The terms of the armistice were in substance as follows.  They demanded: 

Evacuation within thirty-one days of Belgium, France, Alsace-Lorraine, Luxemburg, Russia, Roumania and Turkey, all territory that had belonged to Austria-Hungary, and all territory held by German troops on the west bank of the Rhine.

Renunciation of the treaties of Brest-Litovsk and Bucharest.

Delivery to and occupation by American and allied troops within nineteen days, of Mayence, Coblenz and Cologne, together with their bridgeheads.  The bridgeheads include all German territory within a radius of eighteen miles on the east (German) bank of the Rhine, at each of these points.

The surrender of 5,000 cannon, 25,000 machine guns, 5,000 motor lorries, 8,000 flame throwers, 1,700 airplanes, 5,000 locomotives, 150,000 wagons (railway cars) and all the railways of Alsace-Lorraine.

Establishment of a neutral strip twenty-four miles wide on the east (German) side of the Rhine, paralleling that river from the Holland border to the border of Switzerland.

The return within fifteen days, of all inhabitants removed from invaded countries, including hostages and persons under trial or convicted.

Release of American and allied prisoners of war held by Germany—­the American and allied powers to retain all Germans held by them as prisoners of war.

Surrender of half of the German fleet to America and the allies, together with all submarines, other miscellaneous German ships, and all American and allied merchant ships held by Germany.  The other half of the German fleet to be disarmed and dismantled.

Notification to neutral countries by Germany that they are free to trade on the seas with America and the allied countries.

Access by way of Dantzig or the Vistula river, to all territory in the East evacuated by Germany.

Evacuation by all German forces in East Africa within a time to be fixed by the allies.

Restitution for all damage done by German forces.

Return of the funds taken by the Germans from the National Bank of
Belgium, and the gold taken from Russia and Roumania.

These terms, which not only constitute Germany’s unconditional surrender, but reduce Germany to a condition that absolutely prevents her resumption of war, form the base of the final treaty of peace.

CLOSING DAYS OF HOHENZOLLERN REIGN

Into the four months preceding November 11, 1918, were crammed events that drove the Germans back, deprived them of their allies, brought the utter collapse of Imperial government, drove the emperor into exile, saw a socialist republic set up with Berlin as its capital, brought the whole of what had been the empire to a state of seething unrest and change touched with the poison of bolshevism.  November 4, a memorable date, found Germany alone and unsupported against a world triumphant in arms.  All the laboriously built up structure of her military state was brought to a futile struggle for life, the whole vast fabric of her underground diplomacy, her intricate, world-penetrating spy system, her marvelously elaborate and totally unscrupulous propaganda, crumbled away; nothing remained of the earlier vigor but a memory—­that shall be a stench forever.