The Brest-Litovsk Treaty, signed on March 3, 1918 between Soviet Russia and the Central Forces (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria), was one of the most controversial agreements in modern history. Although capitulation led to significant territorial and economic losses for Russia, it was a strategic choice by Vladimir Lenin, which allowed the Bolsheviks to maintain power and consolidate the first socialist state.
Russia, as part of Antad’s alliance, had been involved in World War I since 1914. However, the war had exhausted the country, causing deep political-economic and social crisis, which led to the fall of the Tsarist regime in February 1917. population. The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, took advantage of this discontent and promised peace (“land, peace, bread”, was one of their main slogans), which helped them to win the support of the people and seize power in October 19.
Immediately after the Revolution, the Soviet government issued a decree calling for peace talks with no attachments and compensation. However, neither the central forces nor the Antad recognized the new regime. With the war continuing and the country in chaos, Lenin went on a unilateral ceasefire and began negotiations with the central forces in Brest-Litovsk. Although the Bolsheviks hoped that their revolution would be accompanied by corresponding developments in Europe, there were no mass uprisings in other countries, which weakened their negotiating position.
Lenin, realizing that the Russian army was disorganized and unable to continue the war, concluded that capitulation was the only realistic choice
The central forces demanded extensive territorial concessions from Russia, looking forward to the creation of a zone of political and economic influence in Eastern Europe. Lenin, realizing that the Russian army was disorganized and unable to continue the war, concluded that capitulation was the only realistic choice. Although faced with a fierce intra -party reaction, he insisted that temporary retreat was necessary to save the Soviet power.
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, signed on March 3, 1918, provided for the loss of huge areas, including Ukraine, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and parts of Poland and the Caucasus. Russia lost about 34% of its pre -war population, 54% of its industrial infrastructure, 32% of arable land and 87% of carbon deposits. Despite the heavy losses, the treaty was ratified by the 7th Bolshevik Congress on March 8 and by the 4th Pan -Russian Congress of the Soviet a few days later.
This decision had multiple effects. On the one hand, he undermined the Bolshevik prestige and caused internal conflicts. On the other hand, it has given the new Soviet government time to consolidate its power, tackle the counter -revolution and create the first socialist state in the world.
Eventually, the Brest-Litovsk Treaty ceased to apply in the fall of 1918, after the defeat of the Central Forces in World War I. This justified Lenin’s strategy, as Soviet Russia regained much of the lost territories without having to fight. Although capitulation was initially regarded as a betrayal of proletarian internationalism, its long -term importance was crucial to the survival of the Soviet regime.
The treaty – in combination with other actions launched on the inner front – marked the conversion of the Bolsheviks from a revolutionary movement into a government force, which had to make realistic decisions for its survival. This experience has led to the formation of a new foreign policy strategy based on diplomacy and regular maneuvering for the protection of Soviet power.
In conclusion, the Brest-Litovsk Treaty was a painful but strategically necessary retreat. Without it, Soviet Russia would probably have collapsed before it could consolidate the new regime. Lenin, despite internal disagreements, understood that peace was essential for the long -term building of the socialist state. This decision, though controversial, shaped the course of the Soviet Union and world history.
Column Curator: Myrto Katsiera, Vassilis Minakakis, Antigoni-Despina Poumenidou, Athanasios Syroplakis
