treaty of brest-litvosk

Question 1

What is the decree on peace?

Answer 1

26th Oct 1917
proclaimed: peace without annexations and indemnities + abolishment of secret diplomacy

Question 2

Bukharin view on wwi?

Answer 2

Leader left communist faction,
- revolution best served by fighting a ‘rev war’ w Ger and refusing to give in to demands.
- Believe a Ger invasion would raise the rev consciousness of prole and spreading of the socialist rev.

Question 3

Lenin view on wwi?

Answer 3

Believe first task is to consolidate power of the party NOT make grand rev gestures that pose serious threat to regime security. That it was foolish to risk survival on spreading revolution, want immediate peace.

Question 4

Trostky view on wwi?

Answer 4

neither peace nor war. Believe Russia would not survive war but wants to delay peace being made in hope the German collapse on West. front would cause rev within. To do so: protract peace talks.

Question 5

What happened in negotiation period?

Answer 5

Trotsky led delegation in Jan/Feb 1918, prolonged the discussions
Late Jan: ger workers went on strike and asked for immediate peace without annexations of indemnities… his tactics maybe working??!!?? idiot!
Bc Germans got frustrated and present an ultimatum Early Feb, to accept peace terms or hostilities resume…. Trotsky has a freak moment and says Russia withdraws from war but will x sign a peace treaty

Question 6

What causes Bols to sign treaty?

Answer 6

18th Feb: Ger send 700,000 troops into Russia with no resistance. Govt afraid ger would reach P’grad
Lenin’s position wins out.

Question 7

When did Sovnarkom accept the treaty?

Answer 7

3rd March 1918

Question 8

Conditions of treaty?

Answer 8

• 3 bil roubles to be paid in reparations (war cost Russia only 1.5bil),
• 34%= 62mil people x longer under Soviet control,
• 32% of farmland lost including the bread basket Ukraine, lost a third of european territory,
• 26% of railways lost,
• 89% of iron ore + coal reserves lost,
• 54% of industrial enterprises lost.

Question 9

Impact of signing treaty internally on party?

Answer 9

unpopular, Trotsky refused to sign it.
7th Party Congress Lenin urged the party to unite
End of international rev agenda.
Left SR’s still hate treaty so resigned from position in Sovnarkom… increased centralisation of Bol power AKA one party dicatorship. Bol rename to Communists.

Question 10

Impact of signing treaty on party in society initially?

Answer 10

disaster for Rus nationalists and a national humiliation… increased resentment towards Bols. Collapse and democratisation of milit ∴ lack of troops loyal to tsarist officers.

Question 11

Long-term impact of signing the treaty?

Answer 11

11th Nov 1918: Germans surrender… normality restored! Ukraine return to bol rule and Ger troops leave occupied areas…
- Ryan: “Lenin insistence to accept the humiliating treaty had paid off and his reputation as the Party’s wise and eminent leader grew”