Macron Commemorates 108th Anniversary of the Armistice

France commemorated the 108th anniversary of the 1918 Armistice this Wednesday, with ceremonies taking place across the country to honour those who lost their lives in war. Emmanuel Macron presided over a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, reviewing the troops before paying his respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The public holiday marks the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918, which brought fighting in the First World War to an end after more than four years of conflict. The war claimed the lives of approximately 1.4 million French soldiers and left much of the country devastated.

The agreement was signed in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiègne, near Rethondes, and came into effect at 11 am on 11 November 1918. The Treaty of Versailles, signed seven months later, formally established peace with Germany.