Chapter XIV: Part V: Military, Naval, and Aerial Clauses

'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

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.