France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (2ndR) and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel stand with children from a Franco-German school as they listen to national anthems during the Armistice Day ceremony marking 91 years since the end of World War I, on November 11, 2009 in Paris. German leaders have attended Armistice Day events in France before -- most notably when chancellor Helmut Kohl took president Francois Mitterrand's hand in Verdun, the scene of one of the fiercest battles of the 1914-18 war. But Merkel's visit will be the first time a German leader has attended the Paris ceremonies marking the surrender of Germany after four years of trench warfare that left millions dead. Getty Images logo Getty Images 3 months ago

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (2ndR) and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel stand with children from a Franco-German school as they listen to national anthems during the Armistice Day ceremony marking 91 years since the end of World War I, on November 11, 2009 in Paris. German leaders have attended Armistice Day events in France before -- most notably when chancellor Helmut Kohl took president Francois Mitterrand's hand in Verdun, the scene of one of the fiercest battles of the 1914-18 war. But Merkel's visit will be the first time a German leader has attended the Paris ceremonies marking the surrender of Germany after four years of trench warfare that left millions dead.