E. Naval Conditions
20. Immediate cessation of all hostilities at sea and definite information to be given as to the location and movements of all German ships. Notification to be given to Neutrals that freedom of navigation in all territorial waters is given to the naval and mercantile marines of the Allied and Associated Powers, all questions of neutrality being waived.
21. Release, without reciprocity, of all prisoners of war in German hands belonging to the navies and mercantile marines of the Allied and Associated Powers.
22. Surrender to the Allies and United States of all existing submarines (including all submarine cruisers and all minelayers) with armament and equipment complete, in ports specified by the Allies and United States. Those which cannot put to sea shall be paid off and disarmed, and shall remain under the supervision of the Allies and the United States. Submarines which are ready to put to sea shall be prepared to leave German ports as soon as orders are received by wireless for them to proceed to the port of surrender, and the rest shall follow as soon as possible. The conditions of this clause shall be fulfilled within fourteen days after the signature of the armistice.
23. The following German surface warships, which shall be designated by the Allies and the United States, shall forthwith be disarmed and thereafter interned in neutral ports, or, failing these, in Allied ports designated by the Allies and the United States, only guards being left on board, namely:-
6 battle cruisers.
10 battleships.
8 light cruisers, including two mine layers.
50 destroyers of the most modern types.
All other surface warships (including river craft) shall be concentrated in German naval bases to be designated by the Allies and the United States, completely disarmed, and there placed under the supervision of the Allies and the United States. All vessels of the auxiliary fleet shall be disarmed. All vessels selected for internment shall be ready to leave German ports seven days after the signature of the armistice. Sailing orders shall be given by wireless.
24. The Allies and the United States of America shall have the right to sweep all mine-fields and obstructions laid by Germany outside German territorial waters. The position of such minefields and obstructions is to be indicated.
25. Freedom of access to and egress from the Baltic to be given to the naval and mercantile marines of the Allied and Associated Powers; to secure this the Allies and the United States shall be empowered to occupy all German forts, fortifications, batteries, and defence works of all kinds in all the channels from the Cattegat into the Baltic, and to sweep and destroy all mines and obstructions within and without German territorial waters. The plans and exact positions of the above shall be furnished by Germany, who may not raise any question of neutrality.
26. The existing blockade conditions set up by the Allied and Associated Powers shall remain unchanged, and all German merchant ships met at sea shall remain liable to capture. The Allies and the United States contemplate the provisioning of Germany, during the armistice, to such extent as shall be found necessary.
27. All aircraft shall be concentrated and immobilized in German bases specified by the Allied Powers and the United States.
28. In evacuating the Belgian coast and ports, Germany shall leave in situ and intact all harbour material and material for inland navigation, all merchant craft, tugs, and barges, all naval aircraft, equipment and stores, together with all armament, equipment, and stores of every description.
29. All Black Sea ports are to be evacuated by Germany; Russian warships of all descriptions seized by Germany in the Black Sea are to be handed over to the Allies and the United States; all neutral merchant ships seized are to be released; war and other materials of all kinds seized in those ports are to be returned, and German material as specified in Clause 28 is to be abandoned.
30. All merchant ships now in German hands belonging to the Allied and Associated Powers are to be restored, without reciprocity, in ports specified by the Allies and the United States.
31. No destruction of ships or of material to be permitted before evacuation, surrender, or restoration.
32. The German Government shall formally notify the neutral Governments, and particularly the Governments of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Holland, that all restrictions imposed on the trading of their vessels with the Allied and Associated countries, whether by the German Government or by private German interests, and whether in return for specific concessions, such as the export of shipbuilding materials, or not, are immediately cancelled.
33. No transfers of German merchant shipping of any description to any neutral flag are to take place after the signature of the Armistice.
Source: CD 9212, Conditions of an Armistice with Germany signed November 11, 1918, His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1918.
