Marking 100 years of the World War 1, France and Germany have come together to kickstart events commemorating the day. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel signed a book of remembrance in a railway carriage similar to the one used while sealing the 1918 Armistice. United States President Donald Trump and Russian President are among 70 world leaders who attended Remembrance Day at the French capital.

Armistice is an agreement between two warring parties to stop the fight. It may not be the end of the war but a negotiation for peace and hostile behaviour. Armistice Day commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany and France. It took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918. The First World War that killed 40 million people, finally stopped on November 11, 1918. Since then November 11 is remembered as Armistice Day to remember the tragedy of the war and pay tribute to soldiers who died at the line of duty. World Leaders Mark 100 Years Since WWI Armistice in Paris.

Merkel became the first German leader since the Second World War to visit the forest near the town of Compiègne in northern France where the Armistice was signed. The event also differences of opinion between Trump and Macron over European defence. However, after a meeting at the Elysée Palace, the French leader agreed that Europe should pay more.

Following which the American leader cancelled Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial due to "scheduling and logistical difficulties caused by the weather". His actions were heavily criticised by social media users who compared it to be bad weather conditions faced by the soldiers in war.

During the Second World War, more than three million French and German troops were among an estimated 10 million soldiers who died between 1914 and 1918. The most fighting happened in the trenches in northern France and Belgium.

With Merkle by his side, Macron told addressed youngsters while referring to the peace since the end of World War Two in 1945 saying, "Europe has been at peace for 73 years. It is at peace because we want it to be, because Germany and France want peace. And so the message, if we want to live up to the sacrifice of those soldiers who said 'Never again!', is to never yield to our weakest instincts, nor to efforts to divide us."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 11, 2018 02:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).