Did soldiers die unnecessarily just so the leaders could say they signed an armistace on 11/11/11?

by dontwasteink

Did any of the soldiers or media point this out at the time?

newenglandredshirt

I think you meant 11/11/1918. WWI hadn't even started yet in 1911.

BigD1970

I recommend the book "11th Month, 11th day, 11th hour" by Joseph E Persico which covers the last day of the war and the casualties incurred.

One piece seems appropriate to your question: On 7th November the Germans sent a delegation to General Foch requesting a ceasefire as a preliminary to negotiations. Foch refused and proceeded to issue a list of demands.

Negotiations then dragged on for another 4 days. Meanwhile the various Allied commanders wanted to keep a constant pressure on the retreating Germans right up until the last minute.

And I mean the last minute. The last American casualty of the war was killed at 10.59 while charging the German lines.