January 11th

On this day - 11th January 1917 - The Kingsland ammunition factory explosion

Kingsland factory was owned by the Canadian Car and Foundry factory and placed in New Jersey, USA. In 1931 started a fire at the factory, a fire which lasted for over four hours. The explosion was said to be magnificent, but the entire plant was destroyed. The factory produced ammunition which was provided to the allied countries, Russia and Britain, during the first world war. This led to speculations in the media about the explosion being a sabotage by Germany. The fire had started nearby Wozniak, one of the workers, station. The rumors about the sabotage claimed that he was a part of a German sabotage group in the US. It was also claimed that he behaved nervously on the day of the explosion. Wozniak, however, escaped the detectives and no evidence of sabotage was ever found. Germany never admitted to the sabotage, but did eventually pay $50m in reparation to the US.

November 11th

On this day – November 11^th (at 11 am) 1918 – The end of the First World War 

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month was an armistice between the allied countries and Germany implemented. The armistice marked a complete defeat of Germany (although not formally a surrender) and with it, the First World War ended. After 55 months and over 16 million deaths came the Great War to its end. The armistice required an end to all fighting and withdrawal of German troops from France, Belgium and Luxembourg. In June 1919 was the peace treaty between the countries signed. The peace treaty, known as the Versailles treaty required heavy demilitarisation of Germany and huge repayments to the allied countries. 

American Soldies cellebrating the news of the armistice