Mysteries in the Archives

1918: Armistice Celebrated (3x6)

Air date: Nov 10, 2012

On November 11, 1918 at dawn, the armistice marking the end of the fighting in the First World War was signed between Germany and the victorious Allies. But in France as in England, the news is not announced until 11 am sharp. The devastating First World War had lasted 1,560 days when, on November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m. sharp, church bells rang all over France. They announced the armistice signed at dawn between Germany and the victorious Allies. On the other side of the Atlantic, the armistice was celebrated a little earlier due to the time difference. As in New York and Washington, numerous cameras in Paris and London captured the cheering on the streets for eternity. But were these victory celebrations really that spontaneous, or were they staged? Were reporters free to choose where to film and show what they wanted? On whose behalf were they working? Has the censorship that prevailed during the war already been lifted?