A number of celebrations and commemorations are planned for next month to mark the centenary of the end of World War One. Armistice Day as it has become known marks the end of the fighting, becoming effective at 11 am Paris time on November 11, 1918. The German delegation signed the document in a railway carriage in a French forest, their forces having run out of alternatives. As well as the military being defeated, blockades of German ports brought economic collapse and in places starvation to the German people. There was no desire to prolong the war any more.
Over nine million soldiers died and 21 million were injured – never before had such suffering been inflicted by man on his fellows. And yet, despite the prolonged horrors of the conflict, the world would once again engage in a global conflict just 20 years later.
Today, wars continue in many places across the world. The scale of losses may not be as high, but the suffering and hardship felt by those affected is no less great. One day (and our prayer is that day will come soon), the Lord Jesus will reign from Mount Zion when at last swords and spears will be beaten into agricultural equipment. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus”.
One of the planned articles for the Christadelphian November’s issue is a review of how the end of World War One affected the Christadelphian community.
++
Find also to read:
- All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting… George Orwell
- The Great War changed everything
- British Expeditionary Force in Palestine in WWI – Allenby and Jerusalem
- 1914 – 2014 preparations
- 100° birthday of war and war tourism
- Friendship and Offer for the cause of democracy
- August 4, 1914 to be remembered
- Liège 2014 remembering the Great War
- Mons 2014 remembering the Great War
- 2015 Persons and groups of the year
- 11 November, a day to remember #1 Until Industrialisation
- 11 November, a day to remember #2 From the Industrialisation
+++
Related
- 100 Years Later: All This Month We Commemorate the End of WWI
- The Battle For Peace
- Wearing the Poppy in Remembrance
- World War I Project with Marc LePlante
- When the Guns Fell Silent – Hedon Museum Exhibition
- Armistice 100: The story of the Unknown Warrior (The Observer)
- Films That Question Recent Wars
- Tolson Memorial Museum Marks 100 Years Since Death of James Tolson.
- Big and little ways to say Thank You
- News: National Theatre of Scotland to be part of Danny Boyle’s Armistice Day commission
- Housing association will honour Great War BME soldiers to mark Armistice Day centenary
- World Beyond War Exclusive: Armistice Day, Not Weapons Day — Everything You Need for November 10th and 11th
Belgian Ecclesia Brussel - Leuven 