TREATY+OF+BREST-LITOVSK

The treat of Brest-Litvosk was signed by the central powers and Russia on the 3rd of March 1918. It removed Russia from the war, however it did come at a large cost. The terms included: > > >
 * Riga, Lithuania, Livonia, Estonia, a portion of white Russia and area around the baltic sea was given to Germany
 * All Turkish land seized by Russia was to be returned
 * Poland and Finland were granted independence
 * Russia had to pay 6 million marks in reparations
 * Russia lost..**.
 * one third of it's population
 * one third of it's fertile land
 * 54% of it's industry
 * 75% of its coal mines
 * 73% of it's iron supplies
 * 85% of it's sugar production


 * Leading up to it...**

Initially Russia Refused to sign the treaty in an attempt to post-pone negotiations and buy time. Lenin had said from the beginning of his reign, that it is critical for Russia to end the war at all costs. However, Trotsky had not supported this, thinking that the German worker's would rise up against their leaders in support for their fellow Russian workmen. Although Germany became agitated and began to advance on Russia again on the 18th of February 1918. They gained 100 miles in just four days. Germany's advance made it clear to Trotsky that LEnin was correct and the treaty must be signed.

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The signing of the treaty proved to the people of Russia that Lenin would keep to his promise of peace to the people. Furthermore it strengthened his position his position and demoted the extreme left in the party, which made the party more stable and thus, more difficult to discard. This also strengthened the Bolsheviks leadership by uniting Lenin and Trotsky, two powerful leaders in the party. Removing Russia from the war meant that the Bolsheviks could focus on internal issues, which appeased the discontent war was creating amongst the people.
 * How this consolidated Bolshevik power...**


 * Where to from here...**

The treaty only lasted for 8 months before the German’s renounced it on the 5th November 1918 because of the extensive resources it required to enforce their occupation, which restricted their resources on the western front. As well as this the revolutionary propaganda promoting socialism was beginning to leak into the German population, which was a dangerous threat for the Kaiser and German government. The treaty was then annulled on the 11th November 1918 with the Central Powers surrendering World War One. The terms of this treaty lead to the Winter War between Finland and Russia, as Russia were trying to gain back the land they lost and Finland wanted to protect their independence. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was made with Nazi Germany in order for Russia to annex the Baltic States and Russia also claimed eastern Poland when Germany invaded the independent country in 1939. In the 1919 Paris Peace Conference Russia gained back territories such as Ukraine and Belarus.

__**Helpful sources:**__

//__Books:__//

H.R Cowie, 1996, "//The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk",// Modern Revolutions Their character and influence, p. 125-7.

//__Internet:__//

Unknown, 2013, Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, History Learning Site, viewed 26 th May 2013, __ [] __

Hickman, K. unknown, World War I: Treaty of Brest-Litvosk, About, viewed 26 th May 2013, __ [] __

Unknown, 1918, treaties of Brest-Litovsk, Britannica, viewed 30 th May 2013, [|http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/78908/treaties-of-Brest-][|Litovsk]

Unknown, 2013, Treaty of Brest-Litovsk concluded, History, viewed 24 th May 2013, __ [] __

//__Primary source:__//

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