Kriegsende

Kriegsende (end of war) denotes the cessation of armed conflict between belligerents. It can arise through ceasefire, surrender, or peace treaty, and is often followed by demobilization, political settlements, and normalization of relations.

There are several forms through which a war can end: an armistice or ceasefire that stops fighting immediately but leaves outstanding issues; a surrender or capitulation that ends military opposition; and a peace treaty or other formal agreement that ends the state of war and regulates relations, borders, reparations, and security.

Historical examples illustrate the different paths. In World War I, fighting ceased with the Armistice of 11 November 1918, with the full settlement coming later in the Treaty of Versailles and related agreements in 1919–1920. World War II ended with the unconditional surrenders of Germany in May 1945 and Japan in September 1945, followed by a series of peace treaties, occupation arrangements, and security frameworks. Some conflicts have not had a formal end; for example, the Korean War ended with an armistice in 1953, leaving the legal state of war technically unresolved. Other cases show peace processes that establish frameworks for stability even if some disputes remain unsettled.

In international law and diplomacy, Kriegsende is a key transition, shaping demobilization, reconstruction, disarmament, accountability, and the normalization of relations. In German-language discourse, the term is used for both individual wars and the broader postwar period.