A I Grande Guerra acabou há 96 anos

O Armistício de Compiègne foi um tratado assinado a 11 de novembro de 1918 entre os Aliados e a Alemanha, dentro de um vagão-restaurante, na floresta de Compiègne, com o objetivo de encerrar as hostilidades na frente ocidental da Primeira Guerra Mundial. Os principais signatários foram o Marechal Ferdinand Foch, comandante-em-chefe das forças da Tríplice Entente, e Matthias Erzberger, representante alemão.

Seguiu-se ao armistício o tratado de paz de Versalhes, celebrado em 1919, segundo o qual, a Alemanha, derrotada, era obrigada a:

• reduzir as suas tropas a metade;
• pagar pesadas indemnizações aos países vencedores;
• ceder todas as suas colónias;
• restituir a Alsácia-Lorena à França.

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Poppies are laid on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Remembrance Day in Ottawa

Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth of Nations member states since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. The day, specifically designated by King George V on 7 November 1919, or alternative dates, are also recognised as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of hostilities of World War I on that date in 1918. Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month", in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Entente between 5:12 and 5:20 that morning. ("At the 11th hour" refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 am.) The First World War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919.

The memorial evolved out of Armistice Day, which continues to be marked on the same date. The initial Armistice Day was observed at Buckingham Palace, commencing with King George V hosting a "Banquet in Honour of the President of the French Republic" during the evening hours of 10 November 1919. The first official Armistice Day was subsequently held on the grounds of Buckingham Palace the following morning.

The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem In Flanders Fields. These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I; their brilliant red colour became a symbol for the blood spilled in the war.

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