8o DENMARK Area Denmark (proper) Faroe Isles....... 43,000 sq. km. 1,400,,,, Denmark (proper) (xi. 1930).. 3,551,000 Population... Faroe Isles (xi. 1930).. 24,000 Greenland (ix. 92 )..... 4,000 Density per sq. km. Denmark (proper)... 82.6 MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ARMED FORCES The armed forces of Denmark consist of the land army and the navy. The first is under the control of the Ministry of War and the last under that of the Ministry of the Marine. The air force is partly under the control of the land army and partly under that of the navy. The organisation of the Danish army is based on a principle similar to that of the militia system. Under the present army law, which was enacted in I922, the conscripts attached to the principal arms remain with the colours for an average period of 6 1/4 months only. One section of the armed forces, which is known as the Landstorm (militia), receives military instruction for a period of two months. With the exception, therefore, of one small section of the armed forces, Denmark does not possess a standing army in the strict sense of the term. I. Army. ORGANISATION AND COMPOSITION OF THE ARMY I. Higher units: 3 divisions. Each division comprises 3 or 4 infantry regiments, I cavalry regiment and i artillery regiment. The first division also includes the 2 battalions of Life Guards. 2. Arms and services. Infantry : II regiments, of which: 7 of 2 regular battalions and i reserve battalion and I auxiliary weapons company, 2 of I regular battalion and 2 reserve battalions and i auxiliary weapons company, 2 of 3 reserve battalions and i auxiliary weapons company.
DENMARK 81 Each battalion consists of 4 companies. Cavalry: 3 regiments, each consisting of 3 squadrons; i train section of 2 companies. Artillery : Field artillery: 3 regiments; Coast artillery: 7 companies, 2 of which belong to the reserve. The field artillery regiments consist of 4, 5 or 6 groups of 3 batteries each. These regiments include light artillery and heavy artillery. Engineers: 4 battalions (3 battalions of pioneers and i battalion of telegraphists). Air lorce : Air material. 1 (Extract from the communication from the Danish Government dated September 8th, I93I.) 2 Number of aeroplanes Total horse-power Land armed forces.. 46 i4,o00 Naval forces.... 32 ' I,00o Total..... 78 25,000 The Danish army further includes the technical corps, the intendance corps, the medical corps, the veterinary corps, etc. SUMMARY TABLE OF UNITS. Divisions Regiments Battalions Squadrons Corn- Batteries panies Act. Res. Act. Res. Act. Act. Res. Higher Units. 3. - Infantry... -- 8 3 71 182 I523-8 Cavalry.. - 3 - - - 9 Artillery:. Field... 3- - - Heavy... - - - - - 9 9 Light... -- -. -. 9 18 Coast.... - - -- - 7 - Total.... 3 - I - - 75 8 27 Engineers. - - 4-13 - Train 7.... - - - -- 2 - - 1 Including Life Guards. * Including active and 2 reserve battalions of Life Guards. * Including 12 companies of Life Guards. Including 4 regular artillery sections, 5 reserve light artillery sections, 3 regular heavy artillery sections and 3 reserve heavy artillery sections. Including 2 reserve companies. 6 Including 8 reserve companies. 7 The train is attached to the cavalry. 1 The scheme for the reorganisation of the armed forces of Denmark makes provision for a total of 24 aeroplanes, 12 belonging to the inspection service and 12 to the State navy, with a total horse-power of 9,840. 2 Document C.555.M.226.1 9 3 1.IX (Conf. D. 12). 3 Plus 6 captive balloons. 0
82 DENMARK VOLUNTEER CORPS: LANDSTORM The corps of volunteers organised and trained to assist the army may be attached to the army by agreement between the Minister and the corps concerned. The Landstorm is formed of men specially trained for the purpose during 2 months, of older untrained men who have belonged to the army or the navy but are no longer recalled, and, lastly, of men liable for military service who have received no military training. The troops forming the Landstorm are regarded as infantry, and in time of war must be employed as infantry units, if necessary after additional training. The formation of Landstorm units is maintained even in time of peace. RECRUITING SYSTEM AND PERIOD OF SERVICE Military service is compulsory. Conscripts undergo their first military training between the ages of i and 25. The men belonging to the first 8 classes form the regular army. Those in the second 8 classes form the reserve. TRAINING OF CONSCRIPTS. Infantry. - First period of training - I5o days. Recalls: two periods of repetition training of 28 days each during the first 8 years of service. The following in each class are retained for continuation training after the expiration of the I5o days : 9 per cent of the strength of each class for 12 months' training as cadet non-commissioned officers, and 1,120 private soldiers for go days. Life Guards. - First period of training - 305 days. Recalls: two periods of repetition training of 20 days each during the first 8 years of service. Forty cadet non-commissioned officers are selected from each class to follow a 7 months' course of instruction in addition to the initial period of 305 days. Cavalry : First period of training - 425 days. Recalls: two periods of repetition training of 28 days each during the first 8 years of service. Thirty men are selected for training as cadet non-commissioned officers, and their service is prolonged for 75 days beyond the regulation 425 days. Artillery : Field Artillery. - First period of training, 215 days. Recalls: two periods of repetition training, one of 28 days and another of 14 days during the first 8 years of service.
DENMARK 83 At the end of the regulation period of 215 days, go cadet N.C.O.s out of each class are retained for 12 months for continuation training, and I95 privates are kept for 195 days. Coast Artillery. - First period of training, 8 months. Recalls: two periods of repetition training of 14 days each. Forty-two men out of each class are retained for training as N.C.O.s and remain on service 8 months more. Engineers. - First period of training, 200 days. Recalls: two periods of repetition training of 20 days each during the first 8 years of service. At the end of the regulation period of 200 days, 32 cadet N.C.O.s are retained for a period of 355 days for continuation training, and 50 private soldiers are kept for a period of 210 days. The first period of training in the different branches varies from 9go to 365 days with two recalls, of 28 and 40 or 50 days each. Landstorm. - Conscripts to be posted to the Landstorm must only serve for 6o - days, and are not recalled for repetition, training. NUMBER OF MEN TRAINED ANNUALLY. Infantry... 4,400 Life Guards...... 440 Cavalry.... 300 Train... 260 Field artillery... I,II Coast artillery... 45 Engineers... 320 Technical corps... 90 Intendance corps....... 40 Hospital troops...... 90 Landstorm...,5oo In the medical service, the veterinary service, the farriery service and the corps of military workmen... according to necessity. RESULTS OF THE WORK OF THE ARMY RECRUITING BOARDS. 92 2927 2925 1 921/25 916/20 1911(/15 i 19 13 99926 u average average average Fit for active service 14,089 14,402 13,074 25,387 15,304 15,638 15,663 16,418 18,222 14,901 Less fit, though capable of active service... 7,185 7,440 7,467 7,729 6,639 5,870 5,509 5,12I 3,416 2,904 Put back for reexamination... 4,457 4,786 5,366 5,130 5,435 5,073 5,286 5,350 4,9Io0 6,8o01 Total number of men unfit for service... 12,324 11,576 12,394 11ii,610io 10,470 10,251 io0,o8 9,671 8,146 7,405 Total number examined... 38,055 38,204 38,30I 39,856 37,848 36,832 36,476 36,560 34,694 32,011 Number found unfit for service per ioo men finally examined.... 36.6 34.6 37.6 33.4 32.3 32.3 32.1 31.0 27.4 29.5
84 DENMARK RECRUITING OF N.C.O.s AND OFFICERS. No one can become an officer or an N.C.O. without having been trained as a private. Lance-corporals and corporals are appointed by the commander of the unit. Comets and second-lieutenants are appointed by the War Minister. Sergeants of reserve are also appointed and discharged by the War Minister, and are liable for service for one year after the conclusion of the Sergeants' School course, and afterwards for 30 days each year. Regular officers and permanent officers of the reserves of the rank of captain or upwards are appointed, promoted and discharged by order of the King. EFFECTIVES OF THE ARMED FORCES (1930-193I.) (Extract from the communication from the Danish Government dated September 8th, I93I.) Other effectives Total effectives Officers who have completed at least 14 months 5 of service Land armed forces. 8,093 2 1,574 3 720 Formations organised on a military basis. 335 4 5 4 330 Air armed forces: Land army.... o09 66 Naval forces... 128-71 The Danish Government has submitted to the Rigsdag a Bill for the reorganisation of the country's armed forces. This Bill was passed in the Folketing on March IIth, I93I, but has not yet been adopted by the Landsting. According to this scheme, the land and sea forces of Denmark will be converted into an Inspection Service and a State navy, with the following effectives: I Land armed forces...,i82 (including 221 6 officers). Frontier police.... 535 (including 7 officers). Air armed forces... I ioo (50 attached to the Inspection Service already included in the land armed forces, and 50 attached to the State navy). Document C. 5 5.M.226.193I.IX 5 (Conf. D. I2). 2 As 'a result of an exceptional postponement of the calling out of effectives for additional service, the effectives for I930-31 are below normal (10,942). The expenditure is, in consequence, correspondingly reduced. 3 Comprising 625 officers and officials ranking as such, and 949 persons belonging to the special corps officianter and officials ranking as such. 4 Frontier police (Law No. 174 of June 3oth, 1927, as amended by Law of December 23rd, I930). 5 For effectives belonging to the naval air force: 6 months. 6 123 officers and officials ranking as such, and 98 warrant officers and officials ranking as such.
DENMARK 85 On mobilisation, the force will have at its disposal a total of 740 officers and N.C.O.s of the regular and reserve forces. By the terms of the scheme, i,6oo men will receive instruction every year : 1,44o for 4 months, and i6o for 5 1/2 months. Of these 1,6oo men, io per cent will receive additional instruction as N.C.O. cadets. By calling up twelve classes, the corps will have I6,ooo men at its disposal on mobilisation. The 1,600oo men who receive instruction each year will be chosen by lot from able-bodied men who have not declared their desire to be exempted from military service. HI. Navy. (I930-1931.) (Extract from the communication from the Danish Government dated September 8th, I931.) 1 NUMBER OF UNITS AND TONNAGE Tonnage 3 armoured coast-defence vessels.. 10,297 i armoured coast-defence vessel with guns of 6.i inches (155 mm.) and less 3,400 ii submarines.... 2,511 Total.... 6,2o8 The Danish navy further includes the following vessels which are exempt under the draft Convention of the Preparatory Commission for Disarmament: Nine torpedo-boats with a total tonnage of 2,250 tons; 8 patrolvessels and 6 sweepers with a total tonnage of 1,526 tons; 3 minelayers and I submarine dep6t ship, with a total tonnage of 1,460 tons. Special vessels (fishery service, etc.), 4,063 tons. Note. - Of the Danish navy's 4 armoured coast-defence vessels, 3 were launched in 1899, 1903 and 1908, and the fourth in 1918. Of ii submarines, 6, with a total tonnage of I,04I tons, were launched between I912 and I916 ; of the other 5, 3 were launched between I918 and I920 and 2 in I925 and 1926. According to the scheme for the reorganisation of the armed forces of Denmark, the navy will consist of only 3 coast-defence vessels, with a total tonnage of 5,300 tons, 3 inspection vessels, with a total tonnage of 2,700 tons, together with a certain number of vessels which are exempt under the draft Convention of the Preparatory Commission for Disarmament, and special vessels (i8 to 24 patrol-boats, etc., with a total tonnage of 3,600 tons, and 2 vessels for carrying material). Document C.555.M.226.19 3 r.ix (Conf. D. 12).
86 DENMARK EFFECTIVES OF THE NAVAL FORCES (Extract from the communication from the Danish Government dated September 8th, I931.) 1 Total effectives... 1,700 2 Officers... 452 2 Other effectives who have completed at least 6 months of service... i,o6o According to the scheme for the reorganisation of the armed forces of Denmark, the total effectives of the naval forces would be 1,450 officers and seamen, including air forces attached to the State navy. III. Expenditure on National Defence. i. ACTUAL EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR i930-31. (Extract from the communication from the Danish Government, dated September 8th, I93I.)1 Land forces Naval forces Air forces Total Effectives... 17.2 7.3 o.8 25.3 Transport.2.2 1.3 0.2 3.7 Buildings... 2.8 0.6 0.2 3.6 War material... 6.o 5.1 i.6 12.7 Total.,. 28.2 I4.3 2.8 45.3 NOTES. - I. In addition to the expenditure shown in the table, the budget estimates and the accounts of Denmark contain expenditure for interest and depreciation in respect of military buildings. These expenses amounted for the year I930-31 to 6.6 million Kroner. 2. Expenditure in respect of pensions for the year I930-3i amounted to: Kroner I. Military personnel: (ooo,ooo's) (a) Service pensions... 7.8 (b) Invalidity pensions....... 0.2 (c) Mixed pensions... o.i II. Civil personnel : Pensions... i.r III. War pensions - i.e., pensions granted to disabled ex-soldiers and to the families of soldiers deceased during or as a result of the world war, for whom Denmark assumed responsibility at the time of the retrocession of North Slesvig in 1920. 3.4 IV. Pensions or other compensation granted, apart from the regulations regarding normal pensions, for premature retirement, discharge or loss of office resulting from a reduction of the forces... 1 Document C. 5 55.M.226.1931..IX (Conf. D. 12). 2 Including air force personnel. Including officers, warrant officers, mechanics and medical officers.
DENMARK 87 BUDGET EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEARS I925-26 TO I930-3I. The data in the table below are from earlier editions of the Armaments Year- Book. These data should not be compared with those in the foregoing table, which are based on the answer of the Danish Government in response to the Council's request for information concerning the state of its armaments (see Preface, page 5). I925-26 1926-27 11927-28 1928-29 1929-30 1930-31 Closed accounts Estimates Ministry of War.342 30.7 26.8 30.3 29.7 29.1 Ministry of the Marine.6.8 15.5 23.6 14.7 17.3 23.6 Military establishments (deficit) 0.7 I.' 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 Ministry of the Interior, (recruiting, medical inspection and billeting) 1.5 i.3. 3. 5 i.3 i.3 Capital movement... - - 0.3 2.2 0.7 Total......... 53.2 48.6 42.2 47. I 49.7 44.9 Index numbers of : Wholesale prices (2923 = ioo)... 192 i6i 153 153 146 226 Retail prices: Cost of living (July 1914 = ioo)... 183' 177 174 272 1643 Series not calculated for earlier periods. 2Average, April 2930 to January 1932. a Average of April, July, October 1930 and January 1931. NOTES. - i. Expenditure on the air force is included in that of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of the Marine. 2. The figures of the defence budgets are shown net, as the administrative receipts are set off against expenditure. The total receipts of the army and the navy deducted in this way amounted to: 1925-26 1926-27 1927-28 1928-29 1929-30 1930-32 Closed accounts Estimates 0.6 0.6 i.o 2.5 2.6 2.5 3- The figures in the table above do not include contributions to pensions or expenditure on interest and depreciation, charged to the budgets of the Ministry of War and the Ministry of the Marine. Contributions to pensions amounted to: I925-26 j I926-27 1 I927-28 1 I928-29 I929-30 I930-321 Closed accounts Estimates Ministry of War...... 0. 0.5 o.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Ministry of the Marine.... 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2
88 DENMARK In addition to these, pensions charges are shown under a special chapter of the budget, jointly with civil pensions. 4. The expenditure of the Ministry of the Marine shown above represents only that on naval services and not on civil services charged to that Ministry. The expenditure on civil services comprises that on lighthouse service, coastguard, pilotage, salvage service, hydrographical and meteorological service. This expenditure amounted to: 1925-26 1926-27 1927-28 1928-29 1929-30 1930-31 Closed accounts Estimates Civil services under the Ministry of the Marine... 6.8 6.3 6. o 6.7 7.2 7.2 5. The salaries of the Ministers of War and the Marine - amounting to about I8,ooo Kroner each - are not included in the expenditure of those Ministries, but in that of the Ministry of State (Presidence of the Council). 6. The State contributes to private rifle clubs. This contribution, charged to the Ministry of the Interior, amounts to o.i million Kroner each year.