The Armistice Day Quiz
1 of 10
The armistice took effect in what year?
1917
1918
1919
2 of 10
While the armistice ended the war’s fighting, what treaty officially ended the state of war between the Allies and Germany in June 1919?
Treaty of Ghent
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Paris
3 of 10
What time of day did the armistice take effect?
11:00 a.m.
Midnight
8:30 a.m.
ANSWER: The ceasefire began at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” It’s got a nice ring to it, but this weird system caused extra casualties. Even though the armistice was signed at around 5 a.m. and troops knew that fighting was supposed to cease at 11 a.m., they didn’t just lay down their weapons. Instead, many units continued fighting tooth-and-nail right up to the deadline. Some allegedly didn’t want to lug unused shells and cartridges back from the front, and at least one American general was said to have tried to capture a nearby town so his men would have a place to take a bath after the ceasefire. The ceasefire began at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” It’s got a nice ring to it, but this weird system caused extra casualties. Even though the armistice was signed at around 5 a.m. and troops knew that fighting was supposed to cease at 11 a.m., they didn’t just lay down their weapons. Instead, many units continued fighting tooth-and-nail right up to the deadline. Some allegedly didn’t want to lug unused shells and cartridges back from the front, and at least one American general was said to have tried to capture a nearby town so his men would have a place to take a bath after the ceasefire.
4 of 10
German Kaiser Wilhelm II announced his abdication two days before the armistice was signed. In what country did he spend the rest of his life?
Germany
Poland
The Netherlands
ANSWER: Wilhelm briefly lived in a castle in Amerongen after his abdication, and he remained in the Netherlands until his death in 1941. Wilhelm briefly lived in a castle in Amerongen after his abdication, and he remained in the Netherlands until his death in 1941.
5 of 10
In some other countries Armistice Day is celebrated as Remembrance Day, but it’s often also known by what floral moniker?
Lily Day
Rose Day
Poppy Day
ANSWER: The poppy was often associated with World War I battlefields in France, as shown in Canadian soldier John McRae’s famous poem “In Flanders Fields.” The poppy was often associated with World War I battlefields in France, as shown in Canadian soldier John McRae’s famous poem “In Flanders Fields.”
6 of 10
What eventually became of the rail carriage in which the armistice was signed?
The Nazis blew it up.
The Nazis forced France to sign a World War II occupation armistice in it.
The Nazis used it for scrap.
ANSWER: Further proof that Hitler was incredibly sadistic: after the World War I armistice, the French preserved the train car as a monument in the exact spot where the armistice had been signed. When the Nazis crushed the French in 1940, Hitler forced them to sign their own armistice in the car. He then paraded the symbol of France’s defeat around Germany. Eventually, the SS incinerated the car to keep it from falling back into Allied hands. Further proof that Hitler was incredibly sadistic: after the World War I armistice, the French preserved the train car as a monument in the exact spot where the armistice had been signed. When the Nazis crushed the French in 1940, Hitler forced them to sign their own armistice in the car. He then paraded the symbol of France’s defeat around Germany. Eventually, the SS incinerated the car to keep it from falling back into Allied hands.
7 of 10
What Allied leader was the principal signatory for their side at the signing of the armistice?
Ferdinand Foch
David Lloyd George
Woodrow Wilson
ANSWER: The negotiation of the armistice actually took place in Foch’s private train. The negotiation of the armistice actually took place in Foch’s private train.
8 of 10
In what year did the United States change the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day?
1945
1954
1983
ANSWER: In 1953 Emporia, KS shoe storeowner Al King thought it would be nice to have a day to honor all veterans, particularly since so many Americans had fought so valiantly in World War II. He enlisted other local merchants and turned November 11 into a local holiday to honor veterans of all wars. Eventually, King enlisted the help of Congressman Ed Rees, who was also from Emporia, to get congressional support for Veterans Day, and in 1954 Congress approved the holiday. Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law on May 26, 1954. In 1953 Emporia, KS shoe storeowner Al King thought it would be nice to have a day to honor all veterans, particularly since so many Americans had fought so valiantly in World War II. He enlisted other local merchants and turned November 11 into a local holiday to honor veterans of all wars. Eventually, King enlisted the help of Congressman Ed Rees, who was also from Emporia, to get congressional support for Veterans Day, and in 1954 Congress approved the holiday. Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law on May 26, 1954.
9 of 10
The two sides signed the armistice in the forest near what French city?
Nantes
Paris
Compiègne
10 of 10
Italians have celebrated Armistice Day on November 4 because that’s the day the Armistice of Villa Giusti went into effect. This armistice ended World War I hostilities between Italy and what country?
France
Germany
Austria-Hungary
ANSWER: The Austro-Hungarians had the right idea about at least one thing. The two sides signed this armistice on November 3 on the condition that it would take effect 24 hours later. The Austro-Hungarian high command wisely didn’t see any reason to fight for another 24 hours once the peace had been reached, though, so it ordered that its forces stop fighting rather than wait the extra day. The Austro-Hungarians had the right idea about at least one thing. The two sides signed this armistice on November 3 on the condition that it would take effect 24 hours later. The Austro-Hungarian high command wisely didn’t see any reason to fight for another 24 hours once the peace had been reached, though, so it ordered that its forces stop fighting rather than wait the extra day.
