In the new All Quiet on the Western Front (2022), a German general is shown ordering his troops to attack a French position in the hopes of capturing it in the fifteen minutes before the armistice agreement goes into effect at 11:00 am. Did such a thing happen or was it even remotely possible?

by Languidleo

It seems to me to be quite ridiculous and a “creative” twist on history to to heighten the stakes at the end of the film. But I could be wrong…

SectoidEater

No, the Germans did not launch any attacks on the final day of the war. It is quite likely that if they had ordered them, then the troops would have disobeyed orders and stayed put. The German Navy attempted to make a big last push at the end of the war, and the sailors mutinied and refused to follow orders.

The Entente Powers did launch attacks on the last day of the war. Some of these were ordered, and some of them were done on the troops own initiative, as there were soldiers hungry for glory and needed one last chance to get some respect/medals/a good story.

It is impossible to really know who was the exact 'last' soldier to die, but some speculate it was an American named Henry Gunther. He disobeyed his own superiors to attack the enemy. The Germans saw him coming and yelled at him to go away as they didn't even want to kill him so close to the end of the war. He didn't listen, and continued to charge at the Germans, who shot and killed him one minute before the ceasefire began at 11am.