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The Last Fall: Private Henry Gunther and the Final Hours of WWI

This script narrates the story of Private Henry Gunther, the last American - and Allied - soldier to be killed in World War I just one minute before the ceasefire at 1059 AM on November 11, 1918. Hailing from Baltimore and with German roots, Gunther was trying to redeem himself after being demoted due to a letter he wrote discouraging the war. He was honored posthumously with the rank of sergeant, the Divisional Citation for Gallantry in Action, and the Distinguished Service Cross. The script also alludes to the tragic fact that over 11,000 Allied soldiers died between the signing of the armistice and the cessation of hostilities as French Commander in Chief Marshal Foch didn't allow a ceasefire. In this context, the death toll was even higher than that on D-Day during World War II.

00:29 The Final Battle

01:27 Gunther's Last Stand

03:15 The Tragic End

03:46 Posthumous Recognition

04:10 Gunther's Life Before the War

04:23 The Last Day of the War: A Closer Look

04:56 The Unnecessary Losses