Many more had to die from starvation after the Armistice in November 1918 as the blockade was continued into 1919 , in order to force Germany to sign the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919 . The blockade was maintained for eight months after the Armistice in November 1918 , into the following year of 1919 , in order to force Germany to sign the controversial Treaty of Versailles in June 1919 .