Armistice Day: Commemorating Peace and Honoring Veterans

• About: Armistice Day is better known as Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth States and Veterans Day in the United States.
• Origin: It is celebrated every year on 11 November to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France in 1918.
  • Despite armistice treaty, a formal peace agreement was reached only when the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919.
  • The first Armistice Day events were held in the grounds of Buckingham Palace on 11 November 1919. This coincided with the visit of the President of France.
• Events Marking the Day: Earlier, November 11 was focused on honoring the dead military personnel of the First World War and the return to peace.
  • Prior to World War II, many countries changed the name, several changed the focus to include all veterans of their armed services, and others honor their war dead both uniformed and civilian during the war.
• Other Allied Nations
  • Among the Commonwealth countries, Canada was the first to name Remembrance Day, which was subsequently followed by other nations of Commonwealth.
  • United States: The United States changed the name to All Veterans Day in 1954, which was later shortened to ‘Veterans Day’.
  • France: In France, the holiday is known as Remembrance Day (Jour du Souvenir).
  • Belgium: The day is known as Armistice Day (Jour de l’Armistice) in Belgium. 
  • Serbia: Since Serbian forces suffered the largest casualty rate in World War I, the day is a statutory holiday.
  • Poland: The day in Poland is observed as National Independence Day, a public holiday to commemorate the anniversary of the restoration of Poland’s sovereignty.
• Significance of the Day
  • Celebrating Peace: The day marks the beginning of peace, following the end of World War I in Europe.
  • Honouring Armed Forces Personnel: The Armistice Day honours military personnel as well as civilians who lost their lives during the war.

World War I: Origins, Escalation, and Unsettled Peace

• Background: The Balkan region in Eastern Europe was experiencing instability. The whole region was ruled by various kingdoms, including Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire etc.
  • There was a separatist movement going on to create a separate nation for various ethnic groups living in the area ruled by Austrians and Ottomans.
• Start:  World War I began in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. 
  • Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip was involved in the assassination. Princip and other nationalists were trying to end Austro-Hungarian rule over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• World War I Unfolds: The Chain of Events Leading to Global Conflict
  • The Austro-Hungarian Empire decided to end the issue of Serbian Nationalism once for all. However, the Serbians were supported by the Russian empire.
  • The Austro-Hungarian Empire feared that involvement of Russia would bring France and Britain to the war, making it impossible for them to sustain.
  • However, Germany secretly pledged its support to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, giving Austria-Hungary a so-called carte blanche, or “blank check” assurance of Germany’s backing in the case of war.
  • The Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia, which pitted Russia, Belgium, France, Great Britain and Serbia against Germany and Austria-Hungary.
  • The Americans were forced to enter the war when German ships sank US passenger and merchant ships, creating widespread anger against Germany.
  • Due to discontent on the home-front and the surrender of its allies, Germany was forced to seek an armistice on November 11, 1918, temporarily halting World War I.
• The Aftermath of World War I: Treaty of Versailles and the Seeds of World War I
  • The Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919 at the Palace of Versailles in Paris, marking the end of World War I.
  • Holding Germany responsible for starting the war, the treaty imposed harsh penalties on the Germans, including loss of territory, massive reparations payments and demilitarization.
  • However, the treaty failed to resolve the underlying issues that had led to war. It instead led to resentment within Germany. It fuelled the rise of Adolf Hitler and subsequent World War II. 

Conclusion:

The Armistice Day or the Remembrance Day is an occasion for remembering the dead military personnel as well as civilians, who laid down their lives for the purpose of establishing peace.