the war to end war

11a.m. - 11/11/06 – Pana, Illinois.

.: On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1917 Germany and Austria-Hungary agreed with France Great Britain and The United States to stop fighting "The Great War", there was a worldwide belief that mankind had reached a level of civility beyond War. We united as one world under the belief that if we could just stop a war, then we were logical enough to live together in peace.

Though over 9 million men lay dead on the battlefields of Europe, we had hope. We would never fight another war.

Within less than a year, Delegates on behalf of the French government and the colonies of the French Empire forced Germany's delegates to sign the treaty of Versailles at gunpoint. That document forced Germany to accept moral responsibility for the war and pay over 5 Billion (in 1918 dollars) restitutions to the countries damaged by war.

This humiliation did not go without complaint and answer. An Austrian painter rose from anonymity to run for office as a national socialist under the platform of returning the bankrupt and broken nation of Germany to their pre-war greatness.

He was not elected. Instead, he and his supporters stormed the Capitol and took over. Adolf Hitler then sent the armies of Germany on a crusade to recapture the territories that they were forced to turn over due to Versailles.

The Armistice of 11/11/17 may be the greatest symbol of tragedy our world has ever seen. For a moment we were united under the possibility of everlasting peace. Until we were plunged into an even more tragic war. :.