Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
In April 1917, Germany transported Vladimir Lenin and thirty-one supporters in a sealed train from exile in Switzerland to Finland Station. This journey set the stage for the collapse of the Russian Provisional Government and the rise of Soviet power. The German government agreed to this suggestion because they favored the opposition Communist Party who were proponents of Russia's withdrawal from World War I. Upon his arrival in Petrograd, Lenin proclaimed his April Theses which included a call for turning all political power over to workers' and soldiers' councils. He also demanded an immediate withdrawal of Russia from the war. At around the same time, the United States entered the war potentially shifting the balance against the Central Powers. Throughout 1917 Bolsheviks called for the overthrow of the Provisional Government and an end to the war. Following the disastrous failure of the Kerensky offensive discipline in the Russian army deteriorated completely. Soldiers would disobey orders often under the influence of Bolshevik agitation and set up soldiers committees to take control of their units after deposing officers.
Peace negotiations began in Brest-Litovsk on the 26th of December 1917 following an armistice concluded on the 15th of December 1917. The conference was arranged by General Max Hoffmann chief of staff of the Central Powers forces on the Eastern Front. Prominent additions on the Central Powers side included foreign ministers Richard von Kühlmann of Germany and Count Ottokar Czernin of Austria-Hungary. The Soviet delegation was initially led by Adolph Joffe who had already led their armistice negotiators. They met in temporary wooden structures in the courtyards because the city had been burnt to the ground in 1915 by the retreating Russian army. Trotsky replaced Joffe as leader when he arrived later. He declined invitations to meet Prince Leopold and terminated shared meals with representatives of the Central Powers. Day after day Trotsky engaged Kühlmann in debate rising to subtle discussion of first principles that ranged far beyond concrete territorial issues. The Soviets hoped time would make their allies agree to join negotiations or that western European proletariat would revolt. Their strategy was to prolong negotiations while awaiting revolutions in Central Europe. On the 10th of February 1918 they announced a position summed up as no war no peace.
Russia lost control of Ukraine Poland Belarus Lithuania Latvia Estonia and its Caucasian province of Kars and Batum under treaty terms signed the 3rd of March 1918. These lands comprised thirty-four percent of the former empire's population and fifty-four percent of its industrial land. The territory also included eighty-nine percent of its coalfields and twenty-six percent of its railways. New monarchies were planned for Lithuania and the United Baltic Duchy which was intended to comprise Latvia and Estonia. German aristocrats Wilhelm Karl Duke of Urach and Adolf Friedrich Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin were nominally appointed but never became rulers of these envisaged new pro-German countries. Ludendorff wrote that German prestige demanded holding a strong protecting hand over all Germans. The occupation ultimately proved costly for Berlin as over one million German troops lay sprawled out from Poland nearly to the Caspian Sea. They were idle and deprived Germany of badly needed manpower in France. Local independence movements moved in to fill the void the Germans left behind and established themselves in newly freed territories.
A supplementary protocol signed the 27th of August 1918 required Russia to pay Germany war reparations of six billion marks. This amount equaled three hundred million rubles. The Soviets additionally agreed to sell Germany twenty-five percent of output from Baku oil fields. Three secret clauses provided for German military action against Entente forces on Russian soil as well as expulsion of British troops from Baku. The treaty marked Russia's final withdrawal from World War I as an enemy of her co-signatories on severe terms. In all the treaty took away territory that included a quarter of population and industry of former Russian Empire and nine tenths of its operational coal mines. Russia was also fined six billion marks. The Soviet government confirmed independence of Finland which it had recognized January 1918 and pledged to end its war with Ukrainian People's Republic. The Central Powers had recognized Ukraine under prior Treaty of Brest-Litovsk the 9th of February 1918.
The treaty opened a permanent rift between Bolsheviks and Left Socialist-Revolutionaries whose representatives withdrew from Council of People's Commissars after signing. They later rebelled in the Left SR Uprising July 1918 when they assassinated German Ambassador Wilhelm von Mirbach hoping to induce Germany to annul treaty. Lenin explained that they must concede space in order to win time during debate in All-Russian Central Executive Committee. Debate was intense with Left SRs jeering Lenin as traitor. The measure passed one hundred sixteen votes to eighty-five. Trotsky resigned as foreign minister and was replaced by Georgy Chicherin. Many Russian nationalists and some revolutionaries were furious at Bolshevik acceptance of treaty and joined forces to fight them. Non-Russians who inhabited lands lost by Bolshevik Russia saw changes as opportunity to set up independent states. Immediately after signing Lenin moved Soviet government from Petrograd to Moscow to prevent Germany from capturing capital in event of invasion.
Treaty was annulled by Armistice the 11th of November 1918 in which Germany surrendered to western Allied Powers. One clause abrogated Brest-Litovsk treaty Article 15. Next Bolshevik legislature VTsIK annulled treaty the 13th of November 1918 text printed in newspaper Pravda next day. In year after armstice following timetable set by victors German Army withdrew occupying forces from lands gained in Brest-Litovsk. Polish-Soviet War particularly bitter ended with Treaty of Riga 1921. Although most Ukraine and Belarus fell under Bolshevik control eventually became constituent republics of Soviet Union Poland and Baltic states re-emerged as independent nations. In Treaty of Rapallo concluded April 1922 Germany accepted Treaty nullification two powers agreed abandon all war-related territorial and financial claims against each other. This state of affairs lasted until 1939 when Soviet Union advanced borders westward invading Poland September 1939 conquering parts eastern Finland 1939-1940 Winter War and occupying Estonia Latvia Lithuania parts Romania 1940. Russian borders established by treaty almost exactly same as post-1991 borders established after fall Soviet Union.
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Common questions
When was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk signed?
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed on the 3rd of March 1918. This agreement marked Russia's final withdrawal from World War I under severe terms imposed by the Central Powers.
What territories did Russia lose in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
Russia lost control of Ukraine Poland Belarus Lithuania Latvia Estonia and its Caucasian province of Kars and Batum under treaty terms. These lands comprised thirty-four percent of the former empire's population and fifty-four percent of its industrial land.
Who led the Soviet delegation during negotiations for the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
The Soviet delegation was initially led by Adolph Joffe who had already led their armistice negotiators. Trotsky replaced Joffe as leader when he arrived later to terminate shared meals with representatives of the Central Powers.
How much war reparations did Russia pay Germany under the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
A supplementary protocol signed the 27th of August 1918 required Russia to pay Germany war reparations of six billion marks. This amount equaled three hundred million rubles and included an agreement to sell Germany twenty-five percent of output from Baku oil fields.
When was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk annulled?
The treaty was annulled by Armistice on the 11th of November 1918 in which Germany surrendered to western Allied Powers. The next Bolshevik legislature VTsIK formally annulled the treaty text printed in newspaper Pravda on the 13th of November 1918.