End of World War I in Russia

• Lenin and Trotsky both assumed that the Bolshevik seizure of power in Russia would be the catalyst for revolutions in Europe.

  • Germany in particular looked ripe for revolution as it was starting to lose the war.
• The Bolsheviks had promised peace but the peace offered by Germany would lead to the loss of large amounts of land.

  • This would in turn strengthen Imperial Germany and make revolution less likely.
• Bukharin and others agreed that the Bolsheviks should continue the war.
• Trotsky proposed "neither war or peace".

  • He believed Russia should retreat and wait for revolution in the West.
• Continuing the war would exacerbate the economic and social suffering of the Russian people and would break a key promise made by Lenin.
• Lenin took the pragmatic approach and made Russia leave the war.

  • He was the one that promised peace if he came to power.
• Lenin signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

  • This was a pragmatic rather than an ideological decision.
• Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

  • Russia lost 2 million square kilometres of land, a sixth of its population, 26% of its railway lines, 74% of its iron ore and coal supplies and a third of its agricultural production.
  • Finland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia all became independent states.
  • Bessarabia was given to Romania who was a German ally.
  • Georgia, Belarus and Ukraine had semi-independent government sets up.
• On top of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Russia's former allies were angry at Russia for leaving the war and willing to support Russian groups that opposed the Bolsheviks.