when the world fell silent

The phrase "when the world fell silent" is notably associated with the historical event of the Halifax Explosion, which occurred on December 6, 1917, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This was a catastrophic explosion caused by the collision of two ships in the harbor—one of which was carrying munitions. The blast was so massive that it became one of the largest man-made explosions before the atomic bomb, causing widespread devastation, killing nearly 2,000 people, and injuring around 9,000. The event left much of Halifax in ruins and had a profound impact on the city and its residents. This phrase has also been used as the title of a historical fiction novel by Donna Jones Alward, which tells the story of two women affected by the explosion and the aftermath of loss, hope, and redemption in a city shattered by tragedy. So, "when the world fell silent" metaphorically refers to this moment of sudden, overwhelming disaster and stillness following the explosion in 1917 Halifax.