November 11, 1918, marks a significant date in world history as the end of World War I, one of the deadliest conflicts ever recorded. Known as "Armistice Day," this day commemorates the signing of an armistice agreement between Germany and the Allied powers. The agreement was signed at 5 a.m. in a railway carriage near Compiègne, France, signaling a ceasefire that would take effect at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
By the end of the war, approximately 9 million soldiers and 5 million civilians had lost their lives due to combat, disease, and starvation, with millions more wounded. Major countries involved, such as Germany, Russia, Austria-Hungary, France, and Britain, each suffered immense losses, reshaping political borders and societies across Europe.
The aftermath of WWI had long-lasting effects, leading to significant geopolitical shifts, economic hardship, and political instability, ultimately setting the stage for World War II just two decades later.