Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and the First Soviet Constitution

Question 1

Terms of Brest-Litovsk - People Lost

Answer 1

62 million (a sixth of the country’s entire population)

Question 2

Terms of Brest-Litovsk - Land Lost

Answer 2

2 million square km (responsible for a third of the country’s overall agricultural production)

Question 3

Terms of Brest-Litovsk - Railway Lines Lost

Answer 3

One quarter of the entire country’s

Question 4

Terms of Brest-Litovsk - Bolshevik Payment

Answer 4

3 billion roubles were to be paid in war reparations

Question 5

Terms of Brest-Litovsk - Lost Territories

Answer 5

• Finland
• Ukraine
• Poland
• Latvia
• Estonia
• Lithuania

Question 6

Terms of Brest-Litovsk - Russian Troops

Answer 6

• All Russian troops are made to leave Finland, Ukraine and the Aland Islands
• POWs are allowed to return home
• Both armies are made to cease fighting and leave the Eastern Front
• Russia agrees to stop making propaganda against Austria-Hungary

Question 7

Opposition to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Answer 7

• Bukharin leads the “revolutionary war group” which argues against peace with the Germans in any form
• Trotsky deliberately stalls proceedings with the Germans, annoying them. This causes them to temporarily end the armistice and begin advancing again into Russia
• The left-wing SRs leave the Sovnarkom in protest
• Only be threatening to resign does Lenin persuade the Committee to accept the Treaty - by a majority vote of one
• 3 Mar 1918 - the Treaty is finally signed after Lenin forces Trotsky to agree to it at any cost

Question 8

Political Consolidation after Brest-Litovsk

Answer 8

• Jul 1918 - the first Soviet Constitution is announced
• Members of the former “exploiting classes” are banned from voting or holding office
• Workers’ votes become equivalent to five peasant votes

Question 9

Military Consolidation after Brest-Litovsk

Answer 9

• Left-wing SRs attempt to seize power in Moscow but are crushed by the Red Army
• Trotsky becomes the Red Army’s new head

Question 10

Why the First Soviet Constitution Ended Democracy

Answer 10

• The electorate for the Congress of Soviets was always a Bolshevik nominee - there was no free choice of candidates
• Although the Sovnarkom was officially appointed by the Congress of Soviets, it was actually chosen by the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party