WW1

What was the Treaty to End Russia’s Involvement in WW1?

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (3rd March 1918)

What were the Terms of the Treaty?

Ceded territories such as Poland, Ukraine, and the Baltic States to Germany and its allies.

Consequences of the Treaty?

Lost 1/3 of its population, 54% of industrial land, 89% of coal fields, 26% of its railways, and a fine of 6 billion marks

Why did Lenin want peace

Promised “Land, Peace, Bread’ in 1917
Russia’s army was collapsing, war unpopular
Needed to focus on consolidating Bolshevik power internally

Consequences from exiting WW1 (ECONOMIC)

Loss of Ukraine (grain basket), Baltic states and parts of Belarus
Lost about 50% of its industry
Lost 90% of its coal mines
Losses in major iron and steel production
Led to War Communism

Plunged the already struggling economy into deeper crisis, causing severe food, fuel and manufactured goods shortages.

Consequences from exiting WW1 (SOCIAL)

National humiliation “shameful peace”
Contributed to outbreak of Russian Civil War

How did exiting WW1 contribute to the Bolsheviks winning the Civil War?

Redeploy troops and resources inward
Claim moral high ground as “peacemakers” in propaganda
Focus on crushing domestic enemies without a 2-front war