Lenin’s Foreign Policy: From Brest-Litovsk to Peaceful Coexistence

What was the Decree on Peace (October 1917)?

The first Bolshevik foreign policy act, calling for an immediate truce and a 'just peace' without annexations or indemnities.

What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (March 1918)?

A separate peace treaty with Germany that took Russia out of WWI at the cost of one-sixth of its population and 74% of its iron ore and coal reserves.

Why did Lenin insist on signing the 'shameful peace' of Brest-Litovsk?

He believed the Bolsheviks needed a 'breathing space' to ensure the survival of the revolution at home, as there was no army left to fight the Germans.

What was the Comintern (Third Communist International)?

An international organization founded in Moscow in 1919 to promote and coordinate world revolution.

Why did Allied powers intervene in the Russian Civil War?

Initially to keep Russia fighting in WWI; later to protect munitions dumps and stop the spread of Bolshevism.

What was the significance of the Russo-Polish War (1920) for Lenin?

Lenin saw Poland as a 'red bridge' into Europe, hoping the Red Army would spark a proletarian revolution in Germany.

What was the 'Miracle on the Vistula'?

The decisive Polish victory over the Red Army in August 1920, which halted the spread of the revolution into Europe by force.

Which 1921 treaty ended the war with Poland?

The Treaty of Riga, which forced Russia to surrender large areas of White Russia (Belarus) and Ukraine to the Poles.

What was the Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement (1921)?

The first positive contact with a major capitalist power, granting de facto recognition to the Soviet state.

What was the Treaty of Rapallo (1922)?

A landmark agreement between the USSR and Germany that re-established diplomatic relations and initiated secret military and economic cooperation.

Why were Germany and the USSR 'natural allies' in 1922?

Both were 'outcast nations' excluded from the League of Nations and the post-war international system.

What were the '21 Conditions' (1920)?

Strict rules for joining the Comintern that required all foreign Communist parties to follow Moscow's discipline and prioritize the security of the USSR.

Who was Lenin's primary Commissar for Foreign Affairs during the stabilization period?

Georgy Chicherin, who favored close relations with Germany and a policy of 'peaceful coexistence.'

What was the Zinoviev Letter (1924)?

A forgery supposedly from the Comintern to British Communists that caused a major diplomatic scandal and soured relations with Britain.

What was the primary goal of Soviet foreign policy by 1924?

To prevent a united capitalist front against the USSR while encouraging trade to help the Russian economy recover.