Brest peace: who won, who lost. Brest peace - conditions, reasons, significance of signing a peace treaty

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace agreement, after which Russia formally ceased its participation in. It was signed in Brest on March 3, 1918. The path to signing the Brest peace was thorny and full of obstacles. received great popular support, thanks to the promises of peace. Having come to power, they came under great pressure from the public and they needed to act in order to quickly resolve this issue.

Despite this, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed five months after the peace decree and almost a year after Lenin's "April theses" were proclaimed. And although it was a peace treaty, it carried a lot of damage for Russia, which was forced to lose its vast territories, including important food regions. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk also created great political divisions both between the Bolsheviks and their Left SR allies and within the Bolshevik Party itself. Thus, the signing of the peace treaty, although it allowed Lenin to fulfill his promise to the war-weary Russian people, it caused damage to the state as a whole and the Bolshevik Party in particular.

Prerequisites for concluding an agreement

The process of making peace began with the famous Lenin's decree on peace, presented at the Congress of Soviets the day after. With this decree, Lenin ordered the new government to "start immediate peace negotiations", although he insisted on "a just and democratic peace, without annexations and without compensation." In other words, the peace agreement with Germany should not have entailed concessions from Russia. Compliance with this condition was problematic, since at the end of 1917 Germany occupied a significantly higher military position than Russia.

German troops occupied all of Poland and Lithuania, some of them had already moved into the south of Ukraine, and the rest was ready to move deep into the Baltic countries. St. Petersburg was far from the advancing German troops. The new Russian leaders were in no position to dictate their terms to Germany and it was clear that any peaceful German delegation would demand the surrender of a large area of Russian land.

peace signing

In mid-December 1917, German and Russian delegates met in the Polish city of Brest-Litovsk and agreed to an indefinite ceasefire. Five days later, official peace talks began. Members of the German delegation later admitted that they felt contempt for the delegates from the Russian side. The Germans were perplexed that criminals, former prisoners, women and Jews, who were completely inexperienced in conducting such negotiations, came to the negotiations.

But the German delegates carefully concealed their true attitude to what was happening, showing friendliness and creating a relaxed, informal atmosphere. At dinner, talking with the Bolsheviks, the Germans admired the revolution, praised the Russians for overthrowing and for working to make peace for the Russian people. As the Russians became more relaxed, self-confident and drunk, they began to share with the Germans about the state of affairs inside the country, about the state of the economy and the government. This gave the Germans a full understanding of how weak and vulnerable Russia is now.

This informal "friendly" communication was interrupted by the arrival of , who ordered an end to cheerful conversations at dinner and demanded that the negotiations begin to be official. While Joffe was calm, Trotsky was indignant, defiant and self-confident. As he later noted, he behaved more like a winner than like a loser.

Several times Trotsky lectured the Germans on the inevitability of a socialist revolution in their country. Once he even handed out leaflets to German soldiers propagandizing. Trotsky was certain that a socialist revolution would take place in Germany in 1918.

He also used "stagnation" tactics to prolong the peace talks. Trotsky demanded peace from Germany without concessions, although he knew perfectly well that the Germans would never agree to this. He asked for a delay several times in order to return to Russia for advice. The 1918 British cartoon Delivery of Goods depicted the Bolsheviks as secret agents of Germany.

This angered the Germans. They were impatient to sign peace with Russia as soon as possible in order to be able to transfer their forces to the Western Front. Germany's demands were initially quite modest and only wanted independence for Poland and Lithuania, but by the end of January 1918, the German delegates presented Trotsky with a list of new, much more stringent demands.

However, Trotsky continued to insist on peace without concessions. He began to deliberately slow down the negotiation process, while at the same time actively supporting socialist agitators within Germany itself.

They tried to provoke and hasten the German revolution and thereby achieve peace. Trotsky was stubborn and belligerent during the negotiations.

The Germans could not believe the tone in which he spoke to them. One of the generals commented that he spoke as if Russia was not losing, but winning the war. When the Germans presented a new list of demands in January, Trotsky again refused to sign it and returned to Russia.

Signing an agreement

The Bolshevik Party was divided in opinion. wanted to sign the treaty as quickly as possible, a further delay in this decision could result in a German offensive and, ultimately, the loss of St. Petersburg and the entire Soviet state. Nikolai Bukharin rejected any possibility of concluding peace between the Soviets and the capitalists; the war must continue, Bukharin argued, in order to inspire the German workers to arm themselves against their government. Trotsky took a neutral position between them. He believed that the ultimatum of the German terms must be refused, but he did not believe that the Russian army was capable of withstanding another German offensive.

These disagreements lasted until mid-February 1918, when the German government, frustrated by the lack of progress in negotiations, ordered the bombing of Petrograd and invaded the Baltic states, Ukraine, and Belarus. German troops continued to advance and reached the outskirts of St. Petersburg, forcing the Bolsheviks to move the capital to Moscow.

The German advance forced the Bolsheviks back to the negotiating table at the end of February. This time the Germans delivered an ultimatum to the Russians: they had five days to discuss and sign the treaty. Under the terms of this new treaty, Russia must hand over Poland, Finland, the Baltic states and most of Ukraine to Germany. Russia will lose more than two million square kilometers of strategically important territories, including grain processing regions in Ukraine. It will hand over 62 million people to the German government, nearly a third of the country's total population. It will also lose 28% of its heavy industry and three-quarters of its iron and coal reserves. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk put Russia in a humiliating position, making it defeated, and the Germans victorious, having the right to collect war trophies.

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed on March 3, 1918. Lenin had his own opinion on this matter. He argued that any concessions to Germany were temporary, since she herself was on the verge of a socialist revolution. Any treaties and annexations will soon be void. He even threatened to leave the post of party leader if the treaty was not signed.

Trotsky, on the other hand, fiercely resisted the signing of the treaty, he even refused to be present at the same time. At the Seventh Party Congress on March 7, Bukharin condemned the treaty and called for it to be rejected before it was too late and the war to be resumed. However, the council voted for the adoption and approval of the Brest-Litovsk peace. But the harsh territorial and economic conditions imposed by Brest-Litovsk soon bore fruit, and Russia entered into a three-year struggle for survival.

Peace of Brest-Litovsk 3 March 1918 – peace treaty between Germany and the Soviet government for Russia's withdrawal from World War I. This peace did not last long, since already on October 5, 1918, Germany terminated it, and on November 13, 1918, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was terminated by the Soviet side. It happened 2 days after the surrender of Germany in the world war.

Possibility of the world

The issue of Russia's exit from the First World War was extremely relevant. The people largely supported the ideas of the revolution, since the revolutionaries promised an early exit from the country's war, which had lasted for 3 years and was perceived extremely negatively by the population.

One of the first decrees of the Soviet government was the decree on peace. After this decree, on November 7, 1917, he appeals to all the warring countries with an appeal for the speedy conclusion of peace. Only Germany agreed. At the same time, one must understand that the idea of concluding peace with the capitalist countries was in opposition to the Soviet ideology, which was based on the idea of a world revolution. Therefore, there was no unity among the Soviet authorities. And the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in 1918 had to be pushed through by Lenin for a very long time. The party had three main groups:

Bukharin. He put forward ideas that the war must continue at all costs. These are the positions of the classical world revolution.
Lenin. He spoke about the need to sign peace on any terms. This was the position of the Russian generals.
Trotsky. He put forward a hypothesis, which today is often formulated as “No war! No peace! It was a position of uncertainty, when Russia disbands the army, but does not withdraw from the war, does not sign a peace treaty. It was an ideal situation for Western countries.

Armistice

On November 20, 1917, negotiations began in Brest-Litovsk on the upcoming peace. Germany offered to sign an agreement on the following terms: secession from Russia of the territory of Poland, the Baltic states and part of the Baltic Sea islands. In total, it was assumed that Russia would lose up to 160 thousand square kilometers of territory. Lenin was ready to accept these conditions, since the Soviet government did not have an army, and the generals of the Russian Empire unanimously said that the war was lost and that peace should be concluded as soon as possible.

The negotiations were led by Trotsky, in his capacity as People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs. Noteworthy is the fact that secret telegrams between Trotsky and Lenin were preserved during the negotiations. On almost any serious military question, Lenin answered that Stalin should be consulted. The reason here is not the genius of Joseph Vissarionovich, but the fact that Stalin acted as an intermediary between the tsarist army and Lenin.

Trotsky during the negotiations in every possible way dragged out time. He talked about the fact that a revolution was about to happen in Germany, so you just need to wait. But even if this revolution does not happen, Germany does not have the strength for a new offensive. Therefore, he was playing for time, waiting for the support of the party.
During the negotiations, an armistice was concluded between the countries for the period from December 10, 1917 to January 7, 1918.

Why did Trotsky play for time?

Taking into account the fact that from the first days of the negotiations, Lenin took the position of unambiguously signing a peace treaty, Troitsky’s support for this idea meant the signing of the Brest Peace and the end of the saga of the First World War for Russia. But Leiba did not do this, why? Historians give 2 explanations for this:

He was waiting for the German revolution, which was to begin very soon. If this is true, then Lev Davydovich was an extremely short-sighted person, expecting revolutionary events in a country where the power of the monarchy was quite strong. The revolution eventually happened, but much later than the time when the Bolsheviks expected it.
He represented the position of England, the USA and France. The fact is that with the beginning of the revolution in Russia, Trotsky came to the country from the United States with a large amount of money. At the same time, Trotsky was not an entrepreneur, he did not have an inheritance, but he had large sums of money, the origin of which he never specified. It was extremely beneficial for Western countries that Russia delayed negotiations with Germany for as long as possible, so that the latter would leave its troops on the eastern front. This is a little more than 130 divisions, the transfer of which to the western front could drag out the war.

The second hypothesis may at first glance smack of conspiracy theory, but it is not without meaning. In general, if we consider the activities of Leiba Davydovich in Soviet Russia, then almost all of his steps are connected with the interests of England and the United States.

Crisis in negotiations

On January 8, 1918, as was due to the armistice, the parties again sat down at the negotiating table. But literally right there, these negotiations were canceled by Trotsky. He referred to the fact that he urgently needed to return to Petrograd for consultations. Arriving in Russia, he raised the question of whether to conclude the Brest peace in the party. Lenin opposed him, who insisted on signing peace as soon as possible, but Lenin lost 9 votes to 7. The revolutionary movements that began in Germany contributed to this.

On January 27, 1918, Germany made a move that few expected. She signed peace with Ukraine. It was a deliberate attempt to play off Russia and Ukraine. But the Soviet government continued to stick to its line. On this day, a decree was signed on the demobilization of the army

We are withdrawing from the war, but we are forced to refuse to sign a peace treaty.
Trotsky

Of course, this caused her a shock from the German side, which could not understand how to stop fighting and not sign peace.

On February 11, at 17:00, a telegram from Krylenko was sent to all headquarters of the fronts, stating that the war was over and that they had to return home. The troops began to retreat, exposing the front line. At the same time, the German command brought Trotsky's words to Wilhelm 2, and the Kaiser supported the idea of an offensive.

On February 17, Lenin again makes an attempt to persuade party members to sign a peace treaty with Germany. Again, his position is in the minority, since opponents of the idea of signing peace convinced everyone that if Germany did not go on the offensive in 1.5 months, then it would not go on the offensive any further. But they were very wrong.

Agreement signing

On February 18, 1918, Germany launched a large-scale offensive in all sectors of the front. The Russian army was already partially demobilized and the Germans were quietly moving forward. There was a real threat of complete seizure by Germany and Austria-Hungary of the territory of Russia. The only thing that the Red Army was able to do was to give a small battle on February 23 and slightly slow down the enemy’s advance. Moreover, the battle was given by officers who changed into a soldier's overcoat. But it was one center of resistance, which could not solve anything.

Lenin, under the threat of resignation, pushed through the decision to sign a peace treaty with Germany in the party. As a result, negotiations began, which ended very quickly. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed on March 3, 1918 at 17:50.

On March 14, the 4th All-Russian Congress of Soviets ratified the Brest peace treaty. In protest, the Left SRs withdrew from the government.

The terms of the Brest Peace were as follows:

Complete separation from Russia of the territory of Poland and Lithuania.
Partial separation from Russia of the territory of Latvia, Belarus and Transcaucasia.
Russia completely withdrew its troops from the Baltic states and Finland. Let me remind you that Finland had already been lost before.
The independence of Ukraine was recognized, which passed under the protectorate of Germany.
Russia ceded eastern Anatolia, Kars and Ardagan to Turkey.
Russia paid Germany an indemnity of 6 billion marks, which was equal to 3 billion gold rubles.

Under the terms of the Brest Peace, Russia lost an area of 789,000 square kilometers (compare with the initial conditions). 56 million people lived in this territory, which accounted for 1/3 of the population of the Russian Empire. Such heavy losses became possible only because of the position of Trotsky, who at first played for time, and then brazenly provoked the enemy.

The fate of the Brest peace

It is noteworthy that after the signing of the agreement, Lenin never used the word "treaty" or "peace", but replaced them with the word "respite". And it really was so, because the world did not last long. Already on October 5, 1918, Germany terminated the treaty. The Soviet government terminated it on November 13, 1918, 2 days after the end of the First World War. In other words, the government waited for the defeat of Germany, made sure that this defeat was irrevocable and calmly canceled the treaty.

Why was Lenin so afraid to use the word "Brest Peace"? The answer to this question is quite simple. After all, the idea of concluding a peace treaty with the capitalist countries was in opposition to the theory of socialist revolution. Therefore, the recognition of the conclusion of peace could be used by Lenin's opponents to eliminate him. And here Vladimir Ilyich showed a rather high degree of flexibility. He made peace with Germany, but in the party he used the word respite. It was precisely because of this word that the decision of the congress on the ratification of the peace treaty was not published. After all, the publication of these documents using Lenin's wording could be met negatively. Germany made peace, but she did not conclude any respite. Peace puts an end to the war, and a respite implies its continuation. Therefore, Lenin acted wisely not to publish the decision of the 4th Congress on the ratification of the Brest-Litovsk agreements.

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, Dr. von Rosenberg,

Royal Prussian Major General Hoffmann,

Chief of the General Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief 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 the Mission, Dr. Teodor 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. The exact definition of 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 the future fate of these areas by demolition with their population.

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 the new organization of the state-legal and international-legal relations of these districts, but will allow the population of these districts to establish a new system in agreement 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 the parts of the Black Sea subject to Russia, the removal of minefields must begin immediately. 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. Estland and Livonia will be occupied by the German police authorities until public security is ensured there by the country's own institutions and until state order is established there. 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 Åland Islands will also be immediately cleared of Russian troops and the Russian Red Guard, and Finnish ports from 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 must 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 of 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 renounce the reimbursement of their military expenses, i.e., state expenses for the conduct of the war, as well as compensation for military losses, i.e., those losses that were inflicted on them and their citizens in the zone of military operations by military measures, in 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, Appendix 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.

Brest Peace(1918) - a peace treaty between Soviet Russia and Germany and its allies in the world war of 1914-1918: Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey.

Brest Peace

On October 26 (November 8), 1917, the 2nd Congress of Soviets adopted a decree on peace, after which the Soviet government proposed that all belligerent states begin immediate negotiations on an armistice. None of the Entente countries (Russia's allies in the war) responded to these peace proposals, but the countries of the German-Austrian bloc agreed at the end of November to negotiate an armistice and peace with representatives of the Soviet Republic. Negotiations began in Brest-Litovsk on December 9 (December 22), 1917.

The signing of peace at that moment was urgently demanded by the internal and external situation in Soviet Russia. The country was in a state of extreme economic ruin, the old army actually disintegrated, and a new one was not created. But a significant part of the leadership of the Bolshevik Party came out in favor of continuing the revolutionary war (a group of “Left Communists” led by N.I. Bukharin. At the peace negotiations, the German delegation, taking advantage of the fact that the offensive of its army was rapidly developing at the front, offered Russia predatory peace conditions, according to to which Germany would annex the Baltic states, part of Belarus and Transcaucasia, and also receive indemnity.

Since by this time the German troops, without encountering serious resistance from the remnants of the Russian army, had already occupied Ukraine, the Baltic states, most of Belarus, some western and southern regions of Russia and were already approaching Petrograd, on March 3, 1918, Lenin's government signed a peace treaty. In the west, a territory of 1 million square meters was torn away from Russia. km, in the Caucasus, Kars, Ardagan, Batum retreated to Turkey. Russia pledged to demobilize the army and navy. According to an additional Russian-German financial agreement signed in Berlin, she was obliged to pay Germany an indemnity of 6 billion marks. The treaty was ratified on March 15, 1918 by the Extraordinary Fourth All-Russian Congress of Soviets.

On December 9, 1917, peace negotiations began in Brest-Litovsk, where the headquarters of the German command was located. The Soviet delegation tried to defend the idea of a "peace without annexations and indemnities." January 28, 1918 Germany gave Russia an ultimatum. She demanded to sign an agreement under which Russia was losing Poland, Belarus and part of the Baltic States, a total of 150 thousand square kilometers.

This placed the Soviet delegation in front of a severe necessity between the proclaimed principles and the demands of life. According to the principles, war should have been waged, and not a shameful peace with Germany. But they didn't have the strength to fight. The head of the Soviet delegation, Leon Trotsky, like other Bolsheviks, painfully tried to resolve this contradiction. Finally, it seemed to him that he had found a brilliant way out of the situation. On January 28, he delivered his famous peace speech at the talks. In short, it boiled down to the well-known formula: "Don't sign peace, don't wage war, but dissolve the army."

Leon Trotsky declared: “We are withdrawing our army and our people from the war. Our soldier-plowman must return to his arable land in order to peacefully cultivate the land this spring, which the revolution has transferred from the hands of the landowners into the hands of the peasant. We are withdrawing from the war. We refuse to sanction those conditions which German and Austro-Hungarian imperialism writes with a sword on the body of living peoples We cannot sign the Russian revolution under conditions that bring oppression, grief and misfortune to millions of human beings The governments of Germany and Austria-Hungary want to own the lands and the peoples by the right of military seizure. Let them do their work openly. We cannot consecrate violence. We are withdrawing from the war, but we are forced to refuse to sign a peace treaty." After that, he announced the official statement of the Soviet delegation: "Refusing to sign the annexationist treaty , Russia, for its part, declares the state of war ended. az about complete demobilization along the entire front."

German and Austrian diplomats were at first really shocked by this incredible statement. There was complete silence in the room for several minutes. Then the German General M. Hoffmann exclaimed: "Unheard of!" The head of the German delegation, R. Kuhlmann, immediately concluded: "Consequently, the state of war continues." "Empty threats!" - L. Trotsky said, leaving the meeting room.

However, contrary to the expectations of the Soviet leadership, on February 18, the Austro-Hungarian troops launched an offensive along the entire front. Almost no one opposed them: only bad roads prevented the advance of the armies. On the evening of February 23, they occupied Pskov, on March 3 - Narva. The Red Guard detachment of sailor Pavel Dybenko left this city without a fight. General Mikhail Bonch-Bruevich wrote about him: "Dybenko's detachment did not inspire confidence in me; it was enough to look at this sailor freemen with mother-of-pearl buttons sewn on wide bell-bottoms, with rollicking manners, to understand that they would not be able to fight with regular German units. My fears were justified ... "On February 25, Vladimir Lenin bitterly wrote in the Pravda newspaper:" Painfully shameful reports about the refusal of the regiments to maintain their positions, about the refusal to defend even the Narva line, about the failure to comply with the order to destroy everything and everyone during the retreat; let's not say about flight, chaos, handlessness, helplessness, slovenliness".

On February 19, the Soviet leadership agreed to accept the German terms of peace. But now Germany has put forward much more difficult conditions, demanding five times as much territory. About 50 million people lived on these lands; more than 70% of iron ore and about 90% of coal in the country were mined here. In addition, Russia had to pay a huge indemnity.

Soviet Russia was forced to accept these difficult conditions. The head of the new Soviet delegation, Grigory Sokolnikov, read out her statement: “Under the circumstances that have arisen, Russia has no choice. By the fact of the demobilization of its troops, the Russian revolution, as it were, has transferred its fate into the hands of the German people. We do not doubt for a minute that this is the triumph of imperialism and militarism over The international proletarian revolution will prove to be only temporary and coming. After these words, General Hoffmann exclaimed indignantly: "Again the same nonsense!". "We are ready," G. Sokolnikov concluded, "to immediately sign a peace treaty, refusing any discussion of it as completely useless under the circumstances."

March 3 Brest peace treaty was signed. On the Soviet side, the agreement was signed by the deputy. People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs G.Ya.Sokolnikov, Deputy. People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs G.V. Chicherin, People's Commissar for Internal Affairs G.I. Petrovsky and Secretary of the Delegation L.M. Karakhan. Russia lost Poland, the Baltic states, Ukraine, part of Belarus... In addition, under the agreement, Russia transferred more than 90 tons of gold to Germany. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk did not last long in November, after the revolution in Germany, Soviet Russia annulled it.

Shortly after the conclusion of peace, on March 11, V. I. Lenin wrote an article. The lines of N. Nekrasov served as an epigraph to it: You are poor, You are plentiful, You are powerful, You are powerless, Mother Russia!

The head of the Council of People's Commissars wrote: "There is no need for self-deception. We must measure entirely, to the bottom, all that abyss of defeat, dismemberment, enslavement, humiliation into which we have now been pushed. The more clearly we understand this, the more firm, tempered, steel our will will become. .. our adamant determination to achieve, by all means, that Russia ceases to be miserable and powerless, so that it becomes powerful and abundant in the full sense of the word.

On the same day, fearing that the Germans, despite the conclusion of peace, would occupy Petrograd, the Soviet government moved to Moscow. So more than two centuries later, Moscow again became the capital of the Russian state.

The Brest Treaty remained in force for 3 months. After the revolution in Germany 1918–1919, the Soviet government on November 13, 1918 unilaterally annulled it.

Brest Treaty

PEACE TREATY

BETWEEN SOVIET RUSSIA, ON THE ONE PART, AND GERMANY, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, BULGARIA AND TURKEY, ON THE OTHER PART

("BREST WORLD")

Article I

Russia, on the one hand, and Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey, 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

Article III

The regions 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 ... *, which is an essential part of the present peace treaty. The exact definition of this line will be worked out by the Russian-German 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 the future fate of these areas by demolition with their population.

Article IV

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

Article V

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

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 Estlyavdia generally runs along the Narva River. The eastern border of Liflyavdia 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. Estlyavdia and Livonia will be occupied by the German police authorities until public security is ensured there by the country's own institutions.

Finland and the Åland Islands will also be immediately cleared of Russian troops and the Russian Red Guard, and Finnish ports from the Russian fleet and Russian naval forces.

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 resume immediately after the ratification of the peace treaty (...)

Article XIV

The present peace treaty will be ratified (...) the peace treaty comes into force from the moment of its ratification.

Documents of foreign policy of the USSR, vol. 1. M., 1957
Vygodsky S. Lenin's decree on peace. M., 1958
Mayorov S.M. The struggle of Soviet Russia for a way out of the imperialist war. M., 1959

Signing of the Brest Peace

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk is a separate peace treaty between Germany and Soviet Russia, as a result of which the latter, in violation of its conscious obligations to England and France, withdrew from the First World War. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed in Brest-Litovsk

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed on March 3, 1918 by Soviet Russia on the one hand and Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey on the other.

The essence of the Brest Peace

The main driving force of the October Revolution was the soldiers, who were terribly tired of the war, which lasted for the fourth year. The Bolsheviks promised to stop it if they came to power. Therefore, the first decree of the Soviet government was the Decree on Peace, adopted on October 26, according to the old style.

“The Workers' and Peasants' Government, established on October 24-25 ... invites all warring peoples and their governments to begin immediately negotiations for a just democratic peace. A just or democratic peace ... The government considers an immediate peace without annexations (that is, without the seizure of foreign lands, without the forcible annexation of foreign nationalities) and without indemnities. Such a peace is proposed by the Government of Russia to be concluded by all warring peoples immediately ... "

The desire of the Soviet government headed by Lenin to make peace with Germany, albeit at the cost of some concessions and territorial losses, was, on the one hand, the fulfillment of its "pre-election" promises to the people, on the other hand, fears of a soldier's revolt

“Throughout the autumn, delegates from the front came daily to the Petrograd Soviet with a statement that if peace was not concluded before November 1, then the soldiers themselves would move to the rear to make peace with their own means. It became the slogan of the front. Soldiers left the trenches in droves. The October Revolution to some extent suspended this movement, but, of course, not for long ”(Trotsky“ My Life ”)

Brest peace. Briefly

First there was a truce

1914, September 5 - an agreement between Russia, France, England, which forbade the Allies to conclude a separate peace or armistice with Germany
1917, November 8 (O.S.) - The Council of People's Commissars ordered the commander of the army, General Dukhonin, to offer the opponents a truce. Dukhonin refused.
1917, November 8 - Trotsky, as People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, turned to the Entente states and the central empires (Germany and Austria-Hungary) with a proposal to make peace. No response
November 9, 1917 - General Dukhonin was removed from his post. ensign Krylenko took his place
November 14, 1917 - Germany responded to the proposal of the Soviet government to start peace negotiations
1917, November 14 - Lenin unsuccessfully addressed a note to the governments of France, Great Britain, Italy, the USA, Belgium, Serbia, Romania, Japan and China with a proposal, together with the Soviet government, to start peace negotiations on December 1

“The answer to these questions must be given immediately, and the answer is not in words, but in deeds. The Russian army and the Russian people cannot and do not want to wait any longer. On December 1, we start peace talks. If the allied peoples do not send their representatives, we will negotiate with the Germans alone.

1917, November 20 - Krylenko arrived at the headquarters of the commander-in-chief in Mogilev, retired and arrested Dukhonin. On the same day the general was killed by soldiers
November 20, 1917 - negotiations between Russia and Germany on a truce began in Brest-Litovsk
1917, November 21 - the Soviet delegation outlined its conditions: a truce is concluded for 6 months; hostilities are suspended on all fronts; the Germans clear the Moonsund Islands and Riga; any transfer of German troops to the Western Front is prohibited. To which the representative of Germany, General Hoffmann, said that only the winners can offer such conditions and it is enough to look at the map to judge who the defeated country is
November 22, 1917 - The Soviet delegation demanded a break in the negotiations. Germany was forced to agree to Russia's proposals. A truce was announced for 10 days
1917, November 24 - Russia's new appeal to the Entente countries with a proposal to join the peace negotiations. No answer
1917, December 2 - the second truce with the Germans. This time for 28 days

Peace negotiations

1917, December 9, according to Art. Art. - a conference on peace began in the officers' assembly of Brest-Litovsk. The Russian delegation proposed to adopt the following program as a basis
1. No forcible annexation of territories captured during the war is allowed ...
2. The political independence of those peoples who were deprived of this independence during the present war is being restored.
3. National groups that did not enjoy political independence before the war are guaranteed the opportunity to freely decide the issue .... about his state independence ...
4. In relation to territories inhabited by several nationalities, the right of a minority is protected by special laws ....
5. None of the belligerent countries is obliged to pay other countries the so-called war costs ...
6. Colonial issues are resolved subject to the principles set out in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4.
December 12, 1917 - Germany and its allies accepted the Soviet proposals as a basis, but with a fundamental reservation: "the proposals of the Russian delegation could be implemented only if all the powers involved in the war ... pledged to comply with the conditions common to all peoples"
1917, December 13 - the Soviet delegation proposed to announce a ten-day break so that the governments of states that have not yet joined the negotiations could familiarize themselves with the developed principles
1917, December 27 - after numerous diplomatic demarches, including Lenin's demand to transfer negotiations to Stockholm, discussions of the Ukrainian question, the peace conference started working again

At the second stage of the negotiations, the Soviet delegation was headed by L. Trotsky

1917, December 27 - Statement by the German delegation that since one of the most essential conditions that were presented by the Russian delegation on December 9 - the unanimous acceptance by all the warring powers of conditions binding on all - is not accepted, then the document has become invalid
1917, December 30 - after several days of fruitless conversations, the German General Hoffmann declared: “The Russian delegation spoke as if it were a victor who had entered our country. I would like to point out that the facts just contradict this: the victorious German troops are on Russian territory.
January 5, 1918 - Germany presented Russia with the conditions for signing peace

“Having taken out the map, General Hoffmann said: “I leave the map on the table and ask those present to familiarize themselves with it ... The drawn line is dictated by military considerations; it will provide the peoples living on the other side of the line with peaceful state building and the exercise of the right to self-determination.” The Hoffmann Line cut off a territory of over 150,000 square kilometers from the possessions of the former Russian Empire. Germany and Austria-Hungary occupied Poland, Lithuania, some parts of Belarus and Ukraine, parts of Estonia and Latvia, the Moonsund Islands, the Gulf of Riga. This gave them control over the sea routes to the Gulf of Finland and Bothnia and allowed them to develop offensive operations deep into the Gulf of Finland, against Petrograd. The ports of the Baltic Sea passed into the hands of the Germans, through which 27% of all maritime exports from Russia passed. 20% of Russian imports went through the same ports. The established border was extremely disadvantageous for Russia in a strategic sense. It threatened the occupation of all of Latvia and Estonia, threatened Petrograd and, to a certain extent, Moscow. In the event of a war with Germany, this border doomed Russia to the loss of territories at the very beginning of the war ”(“ History of Diplomacy ”, Volume 2)

1918, January 5 - At the request of the Russian delegation, the conference took a 10-day time-out
January 17, 1918 - The conference resumed its work
1918, January 27 - a peace treaty was signed with Ukraine, which was recognized by Germany and Austria-Hungary on January 12
1918, January 27 - Germany presented an ultimatum to Russia

“Russia takes note of the following territorial changes that come into force with the ratification of this peace treaty: the areas between the borders of Germany and Austria-Hungary and the line that passes ... will no longer be subject to the territorial supremacy of Russia. From the fact of their belonging to the former Russian Empire, no obligations will follow for them in relation to Russia. The future fate of these regions will be decided in agreement with these peoples, namely on the basis of the agreements that Germany and Austria-Hungary will conclude with them.

1918, January 28 - in response to a German ultimatum, Trotsky announced that Soviet Russia was ending the war, but was not signing peace - "neither war nor peace." The peace conference is over

The struggle in the party around the signing of the Brest Peace

“The party was dominated by an irreconcilable attitude towards the signing of the Brest conditions ... It found its most striking expression in the grouping of left communism, which put forward the slogan of revolutionary war. The first broad discussion of the differences took place on January 21 at a meeting of active party workers. Three points of view emerged. Lenin was in favor of trying to drag out the negotiations even more, but, in the event of an ultimatum, to capitulate immediately. I considered it necessary to bring the negotiations to a break, even with the danger of a new German offensive, in order to have to capitulate ... already before the obvious use of force. Bukharin demanded war to expand the arena of the revolution. Supporters of the revolutionary war received 32 votes, Lenin collected 15 votes, I - 16 ... More than two hundred Soviets responded to the proposal of the Council of People's Commissars to local Soviets to express their opinion on war and peace. Only Petrograd and Sevastopol spoke out for peace. Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Kharkov, Yekaterinoslav, Ivanovo-Voznesensk, Kronstadt overwhelmingly voted for a break. Such was the mood of our party organizations. At the decisive meeting of the Central Committee on January 22, my proposal passed: to drag out the negotiations; in the event of a German ultimatum, declare the war ended, but do not sign peace; further action depending on the circumstances. On January 25, a meeting of the Central Committees of the Bolsheviks and Left Socialist-Revolutionaries took place, at which the same formula passed by an overwhelming majority.(L. Trotsky "My Life")

Indirectly, Trotsky's idea was to disavow the persistent rumors of the time that Lenin and his party were German agents sent to Russia to break it up and get it out of the First World War (it was no longer possible for Germany to wage a war on two fronts) . A submissive signing of peace with Germany would confirm these rumors. But under the influence of force, that is, the German offensive, the establishment of peace would look like a necessary measure.

Conclusion of a peace treaty

February 18, 1918 - Germany and Austria-Hungary launched an offensive along the entire front from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Trotsky suggested asking the Germans what they wanted. Lenin objected: “Now there is no way to wait, it means to hand over the Russian revolution for scrap ... what is at stake is that we, playing with the war, give the revolution to the Germans”
1918, February 19 - Lenin's telegram to the Germans: "In view of the current situation, the Council of People's Commissars sees itself forced to sign the peace conditions proposed in Brest-Litovsk by the delegations of the Quadruple Union"
1918, February 21 - Lenin declared "the socialist fatherland is in danger"
1918, February 23 - the birth of the Red Army
1918, February 23 - a new German ultimatum

“The first two points repeated the ultimatum of January 27th. But the rest of the ultimatum went incomparably further

Point 3 Immediate retreat of Russian troops from Livonia and Estonia.

Clause 4 Russia pledged to make peace with the Ukrainian Central Rada. Ukraine and Finland were to be cleared of Russian troops.

Clause 5 Russia was to return the Anatolian provinces to Turkey and recognize the cancellation of Turkish capitulations

Point 6. The Russian army is immediately demobilized, including the newly formed units. Russian ships in the Black and Baltic Seas and in the Arctic Ocean must be disarmed.

Clause 7. The German-Russian trade agreement of 1904 is being restored. To it are added guarantees of free export, the right to export ore duty-free, a guarantee of the most favored nation for Germany at least until the end of 1925 ...

Clauses 8 and 9. Russia undertakes to stop all agitation and propaganda against the countries of the German bloc, both within the country and in the areas occupied by them.

Clause 10. Peace conditions must be accepted within 48 hours. Representatives from the Soviet side are immediately sent to Brest-Litovsk and there they are obliged to sign a peace treaty within three days, which is subject to ratification no later than two weeks later.

February 24, 1918 - The All-Russian Central Executive Committee accepted the German ultimatum
February 25, 1918 - The Soviet delegation made a sharp protest against the continuation of hostilities. And yet the advance continued.
1918, February 28 - Trotsky resigned from the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs
1918, February 28 - the Soviet delegation was already in Brest
1918, March 1 - resumption of the peace conference
1918, March 3 - signing of a peace treaty between Russia and Germany
March 15, 1918 - The All-Russian Congress of Soviets ratified the peace treaty by a majority of votes

Terms of the Brest Peace

The peace treaty between Russia and the Central Powers consisted of 13 articles. In the main articles, it was stipulated that — Russia, on the one hand, Germany and its allies, on the other, declare an end to the war.
— Russia is making a complete demobilization of its army;
— Russian warships move to Russian ports until the conclusion of a general peace, or they are immediately disarmed.
— Poland, Lithuania, Courland, Livonia and Estonia departed from Soviet Russia under the treaty.
— In the hands of the Germans remained those areas that lay to the east of the border established by the treaty and were occupied by the time the treaty was signed by German troops.
— In the Caucasus, Russia ceded Kars, Ardagan and Batum to Turkey.
— Ukraine and Finland were recognized as independent states.
— With the Ukrainian Central Rada, Soviet Russia pledged to conclude a peace treaty and recognize the peace treaty between Ukraine and Germany.
— Finland and the Aland Islands were cleared of Russian troops.
— Soviet Russia pledged to stop all agitation against the government of Finland.
— Separate articles of the Russian-German trade agreement of 1904, unfavorable for Russia, came into force again
— The Brest Treaty did not fix the borders of Russia, nor did it say anything about respect for the sovereignty and integrity of the territory of the contracting parties.
— As for the territories that lay east of the line marked in the treaty, Germany agreed to clear them only after the complete demobilization of the Soviet army and the conclusion of a general peace.
— Prisoners of war of both sides were released to their homeland

Lenin’s speech at the Seventh Congress of the RCP (b): “You can never bind yourself with formal considerations in a war, ... an agreement is a means of gathering strength ... Some definitely, like children, think: he signed an agreement, which means he sold himself to Satan, went to hell. It's simply ridiculous when military history says more clearly that the signing of a treaty in the event of a defeat is a means of gathering forces.

Cancellation of the Brest Peace

Decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of November 13, 1918
On the annulment of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
To all the peoples of Russia, to the population of all the occupied regions and lands.
The All-Russian Central Executive Committee of Soviets solemnly declares to everyone that the terms of peace with Germany, signed in Brest on March 3, 1918, have lost their force and significance. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (as well as the additional agreement signed in Berlin on August 27 and ratified by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee on September 6, 1918) as a whole and in all points is declared annihilated. All obligations included in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, relating to the payment of indemnity or the cession of territory and regions, are declared invalid ....
The working masses of Russia, Livonia, Estland, Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Finland, the Crimea and the Caucasus, liberated by the German revolution from the oppression of the predatory treaty dictated by the German military, are now called upon to decide their own fate. The imperialist peace must be replaced by a socialist peace concluded by the working masses of the peoples of Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary who have liberated themselves from the yoke of the imperialists. The Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic invites the fraternal peoples of Germany and the former Austria-Hungary, represented by their Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, to immediately begin settling the issues connected with the destruction of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The true peace of the peoples can be based only on those principles which correspond to fraternal relations among the working people of all countries and nations and which were proclaimed by the October Revolution and defended by the Russian delegation in Brest. All occupied regions of Russia will be cleared. The right to self-determination will be fully recognized for the working nations of all peoples. All losses will be laid on the true culprits of the war, on the bourgeois classes.