Scaled-down Armistice Day commemorations take place across Europe

Countries across Europe commemorated Armistice Day in scaled-down ceremonies amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

November 11 marks the effective end of World War I and is a day to remember the millions of lives lost in the years-long conflict.

German and allied forces officially signed the armistice accord at around 5:00 a.m. on this day in 1918, following days of negotiations after the Germans came to the negotiating table following the heavy losses they suffered that summer.

The first Armistice Day was held at Buckingham Palace, UK, commencing with King George V hosting a "Banquet in Honor of the President of the French Republic" during the evening of November 10, 1919.

The first official Armistice Day events were subsequently held in the grounds of Buckingham Palace on the morning of November 11, 1919, which included a two-minute silence as a mark of respect for those who were left behind and died in the war.

During the inter-war period, similar ceremonies developed in other countries. In 1939 in Britain, the two-minute silence was moved to the Sunday nearest to November 11 in order not to interfere with wartime production, should November 11 fall on a weekday. This is called Remembrance Sunday.

In the UK and Commonwealth countries, both Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday are commemorated formally, but are not public holidays. The National Service of Remembrance is held in London on Remembrance Sunday.

French President Emmanuel Macron stands to attention after laying a wreath in front of the statue of Georges Clemenceau in Paris. /Christian Hartmann/Pool/AFP

The Champs-Elysees avenue with the Arc de Triomphe in the background during Armistice Day commemorations. /Christian Hartmann/Pool/AFP

People stand to observe a two-minute silence at the Royal Artillery Memorial in London. /Ben Stansall/AFP

Soldiers observe a two-minute silence for Armistice Day at a coronavirus rapid testing center in Liverpool. /Paul Ellis/AFP

CLICK: WIND AND SOLAR POWER ARE ON COURSE TO OVERTAKE COAL AND GAS

Members of the French national police stand to attention as they take part in a ceremony for the French soldiers of the Front d'Orient (1915-1918) who died in Kosovo, at the Military square in Pristina. /Armend Nimani/AFP

A two-minute silence for Armistice day in remembrance of the nation's war dead at the Cenotaph in London. /Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP

Scaled-back services were held at the Cenotaph in London amid the coronavirus pandemic. /Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron stands at the tomb of the unknown soldier under the Arc de Triomphe during Armistice Day ceremonies. /Yoan Valat/AP

French President Emmanuel Macron lights the flame at the tomb of the unknown soldier next to French Armies Chief of Staff General Francois Lecointre under the Arc de Triomphe. /Yoan Valat/AP

CLICK: SCIENTISTS ARE SEEING SIGNS OF DAMAGE WEEKS AFTER INFECTION

People gather behind a barrier to watch the Last Post ceremony at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Ypres Memorial at the Menenpoort in Ieper, Belgium. /Kurt Desplenter/Belga/AFP

A Serbian Army soldier stands to attention in front of a monument at the Serbian Soldiers' cemetery in Belgrade. /Andrej Isakovic/AFP

Serbian soldiers stand to attention in front of a monument at the French soldiers' cemetery in Belgrade. /Andrej Isakovic/AFP

Members of the global environmental movement Extinction Rebellion hung a banner at the Cenotaph in London, which read 'Honour Their Sacrifice, Climate Change Means War' and placed a wreath of poppies on the monument decorated with the words 'climate change means war, act now.'

Donald Bell, a British Army veteran and a member of Extinction Rebellion, said: "I served this country, I served the people of this country and the action I took today is about just that. Unchecked climate change means a return to a world at war. I cannot stand by and let that happen."

Bell, paid his respects and observed two minutes silence before placing the wreath.

Extinction Rebellion said the action aims to highlight the connection between rising global temperatures and an increase in the incidence of conflict and war. However, the move has been criticized by some who said it was a disrespectful act on Armistice Day.

Members of Extinction Rebellion hung a sign and a wreath at the cenotaph in London warning about climate change. /Extinction Rebellion

Extinction Rebellion said the move was taken to call on the government to ease unrest, conflict and war. /Extinction Rebellion

The wreath read 'Climate change means war. Act now.' /Extinction Rebellion