At what hour did the World War I armistice commemorated by Veterans Day take effect?

The World War I armistice commemorated by Veterans Day took effect at the 11th hour.

The ceasefire began at 11 a.m. Central European Time on November 11, 1918. This produced the familiar phrase “the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month,” which became closely associated with Armistice Day and later Veterans Day.

The agreement stopped major fighting between the Allies and Germany on the Western Front. It did not instantly create a final peace settlement; the Treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919. Fighting and political upheaval also continued in other parts of Europe after November 11.

The phrase “11th hour” is sometimes treated as a poetic expression only, but it refers to a precise scheduled ceasefire time. The armistice was signed earlier that morning in a railway carriage at Compiègne, France, and its military terms required hostilities to cease at the stated hour.