A Concise Chronicle of Events of the Great War

by R. P. P. Rowe

The Military terms provide for the demobilisation of the German armies and the imposition of other military restrictions, within two months of the signing of the Treaty (as the first step towards international disarmament). All compulsory military service is to be abolished in German territory, and recruiting regulations on a voluntary basis are to be incorporated into the German military laws, providing for the enlistment of non-commissioned officers and men for a period of not less than twelve consecutive years, and stipulating that officers shall serve for twenty-five years, and shall not be retired until the age of forty-five. No reserve of officers with war service will be permitted. The total number of German effectives is fixed at one hundred thousand, including not more than four thousand officers, and it is provided that there shall be no other military forces raised outside this figure. Increase in the number of customs, forestry officials or police, or the military training of these services is specially prohibited.

The function of the German Army is to keep internal order and control of frontiers. The High Command is to confine itself to administrative duties, and it will not be allowed to retain a General Staff. Civilian personnel at the Ministry of War and similar institutions is to be reduced to one-tenth of that in 1913. There will be not more than seven Infantry and three Cavalry Divisions, and not more than two Corps Staffs. Surplus war academies, and schools for officers, cadets, etc., are to be suppressed, and the number of students admitted to the schools retained for the recruitment of officers is to be limited to the vacancies occurring in the establishments provided. The production of armaments, munitions, and material of war in Germany is limited to a schedule, based on the amount considered necessary for an army on the scale decided upon. No reserves may be formed, and all existing armaments, guns, and stores above the limit fixed must be handed over to the Allies for disposal. No poisonous gas or liquid fire shall be manufactured or imported, nor any tanks nor armoured cars. The Germans are obliged to notify to the Allies for approval the names and situation of all factories manufacturing munitions, together with particulars of their output. The German Government arsenals are to be suppressed and their personnel dismissed. Munitions for use in fortified works will be limited to 1500 rounds apiece for guns of 10·5 cm. calibre and under, and 500 rounds for guns of a higher calibre. Germany is prohibited from manufacturing armaments and munitions for foreign countries and from importing them from abroad. Germany must not maintain or construct any fortifications situated on German territory less than fifty kilometres east of the Rhine, and in the above area no armed forces either permanent or temporary may be maintained. The status quo is to be reserved in respect of the fortifications on the original southern and eastern frontiers of the German Empire. No military manœuvres may be held nor any permanent works kept for the purposes of helping mobilisation. The demobilisation of fortifications must take place within three months.

NAVAL

The Naval terms provide that within two months the German naval forces in commission must not exceed six battleships of the Deutschland or Lothringen type, six light cruisers, twelve destroyers, and twelve torpedo boats, or an equal number of ships constructed to replace them. No submarines are to be included, and all other warships are to be placed in reserve or devoted to commercial purposes. Germany may keep in commission a fixed number of mine-sweeping vessels until the mines within certain specified areas in the North Sea and Baltic have been swept up. After the expiration of two months the total exclusive personnel of the Navy must not exceed 15,000, including a maximum of 1500 officers and warrant officers. All German surface warships interned in Allied or neutral ports are to be finally surrendered. Within two months certain additional warships enumerated in the Treaty and now in German ports will be surrendered at Allied ports. The German Government must undertake the breaking-up of all German surface warships under construction. Auxiliary cruisers, etc., are to be disarmed and treated as merchant ships. Within one month all German submarines, salvage vessels, and docks for submarines capable of proceeding under their own power or being towed must have been handed over at Allied ports. The remainder and those under construction must be broken up by Germany within three months.

Material arising from the breaking-up of German warships may not be used except for industrial purposes, and may not be sold to foreign countries. Except under specified conditions for replacement, Germany is forbidden to construct or acquire any warships, and the construction or acquisition of any submarines whatever is prohibited. Vessels of war are only to have a fixed allowance of arms, munitions, and war material. All excess of arms, munitions and war material is to be surrendered, and no stocks or reserves are allowed.

The personnel of the German navy must be recruited entirely by voluntary engagements for a minimum period of twenty-five consecutive years for officers and warrant officers, and twelve consecutive years for petty officers and men, under various restrictions.

In order to ensure free passage into the Baltic Germany is not to erect any fortifications in certain specified areas, nor to install any guns commanding maritime routes between the North Sea and the Baltic. Existing fortifications within those areas are to be demolished and guns removed. Other fortified works within fifty kilometres of the German coast or on German islands are to remain, as being of a defensive nature, but no new fortifications may be constructed and the armaments may not be increased. The maximum stocks of ammunition allowed for such defences are 1500 rounds per piece for 4·1 inch guns and under, and 500 rounds per piece for guns exceeding that calibre.

The German wireless stations at Nauen, Hanover, and Berlin are not to be used for naval, military, or political messages without the assent of the Allied and Associated Governments during three months, but only for commercial purposes, under supervision. During the same period Germany is not to build any more high-power wireless stations.