Several countries have held official ceremonies to mark the end of the World War I.
France is commemorating the end of World War I hand-in-hand with the country vanquished in the so-called "great war" as German chancellor Angela Merkel joins president Nicolas Sarkozy to remember the fallen - and to celebrate peace.
The bold departure from traditional Armistice Day commemorations comes two days after Mr Sarkozy traveled to Germany to help fete the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Mr Sarkozy says remembrance of the past "is also to consolidate the present and prepare the future." German school children will join French youth in day-long commemorations as will elected officials from border regions.
The last of the 8.4 million French who fought in the war that tore Europe apart died in March 2008.
In England, the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, senior politicians and the heads of the armed forces gathered for the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, in central London.
Former and serving military personnel joined members of the public in standing for the traditional two-minute silence to remember the sacrifice of those who died for their country.
Today’s service at the Abbey was held following the deaths this year of the final three veterans of the war living in Britain.
William Stone died in January, aged 108, followed in July by Henry Allingham, 113, and Harry Patch, 111.
The Very Rev Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster, opened the service by recalling the moment exactly 91 years ago when the guns fell silent in Europe.
He said in his bidding: “The Great War was over. Lives, friendships, families, societies, nations had been shattered. Everything had changed.
“On this day two years later and at this hour, an unknown warrior, chosen at random to represent all those of these islands who had fought and died, accorded the highest honour of a state funeral, was buried here.
“His grave was to become the focus of our national remembrance and to have international significance.
“Now that the last of his comrades in arms has gone to his eternal rest, we are here once more to remember.
“We remember, with grief, the gas and the mud, the barbed wire, the bombardment, the terror, the telegram; and, with gratitude, the courage and sacrifice.
“Never again, they said; the war to end all wars. With resolution we remember.”
Agencies