First World War - 100th Commemoration.

World War 1 often abbreviated as WWI or WW1, also known as the First World War or the Great War, was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28th July 1914 to 11th November 1918. So it is exactly 100 years since the end of the World War 1.

The total number of military and civilian casualties in World War 1 was about 40 million: estimates range from 15 to 19 million deaths and about 23 million wounded military personnel, ranking it among the deadliest conflicts in human history. The total number of deaths includes from 9 to 11 million military personnel. The civilian death toll was about 8 million, including about 6 million due to war-related famine and disease.

The end of First World War on 11th November 1918 is being observed as Armistice Day every year on 11th November since 1919 to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of The Great War and Germany at Compiègne, France, at 5:45 am, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918. Since then every year on the occasion of Armistice Day also known as Remembrance Day and Veterans Day which is a public holiday in some countries there is talk about easing tensions and peace between countries.  Similarly yesterday after 100 years of the First World War the world observed ‘one hundred years since the end of the horrific First World War’. World leaders reiterated their commitment toward world peace and pledged to work to further an atmosphere of harmony and brotherhood so that the trail of death and destruction caused by wars does not occur.

Despite such good intentions expressed every year, there have been wars…World War II and many other wars and armed skirmishes between various countries and added to this is the problem of terrorism. Then there is a 24X7 arms race between various countries with ever-growing threat of nuclear weapons.

I wish and pray that all tensions between nations would be resolved peacefully and that there would be no more wars, deaths, and destruction.