MILITARY, NAVAL AND AIR
In order to render possible the initiation of a general limitation of
the armaments of all nations, Germany undertakes directly to observe the
military, naval, and air clauses which follow.
MILITARY FORCES
[Sidenote: German Army to be demobilized.]
The demobilization of the German Army must take place within two months
of the peace. Its strength may not exceed 100,000, including 4,000
officers, with not over seven divisions of infantry and three of
cavalry, and to be devoted exclusively to maintenance of internal order
and control of frontiers. Divisions may not be grouped under more than
two army corps headquarters staffs. The great German General Staff is
abolished. The army administrative service, consisting of civilian
personnel not included in the number of effectives, is reduced to
one-tenth the total in the 1913 budget. Employees of the German States,
such as customs officers, first guards, and coast guards, may not exceed
the number in 1913. Gendarmes and local police may be increased only in
accordance with the growth of population. None of these may be assembled
for military training.
ARMAMENTS
[Sidenote: Munition works to be closed.]
All establishments for the manufacturing, preparation, storage, or
design of arms and munitions of war, except those specifically excepted,
must be closed within three months of the peace, and their personnel
dismissed. The exact amount of armament and munitions allowed Germany is
laid down in detail tables, all in excess to be surrendered or rendered
useless. The manufacture or importation of asphyxiating, poisonous, or
other gases and all analogous liquids is forbidden as well as the
importation of arms, munitions, and war materials. Germany may not
manufacture such materials for foreign governments.
CONSCRIPTION
[Sidenote: Conscription to be abolished in Germany.]
Conscription is abolished in Germany. The enlisted personnel must be
maintained by voluntary enlistments for terms of twelve consecutive
years, the number of discharges before the expiration of that term not
in any year to exceed 5 per cent of the total effectives. Officers
remaining in the service must agree to serve to the age of 45 years, and
newly appointed officers must agree to serve actively for twenty-five
years.
No military schools except those absolutely indispensable for the units
allowed shall exist in Germany two months after the peace. No
associations such as societies of discharged soldiers, shooting or
touring clubs, educational establishments or universities may occupy
themselves with military matters. All measures of mobilization are
forbidden.
FORTRESSES
[Sidenote: Fortifications in Rhine to be dismantled.]
All fortified works, fortresses, and field works situated in German
territory within a zone of fifty kilometers east of the Rhine will be
dismantled within three months. The construction of any new
fortifications there is forbidden. The fortified works on the southern
and eastern frontiers, however, may remain.
CONTROL
[Sidenote: Interallied commissions of control.]
Interallied commissions of control will see to the execution of the
provisions for which a time limit is set, the maximum named being three
months. They may establish headquarters at the German seat of Government
and go to any part of Germany desired. Germany must give them complete
facilities, pay their expenses, and also the expenses of execution of
the treaty, including the labor and material necessary in demolition,
destruction or surrender of war equipment.
NAVAL
[Sidenote: German navy to be demobilized.]
The German navy must be demobilized within a period of two months after
the peace. She will be allowed 6 small battleships, 6 light cruisers, 12
destroyers, 12 torpedo boats, and no submarines, either military or
commercial, with a personnel of 15,000 men, including officers, and no
reserve force of any character. Conscription is abolished, only
voluntary service being permitted, with a minimum period of 25 years
service for officers and 12 for men. No member of the German mercantile
marine will be permitted any naval training.
[Sidenote: German war vessels that must be surrendered.]
All German vessels of war in foreign ports and the German high sea fleet
interned at Scapa Flow will be surrendered, the final disposition of
these ships to be decided upon by the allied and associated powers.
Germany must surrender 42 modern destroyers, 50 modern torpedo boats,
and all submarines, with their salvage vessels. All war vessels under
construction, including submarines, must be broken up. War vessels not
otherwise provided for are to be placed in reserve, or used for
commercial purposes. Replacement of ships except those lost can take
place only at the end of 20 years for battleships and 15 years for
destroyers. The largest armored ship Germany will be permitted will be
10,000 tons.
[Sidenote: To sweep up mines.]
Germany is required to sweep up the mines in the North Sea and the
Baltic Sea, as decided upon by the Allies. All German fortifications in
the Baltic, defending the passages through the belts, must be
demolished. Other coast defenses are permitted, but the number and
caliber of the guns must not be increased.
WIRELESS
[Sidenote: German wireless messages only for commercial purposes.]
During a period of three months after the peace German high power
wireless stations at Nauen, Hanover, and Berlin will not be permitted to
send any messages except for commercial purposes, and under supervision
of the allied and associated Governments, nor may any more be
constructed.
CABLES
[Sidenote: To renounce title to cables.]
Germany renounces all title to specified cables, the value of such as
were privately owned being credited to her against reparation
indebtedness.
Germany will be allowed to repair German submarine cables which have
been cut but are not being utilized by the allied powers, and also
portions of cables which, after having been cut, have been removed, or
are at any rate not being utilized by any one of the allied and
associated powers. In such cases the cables, or portions of cables,
removed or utilized remain the property of the allied and associated
powers, and accordingly fourteen cables or parts of cables are specified
which will not be restored to Germany.
AIR
[Sidenote: Air personnel to be demobilized.]
The armed forces of Germany must not include any military or naval air
forces except for not over 100 unarmed seaplanes to be retained till
October 1 to search for submarine mines. No dirigible shall be kept. The
entire air personnel is to be demobilized within two months, except for
1,000 officers and men retained till October. No aviation grounds or
dirigible sheds are to be allowed within 150 kilometers of the Rhine, or
the eastern or southern frontiers, existing installations within these
limits to be destroyed. The manufacture of aircraft and parts of
aircraft is forbidden for six months. All military and naval
aeronautical material under a most exhaustive definition must be
surrendered within three months, except for the 100 seaplanes already
specified.
PRISONERS OF WAR
[Sidenote: Repatriation of German prisoners and interned civilians.]
The repatriation of German prisoners and interned civilians is to be
carried out without delay and at Germany's expense by a commission
composed of representatives of the Allies and Germany. Those under
sentence for offenses against discipline are to be repatriated without
regard to the completion of their sentences. Until Germany has
surrendered persons guilty of offenses against the laws and customs of
war, the Allies have the right to retain selected German officers. The
Allies may deal at their own discretion with German nationals who do not
desire to be repatriated, all repatriation being conditional on the
immediate release of any allied subjects still in Germany. Germany is to
accord facilities to commissions of inquiry in collecting information in
regard to missing prisoners of war and of imposing penalties on German
officials who have concealed allied nationals. Germany is to restore all
property belonging to allied prisoners. There is to be a reciprocal
exchange of information as to dead prisoners and their graves.
GRAVES
[Sidenote: Graves to be respected and maintained.]
Both parties will respect and maintain the graves of soldiers and
sailors buried on their territories, agree to recognize and assist any
commission charged by any allied or associate Government with
identifying, registering, maintaining or erecting suitable monuments
over the graves, and to afford to each other all facilities for the
repatriation of the remains of their soldiers.