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"On the occasion of the centenary of the Armistice of November 11, 1918, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, and Ms. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, reaffirmed here the value of Franco-German reconciliation service of Europe and peace ", says a new plaque inaugurated in the clearing of the Rhetondes, in the forest of Compiegne, where was signed the cessation of hostilities of the First War World.
Far is the tone of an earlier plate, which is also located at this place, where it is written: "On November 11, 1918, the criminal pride of the German Empire was defeated by the peoples free who claimed to be slaves. " That would be the spirit of revenge of the Treaty of Versailles, signed eight months later. It is not that France and the allies have no reason to do so, but their lack of magnanimity in the victory would be largely the poison that, two decades later, would lead to the second great conflagration.
The armistice of November 11, 1918 was signed shortly after five in the morning in a dining car of the train, the number 2419-D (the one that exists now is a replica, since Hitler ordered the destruction of the original) parked in the clear of the forest. The Allied delegation consisted of Marshal Foch, General Weygand (semi-legendary links with Mexico) and British Admiral Wemyss and Rear-Admiral Hope. The German side was represented by Matthias Erzberger, civil representative of the government, Count Von Oberndorff and General Von Winterfeldt.
Six hours later, at eleven o'clock in the morning, the weapons finally died, leaving behind more than twenty million dead, soldiers and civilians of all nationalities. Thus ended the greatest cataclysm in the history of the world until that date.
President Macron said: "Our Europe has been peaceful for 73 years and it is unprecedented, it is at peace because we love it, and first because the French and the Germans wanted it."
The ceremony of Saturday the 10th at Compiegne, preceding the great festival of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, was of a highly symbolic character: it is the first time that the French and German heads of state visit the site since the Second World War. on the steps of Mitterrand and Kohl which had been together, in 1984, on the site of the battle of Verdun. The seeds of the Franco-German friendship were sown by General de Gaulle and Chancellor Adenauer and are based on the construction of what is now the European Union.
On Sunday 11th, at 11 am, dozens of dignitaries will gather in the Arc de Triomphe, among which will be the UN Secretary General, Putin, Trump, Theresa May and much more. other. The only speaker will be the President of the French Republic.
"Compiegne," said Macron Saturday, "is the place of revenge, it will also be the place of final reconciliation."
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