Armistice Clearing

The clearing of Rethondes, also known as the Glade of or near Compiègne or the Armistice clearing (French: Clairière de l'Armistice), is a former clearing in the Compiègne forest near the village of Rethondes near Compiègne in northern France. The place is significant in that here two times, in the First World War and in the Second World War - however with opposite sign, an armistice (equaling a surrender) between the French Republic and the German Reich was negotiated. The negotiations took place in each case in a railway carriage, which later became famous because of its symbolic importance of Compiègne cars.

The former clearing was transformed into a memorial after the First World War and exists as such until today.

A solemn place emblematic of the history of Europe in the 20th century, the clearing still resonates with all the Franco-German confrontations of the past.

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