Armistice Day 2025: France commemorates in Paris

107th Anniversary of the Armistice: France Honors Its Soldiers and Pays Tribute to the “Malgré-Nous”

France today commemorated the 107th anniversary of the Armistice of November 11, 1918, marking the end of the First World War.
A day dedicated to remembrance, gratitude, and national unity, which began with an unprecedented tribute to the “Malgré-Nous” — the Alsatians and Mosellans forcibly enlisted into the German army during World War II.

A Solemn Tribute to the “Malgré-Nous”

President Emmanuel Macron began the day at the Hôtel National des Invalides, accompanied by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin, and Minister Delegate Alice Rufo.
Also present were Laurent Nuñez, Minister of the Interior and Overseas Territories, and General Fabien Mandon, Chief of the Defence Staff.

Together, they unveiled a commemorative plaque honoring the “Malgré-Nous”, in the presence of families and remembrance associations.
This initiative, led by the President of the Republic, aims to acknowledge and teach the tragic fate of these men, long a painful and sensitive chapter of French history.

Between 1942 and 1945, around 130,000 Alsatians and Mosellans were forcibly conscripted into the German army.
Of these, nearly 40,000 never returned — 30,000 died in combat or captivity, while 10,000 to 12,000 remain missing.

“Thank you for keeping this memory alive,” declared President Macron.
“It is now engraved in the stone of this building. We must continue to pass it on.”

On the Champs-Élysées, a Tribute to the “Father of Victory”

Later in the morning, the President made his way to the Champs-Élysées, where he laid a tricolor wreath before the statue of Georges Clemenceau, known as the “Father of Victory.”
Beneath the Arc de Triomphe, he then rekindled the Eternal Flame of the Unknown Soldier, continuing the nation’s enduring ritual of remembrance.

The Republican Guard rendered military honors, while the “Last Post” and La Marseillaise echoed under the arch.
The tricolor flags waved gently in the wind, a solemn reminder of France’s history and resilience.

Among those attending the ceremony were Gérard Larcher (President of the Senate), Yaël Braun-Pivet (President of the National Assembly), Anne Hidalgo (Mayor of Paris), Jeanne d’Hauteserre (Mayor of the 8th arrondissement), along with several government members, diplomats, and military representatives.

Jean-Jacques Goldman: The Voice of the Bleuet de France

This year marks the centenary of the Bleuet de France, the emblem of remembrance and solidarity.
Its ambassador, Jean-Jacques Goldman, addressed a heartfelt message to the French people:

“There is no peace without guardians, nor freedom without soldiers,” he wrote in a handwritten note published by Franceinfo.
“We may have forgotten this at times, but current events remind us of it tragically every day. It seemed important to me to show our gratitude to our armed forces, their wounded, and all those who protect us daily.”

To commemorate this milestone, Goldman has composed a new song titled ‘On sera là’ (“We’ll Be There”), whose music video highlights the passing of memory from one generation to the next.

A Nation United in Remembrance

This November 11, 2025, will be remembered as a day of emotion and unity — a moment to honor both past and present sacrifices.
More than a century after the end of World War I, France continues to reaffirm its commitment to peace, freedom, and fraternity — values that remain at the heart of its history and identity.