page_title: Matthias Erzberger
section_title: Signing the Armistice
hierarchical_section_title: Matthias Erzberger / Signing the Armistice
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Tableau représentant la signature de l’armistice de 1918 dans le wagon-salon du Maréchal Foch. Derrière la table, de droite à gauche, le général Weygand, le maréchal Foch (debout) et les amiraux britanniques Wemyss, G.Hope et J.Marriott. Devant, le ministre d’État allemand Matthias Erzberger, le général major Detlof von Winterfeldt (avec le casque) de l’armée impériale, le comte Alfred von Oberndorff des Affaires étrangères et le capitaine de vaisseau Ernst Vanselow de la Marine impériale. Svenska: Stilleståndet 1918 English: Colorized photograph, which depicts from left to right: German Admiral Ernst Vanselow, German Count Alfred von Oberndorff (1870 - 1963) of the Foreign Ministry, German army general Detlof von Winterfeldt, British Royal Navy Captain Jack Marriott (Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord), Matthias Erzberger, head of the German delegation Center party member of the Reichstag (1875 - 1921), who was later murdered by Freikorps rightists for his role in the Armistice, British Rear-Admiral George Hope (Deputy First Sea Lord), British Admiral of the Fleet Sir w:en:Rosslyn Wemyss (First Sea Lord), Marshal of France Ferdinand Foch (1851 - 1929), and French general Maxime Weygand (1867 - 1965). according to http://www.jamd.com/image/g/3279533. There is a signature in the left corner: Pillard. See also national trust object 836535. This image appears to be a painting, not a colourized photograph. (It might have also been published as a sepia postcard.) The probability that it is not a photograph is also indicated by the inaccurate depiction of furniture, in Maréchal Foch's 'dining car', which had a fixed-to-the-floor table and French chairs (as seen in photographs of the event). The probable inaccuracy of the depiction might be the reason for its anonymity. Português: Fotografia restaurada. Da esquerda para a direita: o Almirante Alemão Ernst Vanselow, o conde alemão Alfred von Oberndorff, o general alemão Detlof von Winterfeldt, o almirante britânico Jack Marriott, Matthias Erzberger, líder da delegação alemã e membro do parlamento (Reichstag), o almirante britânico George Hope, o almirante Rosslyn Wemyss, o marechal francês Ferdinand Foch e o general francês Maxime Weygand, de acordo com http://www.jamd.com/image/g/3279533 Deutsch: Unterzeichnung des Waffenstillstandsabkommens vom 11. November 1918 in einem Eisenbahn-Salonwagen im Wald von Compiègne. Von links nach rechts sind folgende Personen zu sehen: Ernst Vanselow (Deutscher Admiral) Graf Alfred von Oberndorff (1870–1963) (Deutsches Auswärtiges Amt) Detlof von Winterfeldt (Deutscher General) Jack Marriott (Kapitän der britischen Royal Navy, Marineassistent des Ersten Seelords) Matthias Erzberger (1875–1921) (Leiter der deutschen Delegation, Staatssekretär, Zentrum, Mitglied des Reichstags) wurde später von rechten Freikorps-Rechten für seine Rolle im Waffenstillstand ermordet George Hope (Britische Rear-Admiral, Stellvertreter des Erster Seelords) Rosslyn Wemyss (Britischer Flottenadmiral, Erster Seelord) Ferdinand Foch (1851–1929) (Marschall von Frankreich) Maxime Weygand (1867–1965) (Französischer General) In der linken Ecke befindet sich eine Signatur: Pillard. Siehe auch National Trust Object 836535.
context_page_description: Matthias Erzberger was a German publicist and politician, Reich Minister of Finance from 1919 to 1920.
  Prominent in the Catholic Centre Party, he spoke out against World War I from 1917 and as authorized representative of the Reich government signed the armistice between Germany and the Allies. He was assassinated in 1921 by the right-wing terrorist group Organisation Consul.
context_section_description: On 3 October 1918, Erzberger entered the government of Prince Maximilian von Baden as a Secretary of State without a specified portfolio. On 6 November 1918, a reluctant Erzberger was sent to negotiate with the Allies in the Forest of Compiègne. Prince Maximilian supposed that Erzberger, as a Catholic civilian, would be more acceptable to the allies than a Prussian military officer; in addition, he believed that Erzberger's reputation as a man of peace was unassailable.
  Against hopes that Erzberger would be able to obtain better conditions from the Allies, Marshal Ferdinand Foch, the chief Allied negotiator, was unwilling to make any concessions, with the exception of a slight extension of the time allotted to the German army to withdraw. Erzberger was unsure whether he should hold out for further changes in Germany's favour. On 10 November, Paul von Hindenburg himself telegraphed back that the armistice should be signed, with or without modifications, and a while later the new Chancellor, the Social Democrat Friedrich Ebert, telegraphed Erzberger to authorize him to sign.
  As the head of the German delegation, he signed the armistice ending World War I at Compiègne on 11 November 1918 with the French representative, Marshal Foch. He made a short speech on the occasion, protesting the harshness of the terms, and concluded by saying that "a nation of seventy millions can suffer, but it cannot die." Foch ignored Erzberger's attempt to shake his hand and is said to have replied, "Très bien" ("very well").
caption: Painting depicting the signature of the armistice in the railway carriage. Behind the table, from right to left, General Weygand, Marshal Foch (standing) and British Admiral Rosslyn Wemyss and fourth from the left, British Naval Captain Jack Marriott. In the foreground, Erzberger, Major General Detlof von Winterfeldt (with helmet), Alfred von Oberndorff and Ernst Vanselow.
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