R2.4 Foreign relations

Question 1

When was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?

Answer 1

March 1918

Question 2

What did the allies expect of Bolsheviks?

Answer 2

Wanted to see them strangled at birth, but surprisingly it became apparent that new relationships were needed

Question 3

What key events happened 1918?

Answer 3

March- Treaty
August - Allied forces land north Russia and Far East
November - Armistice to end WW1

Question 4

What key events happened 1919?

Answer 4

March- Russia excluded from Paris Peace Conference, first comintern congress moscow
June - US forces start to withdraw
August - British naval assault petrograd

Question 5

What key events happened 1920?

Answer 5

March- Withdrawal of allied forces from south russia
August- Westward advance of red army halted at Warsaw
November- Bolshevik state given recognition by Britain

Question 6

What key events happened 1921?

Answer 6

March- Treaty of Riga end Russo-Polish war

Question 7

What key events happened 1922?

Answer 7

April- Treaty of Rapallo moves Russia away from diplomatic isolation

Question 8

Why was there foreign intervention during civil war?

Answer 8

-Allies wanted whites to win so Russia would stay in war and stop Germany moving troops
-Didn’t want bolsheviks in control of their lent supplies
-Western nations had confused aims (little coordination)
-Britain supported Bolshevism in Trade union movement

Question 9

What was impact of foreign intervention of civil war?

Answer 9

Little impact,
-Most foreign intervention too small scale
-Major intervention like Japanese invasion of eastern Siberia, didn’t threaten Bolshevik control as in far east
-Foreign support for whites helped them achieve initial advances

Question 10

What did Britain do after recognising Bolshevik Russia?

Answer 10

Establish trade talks november 1920

Question 11

Describe the first Comintern congress

Answer 11

Moscow, March 1921, Lenin promoted soviet system as best way of spreading Marxism. Positive outlook by delegates, delegates convinced worldwide communist revolution imminent

Question 12

Describe second comintern congress

Answer 12

Petrograd, July-August 1920, Lenins 21 conditions: requirement to become member of comintern. Mixed response, many parties broke away because of the conditions but bolshevik victory in civil war looked certain

Question 13

Described Third comintern Congress

Answer 13

Moscow, June-July 1921. Addressed recovery of bourgeoisie in countries like Poland and Germany. Disappointed. Expected views of revolutions turned into support for bourgeoisie democracies. Such as Germany’s Weimar Republic. Bolshevik Russia left alone.

Question 14

How did 3rd congress comintern affect Bolshevik views?

Answer 14

Shift from world revolution to concentrate instead on rebuilding economy of Russia.

Question 15

What was the Russo-Polish war?

Answer 15

Lenin expected Poland to have its proletariat revolution. As it failed, his plans were undermined.
-Poland independent after ww1 November 1918
-Borders of Poland contested with Poland and Russia wanting more territory

Question 16

How did the Russo=Polish war end?

Answer 16

In March 1921 the Treaty of Riga

Question 17

What were Key articles of the 1922 Treaty of Rapallo

Answer 17

-Russia and Germany agreed to dismiss claims for compensation during ww1
-Formal diplomatic relations
-Mutual goodwill in commercial relations

Question 18

What was the Zinoviev letter?

Answer 18

In 1923, Labour government formed in Britain, aroused opposition from British that loathed socialism. Zinoviev letter published October 1924, forged to reduce votes for labour party in election.

Question 19

What were properties of the ZInoviev letter?

Answer 19

-Letter called for trade deals and said it was time to organise revolution in Britain. Idea was that people would not vote Labour once they heard Soviet Union wasn’t giving orders to Labour.
-Damaged relations between Britain and Soviet Union