The End of the First World War

Early Bolshevik Decrees, Late 1917

As soon as they entered power, the Bolsheviks condemned the Provisional Government for not pulling the country out of the war or instigating any meaningful reform. The Bolsheviks wanted to show the people that they were different by issuing a series of decrees (laws).

Condemnation of the Provisional Government

The Bolsheviks only had real power in a few large cities in the first month of the new government. They also needed to find a solution to Russia’s involvement in the war.
They started by condemning the Provisional Government for not pulling Russia out of the war or instigating any meaningful reform.

The Decree on Peace, November 1917

The Decree on Peace was passed by the All-Russian Congress. The decree called for all countries in the war to begin peace talks.
The congress wanted no annexation or reparations (fines imposed by the victors) as part of any peace treaties.
This was a good way to take decisive action which would be popular amongst workers and soldiers.

The Decree on Land, November 1917

On the 8th November, the decree on land called for land to be taken from landowners and given to peasants.
Although this had happened informally already during the unrest in the previous few months, this gave legal backing for these actions.
In December, land owned by the church was nationalised (taken into control of the state).

Decrees on Workers’ Rights, November/December 1917

The decree on work introduced an eight-hour working day and a forty-eight hour week and the decree on unemployment introduced insurance for the unemployed, injured or ill.
The decree on workers’ control formalised workers’ committees’ authority to run factories.
The decree on nationalities of November 1917 allowed the national minorities of the old empire to rule themselves in their own language, whilst staying under control of Petrograd.

Outcome of the decrees

The Soviets across the nation supported these decrees, as people felt they were experiencing the dawn of a new Russia.
Symbolically, titles were abolished, and ‘Your honour’ and ‘Your excellency’ were banned and replaced with ‘Comrade’.
Overall, the decrees were seen as a unifying force and helped to rally non-Bolsheviks behind the new regime.

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

As Commissar for War, Trotsky’s role was to negotiate Russia’s exit from the First World War.

Background

Trotsky wanted to end the fighting but did not want to surrender given the pressure the Germans were putting on the Russians.
- The capital was moved to Moscow as the Germans got closer to Petrograd.
Wanting to continue the war against the Bolsheviks’ wishes, the Left SRs walked out of the government.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

In March 1918, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed, making peace with Germany.
Russia lost Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Georgia, and parts of Poland. This included 26% of its population, over a quarter of its farmland and railroads.
It also lost huge amounts of industrial areas, including 74% of its iron and coal supplies.
Germany imposed reparations (fines) of 300 million Russian roubles.

Why did the Bolsheviks agree?

The Bolsheviks agreed to this because they needed a quick end to the war to give them space to set up their own system of rule in Russia.
- They also needed to concentrate on dealing with the enormous amount of internal opposition they faced.
The Bolsheviks did not believe the treaty would last long, as they predicted that revolutions would be sparked across Europe.

A humiliation

Soldiers were relieved, as they no longer had to fight in the war.
In fact, the treaty was extremely humiliating for Russia, and provided fuel for the Bolsheviks’ enemies who felt the government needed to be overthrown in order to restore Russian greatness.
The nationalists were particularly offended at Russia's humiliation.

1The End of Tsardom

1.1Russia's Economy & Society

1.1.1Industrialisation

1.1.2Living & Working Conditions

1.2Nicholas II's Autocracy & the Court

1.2.1Growth of Revolutionary Opposition

1.2.2The 1905 Revolution & the October Manifesto

1.2.3Reforming Russia Before 1914 - Stolypin

1.2.4The Duma & Political Stalemate

1.3The First World War

1.3.1The Impact of Military Defeats

1.3.2Social & Economic Effects of WW1

1.3.3Romanov Unpopularity

1.3.4The Tsar's Abdication

1.3.5Top Grade AO2/3 - The End of Tsardom

2Lenin's New Society

2.1The Provisional Government

2.1.1The Failure of the Government

2.1.2Social & Economic Problems

2.1.3Lenin & Trotsky

2.1.4The Growth of the Bolsheviks

2.1.5The October / November Revolution

2.1.6Top Grade AO2/3 - The Provisional Government

2.2The Impact of Lenin's Dictatorship

2.2.1The End of the First World War

2.2.2The Cheka

2.2.3Red Terror & Centralisation

2.2.4The Civil War & The Red Army

2.2.5Propaganda

2.2.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Early Bolshevism & the Civil War

2.3Social & Economic Developments

2.3.1War Communism

2.3.2The Kronstadt Rising

2.3.3The New Economic Policy (NEP)

2.3.4The Achievements of Lenin & Trotsky

2.3.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Social & Economic Developments

3Stalin's USSR

3.1Stalin the Dictator

3.1.1The Power Struggle to Succeed Lenin

3.1.2The Communist Party & Government

3.1.3The Terror & the Purges

3.1.4The Secret Police

3.1.5Cult of Personality

3.1.6Propaganda & Censorship under Stalin

3.1.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Stalin's Dictatorship

3.2Stalin's Modernisation of the USSR

3.2.1Collectivisation

3.2.2Five Year Plans

3.2.3Social & Economic Consequences

3.2.4Social & Economic Consequences 2

3.2.5The Extent of Modernisation

3.3Impact of the Second World War

3.3.1Stalin's Wartime Leadership

3.3.2Political, Economic & Social Consequences of War

3.3.3Top Grade AO2/3 - Modernisation of the USSR

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