November 11: tribute to the soldiers who died in 2026, rekindling of the flame... Relive the highlights of the commemorations in video

108 years ago, on November 11, 1918, the fighting of the First World War ended with the signing of the Armistice in the clearing of Rethondes, in the Oise. This Wednesday, France once again paid tribute to the soldiers who fell for the homeland, on the occasion of a national day of commemoration chaired by Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

The ceremony opened with a tribute to Georges Clemenceau, a major figure in the French victory of 1918 and President of the Council at the end of the First World War, in front of his statue on the Champs-Élysées. At 11 a.m., the Head of State then walked up the avenue towards the Arc de Triomphe, where he was joined by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin and Minister Delegate for the Armed Forces and Veterans, Alice Rufo.

After a review of the troops and a wreath-laying, Emmanuel Macron carried out the traditional rekindling of the flame of the Unknown Soldier, which has been burning since 1923 on the grave of the unidentified combatant of the First World War.

Tribute to the five soldiers who died for France in 2026

This symbolic gesture, carried out every year on this date, recalls the sacrifice of soldiers who died in combat and the importance of the duty of memory. The names of the five soldiers who have died for France since the start of 2026 resounded on the Place de l'Etoile after the president rekindled the flame of the unknown soldier.

They are Chief Warrant Officer Thibaud Breteau (killed in Jordan on February 16), Major Arnaud Frion (killed in Iraq on March 12), Warrant Officer Florian Montorio (killed in Lebanon on April 18), Sergeant Anicet Girardin (killed in Lebanon on April 22) and Master Corporal Florian Gillet (killed in Lebanon on June 10). They were between 21 and 42 years old.

For the last time as President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron signed the golden book of the flame of the Unknown Soldier with his simple name and an initial, without adding any other message.