The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Question 1

What did Lenin tell his comrades in September 1917 in regards to the need to leave WWI?

Answer 1

“To secure a truce at present means to conquer the whole world.”

Question 2

Why did Lenin strongly advocate for the end of the war?

Answer 2

Russian soldiers had been tricked into fighting Austrian and German fellows, should be overthrowing capitalists.
Decree on Peace was acclaimed amongst workers, soldiers, and peasants.
Lenin believed obtaining peace would strengthen Russia’s revolution to inspire ones elsewhere.

Question 3

When was a ceasefire negotiated in 1917?

Answer 3

2 December

Question 4

What divisions emerged amongst the Bolsheviks in relation to the war with Germany?

Answer 4

Faction led by Bukharin becomes known as Left Communists, supported by Left SRs. Believed in a ‘revolutionary war.’ Treaty would endorse German imperialism. Argued ‘revolutionary consciousness’ of the proletariat would be roused by German invasion;Germans defeated; socialist revolution launched.

Question 5

How did Lenin argue against Left Communists and Left SRs? Who was he supported by?

Answer 5

“Germant is still only pregnant with revolution; and a quite healthy child has been born to us - a socialist republic which we may kill…” The people, Stalin, Sverdlov.

Question 6

What was Trotsky’s position on war with Germany?

Answer 6

“Neither peace nor war.”

Question 7

When did Trotsky lead negotiations with German High Command? What was his position?

Answer 7

Late December - February 1917-18. Commissar of Foreign Affairs.

Question 8

How did Trotsky stall negotiations with Germans?

Answer 8

Give the impression of signing a treaty, then would reject them.
Bolshevik agitators spread revolutionary ideas amongst German troops, fraternisation between two camps, encouraged to “turn imperialist war into civl war.”
Trotsky called for a fair and equitable peace with the German public as well as the German government.

Question 9

Why did Trotsky think Germany was on the brink of revolution?

Answer 9

In late January German workers went on strike to protest immediate peace with Russian without annexation or indemnities.

Question 10

What was the ultimatum issued by Germany in February? What was Trotsky’s response?

Answer 10

Bolsheviks are forced to either accept terms on offer or have hostilities resume.
Trotsky declares Russia would pull out of the war but would not sign a German peace treaty.

Question 11

When did Germans launch an offensive in February 1918? How many troops did they deploy? What was the impact?

Answer 11

18 Feb. 700 000.

Germany army met no resistance, Bolshevik government thrown into disarray.

Question 12

What happened on 12 March 1918?

Answer 12

Capital is moved from Petrograd to Moscow.

Question 13

How did a historian describe the issue of German invasion in Feb-March 1918?

Answer 13

“Most profound crisis within the party during Lenin’s years as head of state.” Rabinowitch

Question 14

How did Lenin coerce the Bolsheviks to agree with him to sign a treaty?

Answer 14

Threatened to resign

Question 15

When did the Soviet Government tell Berlin they were willing to sign a treaty?What was the response?

Answer 15

19 February 1918.

German troops continue marching and do not reply for three days.

Question 16

When did Germany set forth a new treaty? How was it different?

Answer 16

22 February 1918. Much harsher.

Question 17

What happened on 3 March 1918?

Answer 17

Sovnarkom signs the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

Question 18

What did the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk entail?

Answer 18

34% of Russian’s European population taken out of their control (62 million).
Russia gives up 32% of its farmland, including ‘breadbasket’ Ukraine.
German forces gain control of Poland and Baltic region.
Russia pays 3 billion roubles in war reparations.
o Russia looses 89% of its iron ore and coal reserves, 54% of its industrial enterprises, and 26% of its railways.

Question 19

Who did the Treaty of BL anger?

Answer 19

Former tsarist generals, and the banned Kadet party.

Question 20

How was the Treaty of BL a setback for Bolsheviks and Left SRs?

Answer 20

Cease in revolutionary ideals spread against German and Austrian governments.
Withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, Latvia, and Estonia; kills off newly formed Soviet authorities in Baltic states.
German forces overthrow workers soviets and install conservative puppet regimes.

Question 21

How did Trotsky respond to the Treaty of BL?

Answer 21

Refused to sign, resigns as commissar of foreign affairs and becomes commissar of war.

Question 22

What was held from 6-8 March 1918? What occurred there?

Answer 22

Seventh Party Congress. Lenin rails against his opponents for the formal ratification of a treaty.

Question 23

Lenin: “If the new terms are worse…it is our pseudo-‘Lefts’…

Answer 23

who are guilty…You were offered the Brest terms and you replies by blustering and swaggering, which lead to worse terms.”

Question 24

What occurred on 15 March 1918?

Answer 24

Treaty of BL ratified by Fourth Congress of Soviets.

Question 25

How do Left SRs respond to the ratification of the Treaty? What was the effect?

Answer 25

Resign from Sovnarkom government on 19 March 1918.

Bolsheviks hold all control of the government.

Question 26

What occurred on 11 November 1918? Why?

Answer 26

Germany surrenders.

U.S.A had entered the war and Allies renewed their campaign.

Question 27

When did the Communists renounce the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk after Germany’s surrender? What was the effect?

Answer 27

13 November 1918.

Lenin seen as a wise leader.