106 years ago, World War I ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
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The date is now known as Armistice Day when Axis and Allies signed an agreement for peace, bringing end to a war that had been waging for over four years.
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An armistice was preferred over a surrender as both sides believed it was the fastest way to end the war's misery.
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Prior to the armistice, Germans had suffered heavy casualties as British, French and US forces pushed them steadily.
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Allies preferred to not invade Berlin as it would have required too much in terms of manpower, logistics and resources.
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Germans knew they had run their race. As early as September of 1918, they started to make overtures about an armistice.
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Commander-in-chief of the Allied forces, Marshal Ferdinand Foch led the negotiations.
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As part of the armistice, Germans agreed to pull their troops out of France, Belgium and Luxembourg within 15 days.
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They were also also required to return all the prisoners of war without reciprocity.
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The armistice led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in June of the subsequent year where the war formally ended.