17.5.2

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

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The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

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

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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.
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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.
  • It also lost huge amounts of industrial areas.
  • Germany imposed reparations (fines) of 300 million Russian rubles.
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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.
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A humiliation

  • 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.

Jump to other topics

1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5Medieval Religion

1.6The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12European Renaissance

1.13Norman Conquest & Control

1.14Historical Skills

2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4King John

2.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6The Black Death

3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Russian Revolution: 1917 AD

18The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

19World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

20The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

21Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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