History of Europe

What were the terms of armistice that ended war?

The armistice agreement that ended the First World War was signed between the Allies (primarily France, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and Germany on 11 November 1918. The terms of the armistice included the following:

1. Cessation of hostilities: All fighting was to cease at 11:00 AM on November 11, 1918.

2. Withdrawal of German troops: German troops were to withdraw from all occupied territories within 15 days. This included the withdrawal from Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and Alsace-Lorraine.

3. Demilitarization of the Rhineland: The left bank of the Rhine River was to be occupied by Allied troops for at least 15 years. Germany was not allowed to have any military forces in this zone.

4. Surrender of German war material: Germany was to surrender all of its heavy artillery, machine guns, airplanes, and other war material.

5. Release of prisoners of war: All prisoners of war were to be released and repatriated to their home countries.

6. Reparations: Germany was to pay reparations to the Allies for the damage caused during the war. The amount of reparations was to be determined later.

7. War criminals: Germany was to hand over all war criminals to the Allies for trial.

8. Abdication of the Kaiser: Kaiser Wilhelm II was to abdicate from the throne of Germany.

9. Establishment of a republic: A new German government was to be established based on democratic principles.

The terms of the armistice were harsh, but they were designed to prevent Germany from starting a new war. The armistice agreement paved the way for the Treaty of Versailles, which was signed on June 28, 1919. The Treaty of Versailles officially ended the war and imposed further restrictions on Germany.