The First World War was 1914-1918. Why do so many memorials say 1914-1919?

Answer 1

It was only an armastice in 1918. The Germans didn't formally surrender until 1919.

Answer 2

Most likely because Germany signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919 which really ended the war: There was only an Armistice in effect since 11 Nov, 1918. Also there were troops still fighting in Archangle, Russia still supporting the White Russians into 1919. It was still considered part of WWI or 'The Great War'

Answer 3

As June_C has pointed out, the fighting between the British , France the USA and Germany (and other countries such as Portugual that fought in France) ceased with the Armistice at 11am on 11th. November 1918, but the Treaty of Versailles between the Allies and Germany was not signed until 28th. June 1919. As this represented the majority of the fighting as far as the UK was concerned, this is why our War Memorials record the formal dates of the War against Germany.

Germany's allies, notably Austria-Hungary and Turkey, that had declared war in 1914 surrendered shortly on various dates shortly before Germany. Versailles was followed by a series of other treaties with these countries and the nation states into which they had fragmented.

There was actually a substantial amount of fighting in 1919, although it was not regarded as part of the Great War. British troops were landed at Archanagel to fight Soviet Russia. They were also involved in the Middle East following the break-up of Turkey, notably in Iraq!

Answer 4

The formal state of war between the two sides persisted after the Armistice of November 11, 1918 for another seven months. It ended by the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919.

Answer 5

The armistice that ended the actual fighting was signed in November 1918. However, the Treaty of Versailles which officially ended World War I required an additional six months of negotiation, and was not signed until 1919.

Answer 6

I think this is because active combat among the warring principalities ended in1918 but that could not be taken to be the end of the war as there was still distrust, anger and hatred among them. The versailles peace conference of 1919 therefore been the forum where this principalities met and agreed to put down there weapons and look into the issues surrounding the war under the supervision of President woodrow Wilson of the United States; a state that did not even take an active part in the war; is actually the end of the war.

Answer 7

"Some war memorials date the end of the war as being when the Versailles treaty was signed in 1919; by contrast, most commemorations of the war’s end concentrate on the armistice of November 11, 1918. Legally the last formal peace treaties were not signed until 1923. Some also treat the Versailles treaty as the prelude to World War 2."

From:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I

Answer 8

You sure about that, all the ones I can recall say 1914 to 1918, and many have also been added to, with 1939 to 1945.

Answer 9

Because WWI formaly ended in 1919 with the Treaty of Vesailles.

Answer 10

though it was declared to b over in 1918,most of the germans left only by 1919