The year 1918 marked the end of World War I, a global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918. The war concluded with the signing of the Armistice of Compiègne on November 11, 1918, which led to significant political changes in Europe and the eventual signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. In addition to the war's end, 1918 was also notable for the outbreak of the Spanish flu, a deadly influenza pandemic that infected about one-third of the world's population. This pandemic caused millions of deaths worldwide, further impacting societies already affected by the war.