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FOREIGN TRADE ZONES

The development of Kiel after its union with the German Empire
is closely connected with the growth of the German Navy, and for
the last few decades before the World War ordinary commerce and
trade was of insignificant importance compared to the activities
directly connected with Kiel’s naval development. The entire
commercial and industrial activity of the city was confined to the
navy and the town’s own requirements.
During the war Kiel played a most important part as the chief
German naval base, and it was a center of naval construction for
smaller craft, such as submarines, torpedo boats, and other light
vessels.
The mutiny of the marines at Kiel on November 4, 1918, was the
initial impulse toward the general revolution and armistice. Since
the conclusion of hostilities Kiel’s extensive fortifications have been
razed and, of course, it no longer enjoys its previous prestige.
The limitation of the German Navy and the reduction of its personnel
 was naturally a severe blow to Kiel, and since the war the city
has turned to more pacific activities as a means of livelihood. The
shipyards have been devoting their efforts to the construction of
tankers and yachts, the industrial plants, which were formerly devoted
to naval purposes, are now turning out Diesel motors, motor railway
cars, gyrocompasses, automatic steering apparatus, sounding apparatus
 worked by echoes, underwater signaling apparatus, and other
technical products. * * *
The creation of Kiel’s free harbor was also the result of its efforts
to supplant the opportunities lost through the diminished naval establishment.
 New municipal harbors were erected partly by making
use of former naval plants, and it was in this way that the free harbor
originated.
The location of Kiel is such that, by the Kiel Canal, it is the most
castern North Sea port and at the same time the most western Baltic
Sea port, and hence no other German port, so Kiel claims, is so
favorably situated for carrying on a transshipment trade from trans.
Atlantic vessels to Baltic and vice versa.
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Location.—The free port at Kiel is located just south of the entrance
of the Kiel Canal into Kiel Bay. Itisknown as Wik Harbor * * *.
[t consists of two harbors separated by a wide pier.
Another free harbor at Kiel, to be known as the Vossbrook Harbor,
is partly under construction * * * When completed it will be
larger than the present Wik free port * * *
Dimensions and area of free zone.—The free harbor district has an
area of 6.3 hectares (15.6 acres) which is just as large as its water
basin,