After the transfer of power into the hands of the Bolsheviks on October 25, 1917, a truce was established in the Russian-German fleet. By January 1918, not a single soldier remained in some sectors of the front. The truce was officially signed only on December 2. Leaving the front, many soldiers took away their weapons or sold them to the enemy.

Negotiations began on December 9, 1917 in Brest-Litovsk, which was the headquarters of the German command. But, Germany made demands that contradicted the previously proclaimed slogan "A world without annexations and indemnities." Trotsky, who led the Russian delegation, was able to find a way out of the situation. His speech at the talks came down to the following formula: "Don't sign peace, don't wage war, disband the army." This shocked German diplomats. But it did not deter the enemy troops from decisive action. The offensive of the Austro-Hungarian troops along the entire front continued on February 18. And the only thing that hindered the advance of the troops was the bad Russian roads.

The new Russian government agreed to accept the conditions of the Brest Peace on February 19. The conclusion of the Brest peace was entrusted to G. Skolnikov. However, now the terms of the peace treaty turned out to be more difficult. In addition to the loss of vast territories, Russia was also obliged to pay an indemnity. The signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk took place on March 3 without discussion of terms. Russia lost: Ukraine, the Baltic States, Poland, part of Belarus and 90 tons of gold. The Soviet government moved from Petrograd to Moscow on March 11, fearing the capture of the city by the Germans, despite the peace treaty already concluded.

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was valid until November, after the revolution in Germany it was annulled by the Russian side. But, the consequences of the Brest peace had time to affect. This peace treaty became one of the important factors in the beginning of the civil war in Russia. Later, in 1922, relations between Russia and Germany were settled by the Rapallo Treaty, according to which the parties renounced their territorial claims.

Civil War and intervention (briefly)

The civil war began in October 1917 and ended with the defeat of the White Army in the Far East in the autumn of 1922. During this time, various social classes and groups on the territory of Russia resolved the contradictions that arose between them by armed methods.

The main reasons for the start of the civil war include: the discrepancy between the goals of transforming society and the methods for achieving them, the refusal to create a coalition government, the dispersal of the Constituent Assembly, the nationalization of land and industry, the elimination of commodity-money relations, the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat, the creation of a one-party system, the danger of the spread of revolution on other countries, the economic losses of the Western powers during the regime change in Russia.

In the spring of 1918 British, American and French troops landed in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk. The Japanese invaded the Far East, the British and Americans landed in Vladivostok - intervention began.

On May 25, there was an uprising of the 45,000th Czechoslovak corps, which was transferred to Vladivostok for further shipment to France. A well-armed and well-equipped corps stretched from the Volga to the Urals. Under the conditions of decayed Russian army, he became the only real force at that time. Supported by the Social Revolutionaries and the White Guards, the corps put forward demands for the overthrow of the Bolsheviks and the convening of the Constituent Assembly.

In the South, the Volunteer Army of General A.I. Denikin was formed, which defeated the Soviets in the North Caucasus. The troops of P.N. Krasnov approached Tsaritsyn, in the Urals, the Cossacks of General A.A. Dutov captured Orenburg. In November-December 1918, an English landing landed in Batumi and Novorossiysk, the French occupied Odessa. In these critical conditions, the Bolsheviks managed to create a combat-ready army by mobilizing people and resources and attracting military specialists from the tsarist army.

By the autumn of 1918, the Red Army had liberated the cities of Samara, Simbirsk, Kazan, and Tsaritsyn.

The revolution in Germany had a significant impact on the course of the civil war. Recognizing its defeat in the First World War, Germany agreed to annul the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and withdrew its troops from the territory of Ukraine, Belarus and the Baltic states.

The Entente began to withdraw its troops, providing only material assistance to the Whites.

By April 1919, the Red Army managed to stop the troops of General A.V. Kolchak. Driven into the depths of Siberia, they were defeated by the beginning of 1920.

In the summer of 1919, General Denikin, having captured Ukraine, moved towards Moscow and approached Tula. The troops of the first cavalry army under the command of M.V. Frunze and the Latvian riflemen concentrated on the Southern Front. In the spring of 1920, near Novorossiysk, the "Reds" defeated the Whites.

In the north of the country, the troops of General N.N. Yudenich fought against the Soviets. In the spring and autumn of 1919 they made two unsuccessful attempts to capture Petrograd.

In April 1920, the conflict between Soviet Russia and Poland began. In May 1920, the Poles captured Kyiv. The troops of the Western and Southwestern fronts launched an offensive, but failed to achieve a final victory.

Realizing the impossibility of continuing the war, in March 1921 the parties signed a peace treaty.

The war ended with the defeat of General P.N. Wrangel, who led the remnants of Denikin's troops in the Crimea. In 1920, the Far Eastern Republic was formed, by 1922 it was finally liberated from the Japanese.

Reasons for victory Bolsheviks: support for the national outskirts and Russian peasants deceived by the Bolshevik slogan "Land to the peasants", the creation of a combat-ready army, the absence of a common command among the whites, support for Soviet Russia from the labor movements and communist parties of other countries.

The Brest peace is one of the most humiliating episodes in the history of Russia. It became a loud diplomatic failure of the Bolsheviks and was accompanied by a sharp political crisis inside the country.

Peace Decree

The "Peace Decree" was adopted on October 26, 1917 - the day after the armed coup - and spoke of the need to conclude a just democratic peace without annexations and indemnities between all warring nations. It served as the legal basis for a separate agreement with Germany and the other Central Powers.

Publicly, Lenin spoke about the transformation of the imperialist war into a civil war, he considered the revolution in Russia only the initial stage of the world socialist revolution. In fact, there were other reasons as well. The warring peoples did not act according to Ilyich's plans - they did not want to turn bayonets against the governments, and the allied governments ignored the peace proposal of the Bolsheviks. Only the countries of the enemy bloc that were losing the war went for rapprochement.

Conditions

Germany declared that it was ready to accept the condition of peace without annexations and indemnities, but only if this peace was signed by all the belligerent countries. But none of the Entente countries joined the peace negotiations, so Germany abandoned the Bolshevik formula, and their hopes for just world were finally buried. The talk in the second round of negotiations was exclusively about a separate peace, the terms of which were dictated by Germany.

Betrayal and necessity

Not all Bolsheviks were willing to sign a separate peace. The left was categorically opposed to any agreements with imperialism. They defended the idea of ​​exporting the revolution, believing that without socialism in Europe, Russian socialism is doomed to perish (and the subsequent transformations of the Bolshevik regime proved them right). The leaders of the left Bolsheviks were Bukharin, Uritsky, Radek, Dzerzhinsky and others. They called for guerrilla warfare against German imperialism, and in the future they hoped to wage regular fighting we are creating the Red Army.
For the immediate conclusion of a separate peace was, above all, Lenin. He was afraid of the German offensive and the complete loss of his own power, which, even after the coup, was largely based on German money. It is unlikely that the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was directly bought by Berlin. The main factor was precisely the fear of losing power. Considering that a year after the conclusion of peace with Germany, Lenin was ready even for the division of Russia in exchange for international recognition, then the conditions of the Brest peace will not seem so humiliating.

Trotsky occupied an intermediate position in the inner-party struggle. He defended the thesis "No peace, no war." That is, he proposed to stop hostilities, but not to sign any agreements with Germany. As a result of the struggle within the party, it was decided to drag out the negotiations in every possible way, expecting a revolution in Germany, but if the Germans present an ultimatum, then agree to all conditions. However, Trotsky, who led the Soviet delegation in the second round of negotiations, refused to accept the German ultimatum. Negotiations broke down and Germany continued to advance. When the peace was signed, the Germans were 170 km from Petrograd.

Annexations and indemnities

Peace conditions were very difficult for Russia. She lost Ukraine and Polish lands, renounced her claims to Finland, gave away the Batumi and Kars regions, had to demobilize all her troops, abandon the Black Sea Fleet and pay huge indemnities. The country was losing almost 800 thousand square meters. km and 56 million people. In Russia, the Germans received the exclusive right to freely engage in entrepreneurship. In addition, the Bolsheviks pledged to pay the royal debts of Germany and its allies.

At the same time, the Germans did not comply with their own obligations. After signing the treaty, they continued the occupation of Ukraine, overthrew the Soviet regime on the Don and helped the White movement in every possible way.

Rise of the Left

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk almost led to a split in the Bolshevik Party and the loss of power by the Bolsheviks. Lenin hardly dragged the final decision on peace through a vote in the Central Committee, threatening to resign. The split of the party did not happen only thanks to Trotsky, who agreed to abstain from the vote, ensuring the victory of Lenin. But this did not help to avoid a political crisis.

The Brest Peace was categorically rejected by the Left Socialist-Revolutionary Party. They left the government, killed the German ambassador Mirbach and raised an armed uprising in Moscow. Due to the lack of a clear plan and goals, it was suppressed, but it was a very real threat to the power of the Bolsheviks. At the same time, in Simbirsk, the commander of the Eastern Front of the Red Army, the Social Revolutionary Muravyov, raised an uprising. It also ended in failure.

Cancellation

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed on March 3, 1918. Already in November, a revolution took place in Germany, and the Bolsheviks annulled the peace agreement. After the victory of the Entente, Germany withdrew troops from the former Russian territories. However, Russia was no longer in the camp of the winners.

In the coming years, the Bolsheviks were unable to return power over most of the territories torn away by the Brest Peace.

Beneficiary

Lenin received the greatest benefit from the Brest Peace. After the annulment of the treaty, his authority grew. He gained fame as a farsighted politician, whose actions helped the Bolsheviks gain time and hold on to power. After that, the Bolshevik party consolidated, and the Left Socialist-Revolutionary party was crushed. The country has a one-party system.

Brest Treaty 1918 was the treaty that brought Russia out of the First World War. However, contrary to the promises of the Bolsheviks, with which they came to power, this agreement was concluded on the terms of Germany and its allies, which are extremely difficult for Russia. The question of whether such a peace could be concluded with the imperialists aroused fierce debate, and the consequences of the treaty became one of the causes of a large-scale civil war in the territory of the former Russian Empire.

The issue of withdrawing from the First World War was one of the key issues in the Russian political life in 1917. Already the Minister of War of the Provisional Government, General A. Verkhovsky, publicly declared in October 1917 that Russia could not continue the war. The Bolsheviks advocated an early conclusion of peace without annexations (captures) and indemnities (financial payments to the winners) with the right of nations to self-determination based on the results of plebiscites. At the same time, if the Entente states refused to agree to a general peace, the Bolsheviks were ready to start peace negotiations separately. This position contributed to the growth of the popularity of the Bolsheviks and their coming to power. On October 26, the Second Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies adopted a Decree on Peace, which enshrined these principles.

On November 22, 1917, a truce was concluded at the front, and on December 9, 1917, separate peace negotiations began in Brest-Litovsk between representatives of the RSFSR on the one hand, and Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria (Central Powers) - on the other hand. another. They quickly showed that the German side does not take seriously the slogans of peace without annexations and indemnities, perceives Russia's desire to conclude a separate peace as evidence of its defeat and is ready to dictate conditions that involve both annexations and indemnities. German and Austro-Hungarian diplomacy also took advantage of the fact that Soviet Russia granted a formal right to self-determination to Poland, Finland, Ukraine and Transcaucasia, while supporting the communist struggle for power in Finland, Transcaucasia and Ukraine. Countries Quadruple union demanded non-interference in the affairs of these countries, hoping to use their resources necessary to win the war. But Russia also badly needed these resources to restore the economy. The humiliating agreement with the imperialists was unacceptable to the revolutionaries both from the point of view of the Bolshevik Communists and from the point of view of their Left-Socialist-Revolutionary (Left Socialist-Revolutionary) partners in the government. As a result, the Council of People's Commissars and the Central Committee of the RSDLP (b) decided that People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs L. Trotsky was dragging out the negotiations as long as possible, and after the Germans issued an ultimatum, he would leave for Petrograd for consultations.

The government of the Central Rada of Ukraine also joined these negotiations. In Ukraine, as early as March 1917, a national political leadership- The Central Rada, to which in November 1917 power passed in the central part of this country. The Central Rada did not recognize the right of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR to speak on behalf of the entire former Russian Empire. Having suffered a defeat in December at the All-Ukrainian Congress of Soviets, the Bolsheviks formed the Soviet government of Ukraine in Kharkov. In January, supporters of the Soviet regime controlled the east and south of Ukraine. On December 4, the Soviet government of Russia recognized Ukraine's right to independence, but denied the Central Rada's right to represent the entire Ukrainian people. The Central Rada declared that it was striving for the autonomy of Ukraine within the federal Russian state. But in the context of the escalating conflict, on January 9 (22), 1918, it nevertheless proclaimed independence. A civil war broke out between the pro-Soviet east of Ukraine and supporters of the Central Rada, in which Kharkiv received the support of Soviet Russia.

There was a rapprochement between representatives of the Central Rada and the powers of the Quadruple Union, which weakened the position of Russia. On January 5, the German General M. Hoffmann announced in an ultimatum the German terms of peace - Russia's renunciation of all territories occupied by Germany.

A heated discussion flared up in the Council of People's Commissars and the Central Committee of the RSDLP(b) over the adoption of these conditions. Lenin, recognizing that the world is hard and shameful ("obscene"), demanded to accept the German ultimatum. He believed that the Bolshevik detachments and the decaying old army could not successfully resist the German offensive. The Left Social Revolutionaries and part of the Bolsheviks (Left Communists and supporters of the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs L. Trotsky) considered the terms of the ultimatum too difficult for Russia and unacceptable from the standpoint of the interests of the world revolution, since such a peace meant a betrayal of the principles of world peace and provided Germany with additional resources to continue the war on West.

Delaying the signing of peace, Trotsky hoped that Germany would transfer troops to the West. In this case, the signing of a shameful peace would become unnecessary. The Left Communists, headed by N. Bukharin, and the majority of the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries believed that it was impossible to abandon the oppressed peoples of the world, that it would be necessary to lead a revolutionary, first of all guerrilla war with German imperialism. Weary Germany will not survive such a war. They believed that the Germans would in any case continue to put pressure on Soviet Russia, trying to turn it into their vassal, and therefore war was inevitable, and peace was harmful, as it demoralized the supporters of Soviet power.

The majority of the Central Committee initially supported Trotsky and Bukharin. The position of the left received the support of the Moscow and Petrograd party organizations, as well as about half of the country's party organizations.

On February 9 (NS), 1918, representatives of the Central Rada signed an agreement with the powers of the Quadruple Alliance, which determined the western border of Ukraine. The Central Rada also undertook to provide food supplies to Germany and Austria-Hungary and invited their troops to Ukraine. At this time, the Rada itself fled from Kyiv, since on February 8 Kyiv was taken by Soviet troops.

Having concluded an agreement with Ukraine, the German side was preparing to demand from Russia an immediate signing of peace under the threat of resuming the war.

On February 10, 1918, Trotsky announced the end of the state of war, the demobilization of the army, but refused to sign the peace and left for Petrograd. He put forward the slogan: "No peace, no war, but disband the army." On February 18, the Germans resumed their offensive, occupied Estonia, Pskov and threatened Petrograd. The Bolshevik detachments and the decaying old army were unable to successfully resist the German offensive. However, the Germans did not have the opportunity to advance deep into Russia.

In the course of further discussions in the Bolshevik Central Committee, Trotsky succumbed to Lenin's pressure and began to abstain from voting on peace. This predetermined the victory of the Leninist point of view in the Central Committee and the Council of People's Commissars.

Thanks to the success of its offensive, Germany put forward even more difficult peace conditions, demanding the transfer of newly occupied territories under its control, as well as the evacuation of Soviet troops from Ukraine.

On March 3, 1918, the Soviet delegation that left for Brest, which Trotsky did not join, signed a peace based on the requirements of the German ultimatum. Under its terms, Russia renounced the rights to Finland, Ukraine, the Baltic states and parts of the Transcaucasus (the Council of People's Commissars had already recognized the independence of some of these countries in November-December 1917). Under a secret agreement, it was assumed that Russia would pay an indemnity of 6 billion marks (in reality, less than a twentieth of this amount was paid).

The possibility of peace ratification was discussed by the VII Extraordinary Congress of the RSDLP (b), which worked on March 6-8, 1918. Lenin insisted that the peace should be ratified. He argued that "we would have died at the slightest advance of the Germans, inevitably and inevitably." Bukharin delivered a co-report against the world, arguing that the world does not give a respite, that “the game is not worth the candle”, and the positive consequences of the world are outweighed by the negative ones. An immediate “revolutionary war against German imperialism” is needed, which will begin in partisan forms, and as a new Red Army is created and Germany is weakened, which is also engaged in Western front, will move on to regular warfare. This position was supported by supporters of the left wing of the party. The outcome of the congress was decided by Lenin's authority: its resolution was adopted by 30 votes to 12, with 4 abstentions.

If the Left Communists left the Communist Party and united with the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries, they could achieve a majority at the Congress of Soviets. But they did not dare to vote against their party, and the Fourth Congress of Soviets ratified the peace treaty on March 15, 1918.

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk had important consequences. The coalition with the Left SRs broke up, they left the government. The occupation of Ukraine by Germany (with subsequent expansion into the southern Russian territory, since there was no clearly defined Russian-Ukrainian border) disrupted the ties between the center of the country and the grain and raw materials regions. At the same time, the Entente countries began to intervene in Russia, seeking to reduce the possible costs associated with its surrender. The occupation of Ukraine and other regions aggravated the food problem and further aggravated relations between the townspeople and the peasantry. Its representatives in the soviets, the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries, now launched an agitational campaign against the Bolsheviks. In addition, capitulation to Germany became a challenge to the national feelings of the Russian people, turning millions of people against the Bolsheviks, regardless of their social origin.

German and Turkish troops continued to advance into the territories claimed by the newly independent states. The Germans occupied Rostov and the Crimea, moved along the Black Sea towards the fleet parking in Novorossiysk. Black Sea Fleet it was decided to flood it so that Germany and Ukraine would not get it. German troops entered Georgia, and on September 14, 1918, Turkish troops took Baku and reached Port Petrovsk (now Makhachkala). On the territories of the former Russian Empire occupied by the troops of the Central Powers, formally independent states were created, the governments of which were dependent on Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. However, the surrender of the Central Powers in World War I ended this expansion.

After the start of the revolution in Germany in November 1918 and its capitulation, on November 13 Russia denounced the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. However, by this time already appeared in full force consequences of the Brest Peace, and the Civil War and intervention of 1918-1922 unfolded on the territory of the former Russian Empire.

Peace treaty
between Germany, Austria-Hungary,
Bulgaria and Turkey on the one hand
and Russia on the other

Since Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey on the one hand, and Russia on the other, agreed to end the state of war and end the peace negotiations as soon as possible, they were appointed plenipotentiaries:

from the Imperial German Government:

State Secretary of the Office of Foreign Affairs, Imperial Privy Councillor, Mr. Richard von Kühlmann,

imperial envoy and minister plenipotentiary, Mr. dr background Rosenberg,

Royal Prussian Major General Hoffmann,

chief of the general staff Supreme Commander on the Eastern Front, Captain 1st Rank Gorn,

from the Imperial and Royal General Austro-Hungarian Government:

Minister of the Imperial and Royal House and Foreign Affairs, His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty Privy Councilor Ottokar Count Czernin von zu Hudenitz,

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Privy Counsellor, His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty, Mr. Kajetan Merey von Kapos-Mere,

General of the Infantry, His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty Privy Councillor, Mr. Maximilian Cicerich von Bachani,

from the Royal Bulgarian Government:

Royal Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in Vienna, Andrey Toshev,

Colonel of the General Staff, Royal Bulgarian Military Plenipotentiary under His Majesty the German Emperor and Adjutant Wing of His Majesty the King of Bolgars, Petr Ganchev,

royal Bulgarian First Secretary of Mission, Dr. Theodore Anastasov,

from the Imperial Ottoman Government:

His Highness Ibrahim Hakki Pasha, Former Grand Vizier, Member of the Ottoman Senate, Ambassador Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the Sultan in Berlin,

His Excellency, General of the Cavalry, Adjutant General of His Majesty the Sultan and Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the Sultan to His Majesty the German Emperor, Zeki Pasha,

from the Russian Federative Soviet Republic:

Grigory Yakovlevich Sokolnikov, member of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies,

Lev Mikhailovich Karakhan, member of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies,

Georgy Vasilyevich Chicherin; Assistant People's Commissar for foreign affairs And

Grigory Ivanovich Petrovsky, People's Commissar for Internal Affairs.

The plenipotentiaries met at Brest-Litovsk for peace talks, and after presenting their credentials, found to be in correct and proper form, came to an agreement on the following decrees.

Article I

Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey on the one hand and Russia on the other declare that the state of war between them has ended. They decided to continue to live among themselves in peace and friendship.

Article II

The contracting parties will refrain from any agitation or propaganda against the government or state and military establishments of the other side. Since this obligation concerns Russia, it also extends to the areas occupied by the powers of the quadruple alliance.

Article III

The areas lying to the west of the line established by the contracting parties and previously belonging to Russia will no longer be under its supreme authority: the established line is indicated on the attached map (Appendix 1), which is an essential part of this peace treaty. Precise definition this line will be worked out by the German-Russian commission.

For the aforementioned regions, their former belonging to Russia will not entail any obligations in relation to Russia.

Russia refuses any interference in the internal affairs of these regions. Germany and Austria-Hungary intend to determine future destiny these areas by demolition with their populations.

Article IV

Germany is ready, as soon as a general peace has been concluded and a complete Russian demobilization has been carried out, to clear the territory lying to the east of the line indicated in paragraph 1 of Article III, insofar as Article VI does not decide otherwise.

Russia will do everything in its power to ensure the speedy clearance of the Eastern Anatolia provinces and their orderly return to Turkey.

The districts of Ardagan, Kars and Batum are also immediately cleared of Russian troops. Russia will not interfere in new organization state-legal and international legal relations of these districts, but will allow the population of these districts to establish new system in harmony with neighboring states, especially Turkey.

Article V

Russia will immediately carry out the complete demobilization of its army, including the military units newly formed by the current government.

In addition, Russia will either transfer its warships to Russian ports and leave there until the conclusion of a general peace, or immediately disarm. The military courts of states that are still at war with the powers of the quadruple alliance, since these ships are in the sphere of Russian power, are equated with Russian military courts.

The restricted zone in the Arctic Ocean remains in force until the conclusion of a universal peace. In the Baltic Sea and in Russian-controlled parts of the Black Sea, the removal of minefields. Merchant shipping in these maritime regions is free and immediately resumed. In order to work out more precise regulations, in particular for the publication to the public of safe routes for merchant ships, mixed commissions will be created. Navigation routes must be kept clear of floating mines at all times.

Article VI

Russia undertakes to immediately conclude peace with the Ukrainian People's Republic and recognize the peace treaty between this state and the powers of the quadruple alliance. The territory of Ukraine is immediately cleared of Russian troops and the Russian Red Guard. Russia ceases all agitation or propaganda against the government or public institutions of the Ukrainian People's Republic.

Estonia and Livonia are also immediately cleared of Russian troops and the Russian Red Guard. The eastern border of Estonia runs generally along the Narva River. The eastern border of Livonia generally runs through Lake Peipus and Lake Pskov to its southwestern corner, then through Lake Luban in the direction of Livenhof on the Western Dvina. Estonia and Livonia will be occupied by the German police authorities until public safety will not be provided there by the country's own institutions and until it is installed there public order. Russia will immediately release all arrested and taken away inhabitants of Estonia and Livonia and ensure the safe return of all taken away Estonians and Livonians.

Finland and the Aland Islands will also be immediately cleared of Russian troops and the Russian Red Guard, and Finnish ports - of the Russian fleet and Russian naval forces. As long as the ice makes it impossible to transfer warships to Russian ports, only insignificant crews should be left on them. Russia stops all agitation or propaganda against the Finnish government or public institutions.

The fortifications erected on the Åland Islands must be demolished as soon as possible. With regard to the prohibition to continue to erect fortifications on these islands, as well as their general provisions regarding military and navigation technology, a special agreement should be concluded regarding them between Germany, Finland, Russia and Sweden; The parties agree that, at the request of Germany, other states adjacent to the Baltic Sea may also be involved in this agreement.

Article VII

Based on the fact that Persia and Afghanistan are free and independent states, the contracting parties undertake to respect the political and economic independence and territorial integrity Persia and Afghanistan.

Article VIII

The prisoners of war of both sides will be released to their homeland. The settlement of related questions will be the subject of special treaties provided for in Article XII.

Article IX

The contracting parties mutually waive the reimbursement of their military expenses, i.e. state costs of waging war, as well as from compensation for military losses, i.e. those losses that were inflicted on them and their citizens in the war zone by military measures, including all requisitions made in the enemy country.

Article X

Diplomatic and consular relations between the contracting parties are resumed immediately after the ratification of the peace treaty. As regards the admission of consuls, both parties reserve the right to enter into special agreements.

Article XI

Economic relations between the powers of the Quadruple Alliance and Russia are determined by the decrees contained in Annexes 2-5, with Annex 2 defining relations between Germany and Russia, Annex 3 between Austria-Hungary and Russia, Annex 4 between Bulgaria and Russia, Annex 5 - between Turkey and Russia.

Article XII

The restoration of public law and private law relations, the exchange of prisoners of war and civilian prisoners, the question of amnesty, as well as the question of the attitude towards merchant ships that have fallen into the power of the enemy, are the subject of separate agreements with Russia, which form an essential part of this peace treaty, and, as far as possible, take effect simultaneously with it.

Article XIII

When interpreting this Treaty, the authentic texts for relations between Germany and Russia are German and Russian, between Austria-Hungary and Russia - German, Hungarian and Russian, between Bulgaria and Russia - Bulgarian and Russian, between Turkey and Russia - Turkish and Russian.

Article XIV

The present peace treaty will be ratified. The exchange of instruments of ratification should take place as soon as possible in Berlin. The Russian government assumes the obligation to exchange instruments of ratification at the request of one of the powers of the quadruple alliance within a two-week period. A peace treaty enters into force from the moment of its ratification, unless otherwise follows from its articles, annexes to it or supplementary treaties.

In witness thereof, the Commissioners have personally signed this treaty.

© Russian State Archive of Socio-Political History
F.670. Op.1. D.5.

Ksenofontov I.N. The world they wanted and hated. M., 1991.

Peace negotiations in Brest-Litovsk from December 9 (22), 1917 to March 3 (16), 1918. V.1. M., 1920.

Mihutina I. Ukrainian Brest Peace. M., 2007.

Felshtinsky Yu. The collapse of the world revolution. Brest peace. October 1917 - November 1918. M., 1992.

Chernin O. During the World War. Memoirs of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria-Hungary. SPb., 2005.

Chubaryan A.O. Brest peace. M., 1963.

Seventh emergency congress of the RCP(b). Verbatim report. M., 1962.

Why did the Bolsheviks begin separate peace negotiations without the participation of the Entente allies?

The participation of which political force in the Brest negotiations weakened the position of the Russian delegation?

What positions were formed in the Bolshevik Party regarding the conclusion of peace?

Which provisions of the treaty were respected and which were not?

What territories did Russia refuse under the terms of the treaty?

What were the consequences of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?

Lenin called the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk "obscene", although he was a supporter of its signing. Trotsky compared his visit to Brest-Litovsk to a visit to a torture chamber.

Paradoxically, the treaty, which meant for Russia a way out of the war, became one of the most shameful and controversial pages in the history of the country.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

In 1918, a separate peace was signed between the RSFSR and the Quadruple Union.

For reference: a separate peace is a peace treaty with the enemy, signed by a member state of the military coalition without the consent of the allies.

In World War II, Russia was on the side of the Entente. But, after a few years, the country was already exhausted. Even under the Provisional Government, it became obvious that Russia would not be able to continue the war any longer.

In 1917, the Bolsheviks came to power. Their position was simple: "a world without annexations and indemnities." This slogan became the main thesis of the Decree on Peace. The authorities demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities.

It is worth noting: in November, negotiations were held on a truce with Russia's former adversaries - the Quadruple Alliance. The Entente countries ignored the invitation.

Stage one: start of negotiations

The table shows who led the delegations from the countries participating in the negotiations.

Negotiations began on 9 December. The Bolsheviks, based on the principles of the "Decree on Peace", put forward their position: the rejection of annexations and indemnities and the self-determination of peoples up to secession (by free referendum). Of course, Germany was not going to accept such conditions.

The German side stated that it would accept the conditions if the Entente countries also take such a step. The Bolsheviks initiated a break for 10 days in the hope of convincing former allies Russia to join the negotiations.

Soon the Germans put forward their understanding of the self-determination of peoples. Poland, Lithuania and Courland have already "self-determined" and declared their "independence", and now they can freely join Germany, which was not regarded as an annexation. In other words, the German side did not renounce its territorial claims.

The Soviet side proposed a compromise option for the exchange of territories. The German side did not accept this proposal. The Russian delegation left for Petrograd the next day.

On December 22, a delegation from the Central Rada arrived with the intention of negotiating separately from the RSFSR. Three days later, the Russian delegation returned, but already led by Trotsky himself. His goal is to delay negotiations.

Worth considering: Central Rada - Ukrainian political body. He was elected legally, but at the time of the negotiations, he no longer controlled almost the entire territory of Ukraine - the Bolsheviks occupied it.

Second stage: "no peace, no war"

On December 27, the Germans openly declared that they rejected the principle of "no annexations and indemnities", since the Entente did not accept it.

The head of the CR delegation expressed his position. They will negotiate separately from the RSFSR. The Central Powers put forward conditions: Germany and Austria-Hungary did not give up the territories they occupied. The Bolsheviks asked for a break for 10 days.

Lev Davidovich Trotsky (1879-1940) - one of the organizers October revolution 1917, one of the creators of the Red Army. In the first Soviet government - People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, then in 1918-1925 - People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs and Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the RSFSR.

In Petrograd, this course of events provoked an aggravation of the intra-Party struggle. In the end, Trotsky's vague position of "no peace, no war" won out.

Third stage: ultimatum

On January 17, together with Trotsky, a delegation from Soviet Ukraine arrived for the talks. The German side did not recognize her.

January 27 is a turning point in the negotiations. The Central Powers and the CR made peace. Ukraine passed under the protectorate of Germany.

Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Victor Albert of Prussia (1859-1941) - the last German emperor and king of Prussia from June 15, 1888 to November 9, 1918. Wilhelm's reign was marked by the strengthening of Germany's role as a world industrial, military and colonial power.

Wilhelm II put forward an ultimatum to the Soviet side - the border along the Narva-Pskov-Dvinsk line.

The next day, Trotsky surprised Germany and her allies with his statement: cessation of hostilities, demobilization, while refusing to sign peace. The delegation left the negotiations. What happened, Germany would later take advantage of.

January 31 The CR asks its German allies for help against the Bolsheviks. On February 18, the truce ends.

Russia no longer had an army as such, and the Bolsheviks could not resist the offensive. The Germans advanced quickly and captured Minsk on 21 February. It was a real threat to Petrograd.

The Soviet side was forced to ask for peace. On February 22, the Germans put forward a tougher ultimatum, according to which Russia abandoned vast territories.

The Bolsheviks agreed to such conditions. On March 3, 1918, peace was signed. March 16 - final ratification.

What were the conditions of the Brest peace

Lenin admitted that such a world is "obscene". Germany's demands were tough, but Russia did not have the opportunity to fight. The position of the Germans allowed them to dictate any conditions.

Briefly about the main provisions of the Brest peace:

  • liberate the Baltic lands;
  • withdraw troops from Ukraine, recognize the UNR;
  • liberate the Kars and Batumi regions;
  • withdraw troops from the Ottoman Empire.

The text included other provisions:

  • demobilization of the army;
  • disarmament of the Black Sea Fleet;
  • the cessation of propaganda on the territory of the Central Powers;
  • payment of indemnities.

Russia was finally left without an army (imperial) and lost territories.

Position of Lenin, Trotsky and Bukharin

Petrograd did not have an unequivocal position on a separate peace. Lenin insisted on signing an agreement, albeit unfavorable. However, the left communists, led by Bukharin, were categorically against any peace with imperialism.

When it became obvious that Germany would not renounce annexations, Trotsky's compromise position was taken as the basis. He was against military action, but he counted on an early revolution in Germany, which would save the Bolsheviks from having to agree to unfavorable conditions for them.

Lenin insisted that it was Trotsky who led the delegation. But with the condition: delay until the ultimatum, then surrender. However, the delegates rejected the ultimatum, and this became a formal reason for the Central Powers to reopen the Eastern Front.

The German army advanced rapidly, and Lenin insisted on accepting any conditions of the opponents.

The question arises: why did Lenin call the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk shameful, but insisted on signing it further? The answer is simple - the leader of the revolution was afraid of losing power. Without an army, Russia could not resist the Germans.

The position of the left had more supporters, and only the intervention of Trotsky saved Lenin from failure. As a result, the Bolsheviks signed the treaty.

Reasons and prerequisites for the signing of the Brest Peace

Was there really any reason to negotiate with the clearly losing war Central Powers? And why did Germany need it?

The Bolsheviks came under the slogan of ending the war. A the country really could not fight(It is worth noting that the policy of the Bolsheviks contributed to the fact that Russia was left without an army).

Initially, Lenin counted on a general peace without annexations, and not on an unfavorable treaty with Germany, which had almost lost the war.

Since the beginning of the war, the Germans were interested in closing the Eastern Front. Germany and Austria-Hungary were starving and urgently needed food supplies. No wonder it was the agreement with the UCR that became a turning point in the course of negotiations.

Russia's withdrawal from the First World War

The signing of a separate peace meant that Russia withdrew from the war. This event had its pros and cons, but it can not be called a victory.

On the one hand, the war still stopped. On the other hand, Russia has lost most of its territory and population.

The country also could not take advantage of the victory of the Entente. England and France did not accept the Bolshevik regime, and the treaty with Germany all the more deprived the country of the right to reparations.

The conclusion of the Brest Peace

On March 1, the Russian delegation arrived in Brest-Litovsk (the German offensive was still ongoing).

Trotsky did not want to sign the shameful document. His views were shared by other Bolsheviks.

Who signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on behalf of Russia? Grigory Sokolnikov, who at first also refused to be the chairman of the delegation.

The Soviet side immediately declared that the country was accepting the conditions of its opponents, but would not enter into a discussion. The German side objected that they could either accept Germany's conditions or continue the war.

On March 3, 1918, the famous Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was concluded. This happened in the White Palace of the Brest-Litovsk Fortress.

The document consisted of 14 articles, 5 annexes (including new map borders of Russia) and additional agreements.

Outcomes, meaning and results

The separate peace was a heavy blow for Russia.

However, Germany lost the war, and one of the conditions for a truce with the Entente was the annulment of the Brest Treaty. On November 13, the agreement was also canceled by the decision of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

Brest peace before today receives mixed reviews from historians. Some consider it a betrayal, others a necessity. In general, modern estimates come down to one thing: the negotiations were the debut of the Bolsheviks in the international arena, but such a debut ended in failure.

Of course, the consequences were not so catastrophic for the new government: they still managed to return the lands, but it took time. And peace with the Central Powers will be used as proof of Lenin's sponsorship by the Germans for a long time to come.

Peace of Brest Peace of Brest

March 3, 1918, a peace treaty between Soviet Russia and Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Turkey. Germany annexed Poland, the Baltic States, part of Belarus and Transcaucasia, received an indemnity of 6 billion marks. VI Lenin considered it necessary to conclude the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in order to preserve Soviet power. The conclusion of the Brest peace caused an acute crisis in the leadership of Soviet Russia. A group of "left communists" headed by N. I. Bukharin opposed the Brest-Litovsk peace and was ready to "accept the possibility of losing Soviet power" in the name of the interests of the world revolution. Nevertheless, in the conditions of the offensive of the German troops, the treaty was ratified by the 4th Congress of Soviets. It was annulled by the government of the RSFSR on November 13, 1918 after the defeat of Germany in the 1st World War.

BREST WORLD

BREST PEACE, a peace treaty concluded on March 3, 1918 between Soviet Russia on the one hand and the states of the Quadruple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria) on the other, which completed Russia's participation in the First World War (cm. WORLD WAR I 1914-18).
Peace negotiations
The question of withdrawing from the First World War was one of the key Russian politics 1917-1918. Bolsheviks (cm. BOLSHEVIK) declared that since the war is imperialist and predatory, a speedy peace is needed, even if it is a separate (cm. SEPARATE WORLD). But this peace should be honorable for Russia and not provide for annexations. (cm. ANNEXATION) and contributions (cm. CONTRIBUTION). During the October Revolution of 1917 (cm. OCTOBER REVOLUTION 1917) adopted the Decree on Peace (cm. DECREE ON PEACE)”, which offered all participants in the war to immediately conclude peace without annexations and indemnities. Only Germany and its allies, military and economic situation which, like Russia, was extremely difficult. In December 1917, a truce was concluded, Russian-German (with the participation of Germany's allies) negotiations began in Brest-Litovsk (cm. BREST (in Belarus)). They quickly showed that the German side does not take seriously the slogans of peace without annexations and indemnities, considering Russia's desire to conclude a separate peace as evidence of its defeat. The German side acted from a position of strength and dictated conditions that included both annexations and indemnities. German and Austro-Hungarian diplomacy also took advantage of the fact that Soviet Russia granted a formal right to self-determination to Poland, Finland, Ukraine, the Baltic and Transcaucasian countries, while supporting the communist struggle for power in these countries. The states of the Quadruple Alliance demanded non-interference in the affairs of these countries, hoping to use their resources necessary to win the war against the Entente. But Russia also badly needed these resources to restore the economy.
At the same time, the Central Rada (cm. CENTRAL RADA) - governing body Ukrainian people's republic- signed a separate peace with Germany and its allies, according to which German troops were invited to Ukraine to protect its government from the Bolsheviks, and Ukraine supplied food to Germany and its allies. Soviet Russia did not recognize the power of the Central Rada in Ukraine, considered the Soviet Ukrainian government in Kharkov as the legitimate representative of the Ukrainian people. Soviet troops February 9, 1918 took Kyiv. But Germany, continuing to recognize the Central Rada, forced L. D. Trotsky to reckon with this (cm. Trotsky, Lev Davidovich) who served as People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs. It became obvious that the conclusion of peace would lead to the occupation of Ukraine by the Germans.
The humiliating agreement with the imperialists was unacceptable to the revolutionaries both from the point of view of the Communist Bolsheviks and from the point of view of their partners in the Left SR government (cm. LEFT SRs). As a result, the Council of People's Commissars and the Central Committee of the RSDLP (b) decided that Trotsky should drag out the negotiations as long as possible, in the expectation that the revolution would also cover Germany, which was also exhausted by the war. As subsequent events showed, a revolution was really brewing in Germany, only not a “proletarian”, but a democratic one.
Ultimatum
On February 10, Germany delivered an ultimatum to the Soviet delegation about the impossibility of endlessly dragging out peace negotiations. Germany demanded that Russia give up its rights to Poland, Transcaucasia, the Baltic states and Ukraine, the fate of which will be decided by Germany and its allies, from supporting revolutionary actions in these countries, paying indemnities by Russia, etc. Without changing the principles with which the Bolsheviks came to power, they could not sign such a peace. Trotsky protested the ultimatum, broke off negotiations, declared the state of war ended, and left for Petrograd, leaving the German representatives perplexed.
There were heated discussions among the Bolsheviks and the Left SRs. Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. I. Lenin (cm. LENIN Vladimir Ilyich), who believed that in the conditions of the decay of the old army, a broad desire for peace, and at the same time, with the threat of civil war, it was impossible to wage war with Germany. Recognizing that the world was hard and shameful (“obscene”), Lenin demanded that the ultimatum be accepted in order to provide the Soviet government with a respite. He accused Trotsky of violating discipline with dire consequences: the Germans would resume the offensive and force Russia to accept even more hard world. Trotsky put forward the slogan: "No peace, no war, but dissolve the army," that is, the refusal to sign peace and the end of the state of war, the dissolution of the old decayed army. Delaying the signing of the peace, Trotsky hoped that Germany would transfer troops to the West and would not attack Russia. In this case, the signing of a shameful peace would become unnecessary. Trotsky's calculations were based on the fact that Germany did not have the strength to occupy Russia along with Ukraine. Germany and Austria were on the brink of revolution. In addition, without making peace, the Bolsheviks did not compromise themselves by betraying the interests of the Motherland and conciliation with the enemy. By disbanding the army, they strengthened their influence among the soldier masses, tired of the war.
Left communists (cm. LEFT COMMUNISTS) headed by N. I. Bukharin (cm. Bukharin Nikolay Ivanovich) and the majority of the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries believed that other peoples should not be left under German rule, that they would have to wage a revolutionary, primarily guerrilla, war against German imperialism. They believed that the Germans, in any case, even when signing peace, would continue to put pressure on Soviet Russia, trying to turn it into their vassal, and therefore war was inevitable, and peace would demoralize the supporters of Soviet power. Such a world provided Germany with additional resources to overcome the social crisis; the revolution in Germany would not take place.
But Lenin considered the calculations of Trotsky and Bukharin erroneous, fearing that in the conditions of the German offensive the Soviet government would not be able to stay in power. Lenin, for whom the issue of power was "the key issue of any revolution", understood that successful resistance to the German invasion was impossible without broad support in the country. And the social support of the Bolshevik regime was limited, especially after the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly (cm. CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY). This meant that the continuation of the war would lead to a "shift of power" from the Bolsheviks and Left SRs to a broader coalition, where the Bolsheviks could lose their dominant positions. Therefore, for Lenin, the continuation of the war with a retreat into the depths of Russia was unacceptable. The majority of the Central Committee initially supported Trotsky and Bukharin. The position of the left received the support of the Moscow and Petrograd party organizations of the RSDLP (b), as well as about half of the country's party organizations.
The socialist fatherland is in danger
While sharp disputes were going on in the Council of People's Commissars and the Central Committee of the RSDLP (b), the Germans went on the offensive on February 18 and captured Estonia. An attempt was made to resist them. Near Pskov, units of the retreating Russian army collided with a German detachment that had already occupied the city. After breaking through the city and blowing up the ammunition depot, the Russians took up positions near Pskov. Detachments of sailors and workers headed by P. E. Dybenko were sent near Narva (cm. DYBENKO Pavel Efimovich). But the work detachments were militias that did not represent a serious military force, sailors are poorly disciplined and did not know how to fight on land. Near Narva, the Germans scattered the Red Guards, Dybenko hastily retreated. By February 23, the Germans threatened Petrograd. True, due to the length of communications, the Germans did not have the opportunity to advance deep into Russia. Lenin wrote an appeal "The socialist fatherland is in danger!", where he called for the mobilization of all revolutionary forces to repulse the enemy. But the Bolsheviks did not yet have an army that could defend Petrograd.
Faced with resistance within his own party, Lenin threatened to resign (which, under the circumstances, meant a split in the Bolshevik Party) unless the "obscene" peace terms were accepted. Trotsky understood that in the event of a split in the Bolsheviks, it would be impossible to organize resistance to the German invasion. Before such threats, Trotsky yielded and began to abstain in the peace vote. Left communists found themselves in a minority in the Central Committee. This allowed Lenin to get a majority and predetermined the conclusion of peace on March 3, 1918. According to his conditions, which were even worse than the February 10 ultimatum, Russia waived the rights to Finland, Ukraine, the Baltic states and Transcaucasia, part of Belarus, had to pay an indemnity.
A struggle for the ratification of the peace treaty unfolded. At the 7th Congress of the Bolshevik Party on March 6-8, the positions of Lenin and Bukharin clashed. The outcome of the congress was decided by the authority of Lenin - his resolution was adopted by 30 votes against 12, with 4 abstentions. Trotsky's compromise proposals to make peace with the countries of the Quadruple Alliance as the last concession and forbid the Central Committee to make peace with the Central Rada of Ukraine were rejected. The controversy continued at the Fourth Congress of Soviets, where the Left SRs and anarchists opposed the ratification, while the Left Communists abstained. But thanks to the existing system of representation, the Bolsheviks had a clear majority at the Congress of Soviets. If the left communists had agreed to split the party, the peace treaty would have failed, but Bukharin did not dare to do this. On the night of March 16, peace was ratified.
Brest peace had many adverse effects. A coalition with the Left SRs became impossible (on March 15 they left the government in protest, not wanting to compromise themselves by surrendering to Germany). The occupation of Ukraine by Germany (with subsequent expansion on the Don) disrupted the ties between the center of the country and the grain and raw materials regions. At the same time, the Entente countries began to intervene in Russia, seeking to reduce the possible costs associated with its surrender. The occupation of Ukraine aggravated the food problem and further aggravated relations between the townspeople and the peasantry. Its representatives in the Soviets, the Left Socialist-Revolutionaries, launched an agitation campaign against the Bolsheviks. The capitulation to Germany became a challenge to the national feelings of the Russian people, millions of people, regardless of their social origin, were opposed to the Bolsheviks. Only a very tough dictatorship could resist such sentiments.
Peace with Germany did not mean that the Bolsheviks abandoned the idea of ​​a world revolution as such. The Bolshevik leadership believed that without a revolution in Germany, isolated Russia would not be able to move on to building socialism. After the start of the November Revolution (cm. NOVEMBER REVOLUTION 1918 in Germany) in Germany, the Council of People's Commissars annulled the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on November 13, 1918. However, its consequences have already made themselves felt, becoming one of the factors in the beginning of a large-scale civil war (cm. CIVIL WAR in Russia) in Russia. Post-war relations between Russia and Germany were regulated by the Rapallo Treaty of 1922 (cm. RAPALLA AGREEMENT OF 1922), according to which the parties abandoned mutual claims and territorial disputes, especially since by this time they did not even have a common border.


encyclopedic Dictionary. 2009 .

See what the "Brest Peace" is in other dictionaries:

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