Which 1918 agreement directly established the ceasefire commemorated by Veterans Day?

The Armistice of 11 November 1918 established the ceasefire commemorated by Veterans Day.

The agreement was signed by representatives of Germany and the Allied powers in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiègne, France. Its terms required Germany to withdraw from occupied territories, surrender military equipment, and end hostilities on the Western Front.

The armistice took effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, creating the date later associated with Armistice Day. It was not the final peace treaty ending the war in legal terms. The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, set the broader postwar settlement between Germany and the Allies.

This distinction explains why “armistice” and “treaty” should not be used interchangeably. An armistice suspends or ends fighting, while a peace treaty establishes the formal political settlement. Veterans Day grew from the armistice anniversary but now honors U.S. veterans from all periods of service.