SAR 20#2

system), 18,000 carbines (Mauser 98
system) and 1,863 machine guns. Surplus
weapons had to be handed over
to the victors (although they often disappeared)
and new developments were
forbidden. The disarming of the people
was also planned to reduce the danger
of armed revolts provoked from different
political groups.
In midyear of 1920 the general disarming
of the German and Austrian
people was announced by the victorious
powers. At a meeting of the German
general staff on July 11, 1920 General
von Seeckt told the other participants
that about 2,700,000 rifles will have to
be collected. About 600,000 of them are
in the hands of the Einwohnerwehren
(citizens’ militia). He also suggested
they offer rewards for weapons that are
handed over, or for information about
hidden weapons.
No date was fixed yet, but the German
War Office reacted promptly. On
August 4, 1920 the instruction number
959 (with date August 1) “Marking of
hand weapons and machine guns of the
Reichswehr before the general disarming
of the people” was published in the
“Heeres-Verordnungsblatt” (Army Ordinances
Gazette): The impending disarming
makes it necessary for the army
district commands to mark all the weapons
in their possession, including cavalry
units and military schools, with an
unique distinctive identification-symbol.
This ensured that during the collection,
all weapons owned by the Reichswehr
could easily be identified in the cases
that they are found in the hands of unauthorized
persons. The Annex of the
instruction shows in graphics where the
new identification-marking “1920” has
to be placed on rifles, pistols, machine
guns and their mounts, submachine
guns, sabers, bayonets and lances.
At the end of August, a reminder was
published in the Army Ordinances Gazette
to accelerate the marking of the
weapons because the disarming action
“is expected very shortly”.
A more detailed explanation on how
to handle the marking was published in
the Army Ordinances Gazette on September
28, 1920 as instruction number
1123 “Marking of weapons of the Reichswehr
/ Handing over of privately
owned military weapons by disarma-
OPPOSITE PAGE AND ABOVE TOP: Today the German Karabiner 98a
can more often been found on the market with the "1920" marking than
the Gewehr 98. The exact position of the mark on the receiver may vary.
ABOVE CENTER: Bringing tears into collectors eyes: A pile of German
weapons less all wooden parts, waiting for the furnace. Don't think about
the value of this pile on the market today. ABOVE: Freikorps fighting in Berlin
in November 1918. Note the Gewehr 98 and the Mauser Broomhandle.
WWW.SMALLARMSREVIEW.COM 77 SAR Vol. 20, No. 2