Europe commemorates on November 11 the day that marked the end of the Great War, the war that was meant to end all wars. Memorial services are being held around the world to mark the end of the conflict which instead of terminating future warfare, only served to pave the way for World War 2.

In London, the Queen, and the British armed forces chiefs recalled the passing of the World War 1 generation, while the US will observe Veterans Day, with President Barack Obama due at a wreath-laying ceremony. Meanwhile, in Germany, Angela Merkel has become the first chancellor to mark Armistice Day by attending the French commemorative ceremony in Paris, the BBC was quoted as saying.

The armistice treaty, which put an end to the bloody conflict that started on July 28 1914, was signed in a railway carriage in Compiegne Forest. Principal signatories were Marshal Ferdinand Foch, the Allied commander-in-chief, and Matthias Erzberger, for Germany.

Earlier today, the French president Nicolas Sarkozy and the German chancellor rekindled the flame on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

During World War I, Bulgaria found itself fighting on the losing side, having aligned itself with the Central Powers, Germany and Austria-Hungary.

The Bulgarian army fought a campaign on two fronts against Greece and Serbia, also engaging British troops. The country suffered 300 000 casualties, including 100 000 killed in action. Defeat in 1918 led to new territorial losses, the western territories to Serbia, western Thrace to Greece and the re-conquered southern Dobrudzha to Romania.