In 1918, the armistice that ended fighting on much of the Western Front in World War I was signed in a railway carriage in a clearing in the forest near the village of Rethondes, within the commune of Compiègne, France. The carriage belonged to the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons‑Lits (CIWL) and was originally built as a luxury dining car. During the war, it was requisitioned and converted into a mobile headquarters for the Allied supreme commander, Ferdinand Foch.

The location, later known as the Glade of the Armistice, was chosen for its seclusion and access via railway sidings, providing both security and practical transport connections. The carriage was parked on one of the sidings, and the German delegation arrived there to begin negotiations that would bring an end to hostilities.

The armistice was signed inside the railway carriage, and it officially ended fighting on 11 November 1918 at 11:00 a.m. Railways had played a central role throughout the war in moving troops, supplies, and command structures, and the use of a mobile command carriage for such a pivotal diplomatic event reflected their importance.

The choice of a civilian dining car converted for military use illustrates how existing railway infrastructure was repurposed to meet wartime needs. After the armistice, the carriage became a symbol of peace and was eventually displayed in a museum setting.

The Glade of the Armistice itself became a memorial site commemorating the end of the First World War. The original carriage was removed during World War II by German forces and destroyed in 1945. The carriage now on display at the site is a similar CIWL car that was restored and placed there to represent the original.

From a railway-historical perspective, the armistice carriage highlights how rail transport served multiple roles: operational, logistical, and symbolic. Its conversion from luxury dining car to military headquarters and its role in ending one of the largest conflicts in history demonstrate the unique intersection of railways and diplomacy at the close of World War I.