com:
When you see millions of the mouthless dead
Across your dreams in pale battalions go,
Say not soft things as other men have said,
That you'll remember. For you need not so.
Give them not praise. For, deaf, how should they know
It is not curses heaped on each gashed head?
Nor tears. Their blind eyes see not your tears flow.
Nor honour. It is easy to be dead.
Say only this, "They are dead." Then add thereto,
"Yet many a better one has died before."
Then, scanning all the o'ercrowded mass, should you
Perceive one face that you loved heretofore,
It is a spook. None wears the face you knew.
Great death has made all his for evermore.
My understanding is that it was H.G.Wells who called the Great War the war to end all wars.
Posted by: Serge at November 11, 2007 11:39 AMA lot of people called it the war to end all wars.
The quote that always comes to my mind is from the Tao Teh Ching:
The death of a multitude is cause for mourning. Conduct your triumph as a funeral.
Posted by: hedera at November 12, 2007 07:31 PMWhat I've always wondered is why the people who said that did so.
God knows the politicians who negotiated the Treaty of Versailles should have known better.
Posted by: Linkmeister at November 12, 2007 07:49 PM