The conclusion of the Brest peace with Germany

At the end of October 1917, there was a change of power - it passed into the hands of the Bolsheviks, and they made the main slogan of Russia's foreign policy "peace without annexations and indemnities." At the first and, ironically, the last convocation of the Constituent Assembly, the Bolsheviks presented their Decree on Peace, which assumed a cessation that had already taken on a protracted character.
The armistice, initiated by the Soviet government, was signed on 2 December. And from that moment on, the soldiers began to spontaneously leave the front - most of them were rather tired of the fighting, and they wanted to go home, behind the front line, where most of the country's population was busy dividing the land. They left in different ways: some - without permission, taking weapons and ammunition with them, others - legally, asking for leave or on business trips.

Signing of the Brest Peace

A few days later, in Brest-Litovsk, negotiations began on a peace agreement, at which the Soviet government offered Germany to conclude a peace under which Russia would not pay indemnities. Never before in its entire history has our country paid this kind of payment, and the Bolsheviks wanted to continue to adhere to this policy. However, this did not suit Germany at all, and at the end of January 1918 an ultimatum was presented to Russia, as a result of which the Russians were deprived of Belarus, Poland and, in part, the Baltic states. Such a turn of events put the Soviet command in a difficult position: on the one hand, such a shameful peace could not be concluded in any case, and the war should have continued. On the other hand, forces and means to continue to lead fighting, was gone.
And then Leon Trotsky, who was at the head of the Soviet delegation, delivered a speech at the negotiations that said that Russia would not sign peace, but also did not intend to continue the war; she will simply disband the army and withdraw from the war zone. This statement by Russia threw all the participants in the negotiations into confusion: it was difficult to remember that someone else was trying to end the military conflict in such, to put it mildly, extraordinary way.
But neither Germany nor Austria-Hungary was satisfied with such a resolution of the conflict at all. Therefore, on February 18, they went on the offensive, going far beyond the front line. Nobody resisted them: cities, one after another, surrendered without a fight. The very next day, the Soviet leadership came to the realization that the most difficult conditions put forward by Germany would have to be accepted and agreed to conclude this peace treaty, which was signed on March 3, 1918.

Terms of the Brest-Litovsk peace with Germany

Under the terms of the Brest Peace:
1) Russia lost Ukraine, the Grand Duchy of Finland, partly - Belarus, Poland and the Baltic states.
2) The Russian army and navy were to be demobilized.
3) The Russian Black Sea Fleet was to withdraw to Germany and Austria-Hungary.
4) Russia lost part of the land in the Caucasus - Batumi and Kars regions.
5) The Soviet government was obliged to stop revolutionary propaganda in Germany and Austria, as well as in the countries allied to them.
Among other things, Russia was obliged to pay reparations to Germany and the losses incurred by it during the revolutionary events in Russia.
However, even after the conclusion of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany, the Soviet government still did not rule out that German troops would continue their advance across the country and occupy Petrograd. As a result of these fears, it moved to Moscow, thus making it the Russian capital again.

Consequences of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany

The humiliating peace agreement with the Germans met with a strong negative reaction both in Russia itself and among former allies according to the Entente. However, the consequences of the conclusion of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany were not as serious as first thought. The reason for this was the defeat of the Germans in World War I. On November 13, the peace treaty was annulled by the Bolsheviks, and Lenin, their leader, gained a reputation as a political seer. However, many believe that by concluding the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and accepting humiliating conditions, the “leader of the world proletariat” and his comrades simply paid off Germany for the patronage that they received during the years of preparation for the struggle for power.

The Brest peace is one of the most humiliating episodes in the history of Russia. It became a resounding diplomatic failure of the Bolsheviks and was accompanied by an acute political crisis within 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 peoples. 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 war. 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.

Terms

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 a just peace 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 war with German imperialism, and in the future they hoped to conduct regular military operations with the forces of the Red Army being created.

For the immediate conclusion of a separate peace was, above all, Lenin. He was afraid German offensive and the complete loss of their own power, which, even after the coup, relied heavily 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 terms of the Brest Peace would seem not so humiliating.

Intermediate position in internal party struggle occupied by Trotsky. 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, waiting for 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 up the Batumi and Kars regions, had to demobilize all her troops, abandon 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.

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk*

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

For the Russian Federative Soviet Republic:

Grigory Yakovlevich Sokolnikov, member of the Center. Performed K-ta Soviet Rab., Sold. and Cross. deputies,

Lev Mikhailovich Karakhan, member of the Center. Performed K-ta Soviet Rab., Sold. and Cross. deputies,

Georgy Vasilyevich Chicherin, Assistant to the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs and

Grigory Ivanovich Petrovsky, People's Commissar for internal affairs.

From the Imperial German Government: Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Imperial Privy Councilor 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 And

captain 1st rank Gorn.

From the Imperial and Royal General Austro-Hungarian Government:

Minister of the Imperial and Royal Household and Foreign Affairs, His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty Privy Councilor Ottokar Count Czernin von i zu-Khudenitz, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty Privy Councilor Mr. Cajetan Merey von Kapos Mere, General of Infantry, His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty, Privy Councilor Mr. Maximilian Cicerich von Bachani.

From royal Bulgarian government:

Royal Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary in Vienna, Andrei Toshev, Colonel of the General Staff, Royal Bulgarian Military Commissioner to His Majesty the German Emperor and Adjutant Wing of His Majesty the King of Bulgaria, 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 Military Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the Sultan to His Majesty the German Emperor, Zeki- Pasha.

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 resolutions:

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.

The contracting parties will refrain from any agitation or propaganda against the government or state or 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.

The regions lying to the west of the line established by the contracting parties and formerly belonging to Russia will no longer be under its control. 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 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.

Germany is ready, as soon as a general peace is concluded and a completely Russian demobilization is carried out, to clear the territory lying to the east of that indicated in paragraph 1 of Art. 3 lines, as Article 6 does not provide 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.

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 them there until the conclusion of a general peace, or immediately disarm them. The military courts of the states that are still at war with the powers of the Quadruple Union, 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 Russian-controlled parts of the Black Sea, the removal of minefields must begin immediately. Merchant shipping in these maritime regions is free and immediately resumed. To develop more precise regulations, in particular for publication to the public safe ways for merchant ships, mixed commissions will be created. Navigation routes must be kept clear of floating mines at all times.

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 passes, in general, along the river. Narova. The eastern border of Livonia passes, in general, 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 or 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 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. As regards the prohibition to continue erecting 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.

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.

The prisoners of war of both sides will be released to their homeland. The settlement of related issues will be the subject of special agreements provided for in Art. 12.

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. from 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 10

Diplomatic and consular relations between the contracting parties will resume immediately after the ratification of the peace treaty. Regarding the admission of consuls, both parties reserve the right to enter into special agreements.

Article 11

Economic relations between Russia and the powers of the Quadruple Union are determined by the decrees contained in Appendices 2-5, with Appendix 2 defining the relationship between Russia and Germany, Appendix 3 between Russia and Austria-Hungary, Appendix 4 between Russia and Bulgaria, annex 5 -- between Russia and Turkey.

Article 12

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 13

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

Article 14

The present peace treaty will be ratified. The exchange of instruments of ratification should take place as soon as possible in Berlin. Russian government undertakes to exchange instruments of ratification at the request of one of the powers of the Quadruple Union within a period of two weeks.

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.

Authentic in five copies.

Appendix 2

Peace terms proposed by Germany on February 21, 1918 in response to the Soviet government's message of agreement to sign peace

"Germany is ready to resume negotiations and conclude peace with Russia on the following terms:

1. Germany and Russia declare an end to the state of war. Both peoples are ready to continue to live in peace and friendship.

2. The regions lying to the west of the line reported by the Russian plenipotentiary in Brest-Litovsk and formerly part of the Russian Empire are no longer subject to the territorial sovereignty of Russia. In the region of Dvinsk, this line extends to the eastern border of Courland. From the fact that these regions belonged to the Russian Empire, no obligations arise for them in relation to Russia. Russia refuses any interference in inner life these areas. Germany and Austria-Hungary intend to determine the future fate of these areas in agreement with their population. Germany is ready immediately, upon the conclusion of a general peace and the complete completion of Russian demobilization, to clear the area lying to the east of the indicated line, since from Art. 3 does not imply anything else.

3. Livonia and Estonia are immediately cleared of Russian troops and Red Guards and occupied by German police troops until the local authorities are able to guarantee peace and order is restored. All political arrests from local citizens are immediately released.

4. Russia immediately makes peace with the Ukrainian People's Republic. Ukraine and Finland are cleared of Russian troops and the Red Guard without delay.

5. Russia, by all means at its disposal, will contribute to the speedy and planned return of Turkey to its Anatolian provinces and recognizes the cancellation of Turkish capitulations.

6a). The complete demobilization of the Russian armies, including the units newly formed by the current government, must be carried out immediately.

6b). Russian warships in the Black Sea, in the Baltic Sea and in the Arctic Ocean must either be transferred to Russian ports, where they must be interned until the conclusion of a general peace, or must be immediately disarmed. Military vessels of the Entente, located in the sphere of influence of Russia, are considered as Russian.

6c). Merchant navigation in the Black and Baltic Seas is immediately restored, as was provided for in the armistice agreement. The necessary clearance of mines begins immediately. The blockade in the Arctic Ocean remains until the conclusion of a general peace.

7. The German-Russian trade agreement of 1904 comes into force again, as provided for in Article 7 (paragraph 2) of the peace treaty with Ukraine, and the special favor provided for in Article 11 (paragraph 3, paragraph 1) of the trade agreement is excluded in relation to the eastern countries; further, the entire first part of the final protocol is restored. To this are added: guarantees of free export and the right of duty-free export of ore; early start of negotiations on the conclusion of a new trade agreement; a guarantee of the most favored nation, at least until the end of 1925, even in the event of a declaration of termination of the temporary treaty, and, finally, the conditions corresponding to Article 7, paragraphs 3 and 4 (paragraph 1) and paragraph 5 of the peace treaty with Ukraine.

8. Issues of a legal nature are regulated in accordance with the decisions of the Russian-German legal commission adopted in the first reading; since no decisions were made, the proposals from the German side come into force regarding compensation for the losses of individuals, and the Russian proposal regarding compensation for the maintenance of prisoners of war. Russia will allow and will, to the best of its ability, support the activities of the German commissions, in the sense of caring for German prisoners of war, civilian prisoners and migrants.

9. Russia undertakes to cease all official or official-supported agitation or propaganda against the Allied governments and their state and military institutions, also in the areas occupied by the Central Powers.

10. The above conditions must be accepted within 48 hours. Russian representatives must immediately go to Brest-Litovsk and there sign a peace treaty within three days, which is subject to ratification no later than two weeks later.

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk is an agreement between Germany and the Soviet government, imposing an obligation on Russia to withdraw from the First World War. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was concluded on March 3, 1918 and ended after the surrender of Germany in the World War.

History of signing

Before the start of the war, all countries Western Europe knew what the position of the Russian Empire was: the country was in a state of economic upsurge.

This was evidenced not only by an increase in the standard of living of the population, but also by the convergence of the foreign policy of the Russian Empire with the advanced states of that time - Great Britain and France.

Changes in the economy gave impetus to changes in the social sphere, in particular, the number of the working class increased, but the majority of the population was still peasants.

It is the active foreign policy countries led to the final formation of the Entente - the union of Russia, France and England. In turn, Germany and Austria-Hungary and Italy formed the main composition tripartite alliance opposed to the Entente. The colonial contradictions of the great powers of that time led to the beginning

Long time the Russian Empire was in a military decline, which intensified by the beginning of the world war. The reasons for this state of affairs are obvious:

• late completion military reform that began after the Russo-Japanese War;
• the slow implementation of the program for the formation of new armed formations;
• lack of ammunition and provisions;
• aging military doctrine, including an increased number of cavalry in the Russian troops;
• lack of automatic weapons and means of communication in providing the army;
• insufficient qualifications of the commanding staff.

These factors contributed to the low combat capability Russian army and an increase in the number of deaths during military campaigns. In 1914, the Western and Eastern Fronts were formed - the main arenas of the First World War. During 1914-1916, Russia took part in three military campaigns on the Eastern Front.

The first campaign (1914) was marked by a successful Galician battle for the Russian state, during which the troops occupied Lvov, the capital of Galicia, as well as the defeat of Turkish troops in the Caucasus.

The second campaign (1915) began with a breakthrough German troops on the territory of Galicia, during which the Russian Empire suffered significant losses, but at the same time remained capable of providing military support to the territories of the allies. At the same time, the Quadruple Union (a coalition of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria) was formed on the territories of the Western Front.

During the Third Campaign (1916), Russia manages to improve the military situation of France, at this time Western front The United States enters the war against Germany.

In July, the offensive intensified on the territory of Galicia under the command of Brusilov A.A. The so-called Brusilovsky breakthrough was able to bring the army of Austria-Hungary to a critical state. Brusilov's troops occupy the territories of Galicia and Bukovina, but due to the lack of support from the allied countries, they are forced to go on the defensive.

During the course of the war, the attitude of soldiers towards military service, discipline is deteriorating and there is a complete demoralization of the Russian army. By the beginning of 1917, when Russia was overtaken by a nationwide crisis, the economy in the country was in a significant decline: the value of the ruble was falling, the financial system was being disrupted, the work of about 80 enterprises was stopped due to a lack of fuel energy, and taxes were increasing.

There is an active increase in the high cost and the subsequent collapse of the economy. This was the reason for the introduction of compulsory grain distribution and the mass indignation of the civilian population. In the course of the development of the problems of the economy, the revolutionary movement, which brings to power the Bolshevik faction, the primary task of which was the withdrawal of Russia from the world war.

This is interesting! main force October revolution there was a movement of soldiers, so the promise of the Bolsheviks to stop hostilities was obvious.

Negotiations between Germany and Russia on the coming peace began as early as 1917. Trotsky dealt with them, at that time People's Commissar on foreign affairs.

At that time, there were three main forces in the Bolshevik Party:

• Lenin. He argued that the peace agreement must be signed on any terms.
• Bukharin. He promoted the idea of ​​war at any cost.
• Trotsky. He supported the uncertainty - an ideal alignment for the countries of Western Europe.

The idea of ​​signing a document on the conclusion of peace was most supported by V.I. Lenin. He understood the need to accept the conditions of Germany and demanded from Trotsky that he sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, but the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs was confident in the further development of the revolution in Germany, as well as in the absence of forces from the Triple Alliance for further offensives.

That is why Trotsky, an ardent leftist communist, delayed the moment of concluding a peace treaty. Contemporaries believe that such behavior of the people's commissar gave impetus to tightening the terms of the document on the conclusion of peace. Germany demanded the detachment from Russia of the Baltic and Polish territories and some of the Baltic islands. It was assumed that Soviet state will lose up to 160 thousand km2 of territory.

The armistice was concluded in December 1917 and was valid until January 1918. In January, both sides were supposed to meet in negotiations, which, as a result, were urgently canceled by Trotsky. A peace agreement is signed between Germany and Ukraine (thus an attempt was made to pit the government of the UNR and the Soviet power), and the RSFSR decides to announce its withdrawal from the world war without signing a peace treaty.

Germany launches a large-scale offensive on the Eastern Front, which leads to the threat of the seizure of the territories of the Bolshevik state. The result of such tactics was the signing of peace in the city of Brest-Litovsk.

Signing and terms of the contract

The peace document was signed on March 3, 1918. The terms of the Brest peace treaty, as well as the additional agreement concluded in August of the same year, were as follows:

1. Russia's loss of a territory with a total area of ​​about 790 thousand km2.
2. Withdrawal of troops from the Baltic regions, Finland, Poland, Belarus and Transcaucasia and the subsequent abandonment of these territories.
3. Recognition by the Russian state of the independence of Ukraine, which came under the protectorate of Germany.
4. Turkey cedes the territories of Eastern Anatolia, Kars and Ardagan.
5. Germany's indemnity in the amount of 6 billion marks (about 3 billion gold rubles).
6. Entry into force of certain clauses of the trade agreement of 1904.
7. Cessation of revolutionary propaganda in Austria and Germany.
8. The Black Sea Fleet went under the command of Austria-Hungary and Germany.

Also in the additional agreement there was a clause that obliged Russia to withdraw the Entente troops from its territories and, in the event of the defeat of the Russian army, the German-Finnish troops had to eliminate this problem.

Sokolnikov G. Ya., at the head of the delegation and People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs G. V. Chicherin, signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk at 5:50 pm local time, thus trying to correct the mistakes of the one who adhered to the principle of "no war, no peace" - L. D. Trotsky.

The Entente states accepted the separate peace with hostility. They openly declared their non-recognition of the Brest Treaty and began to land troops in different parts of Russia. Thus began the imperialist intervention in the Soviet country.

Note! Despite the conclusion of a peace treaty, the Bolshevik authorities feared a second offensive by the German troops and moved the capital from Petrograd to Moscow.

Already in 1918, Germany was on the verge of collapse, under the influence of which there was an actively hostile policy towards the RSFSR.

Only the bourgeois-democratic revolution prevented Germany from joining the Entente and organizing the struggle against Soviet Russia.

The annulment of the peace treaty gave Soviet authorities the opportunity not to pay indemnity and begin the liberation of the Russian regions captured by the Germans.

Modern historians argue that the importance of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in the history of Russia can hardly be overestimated. The assessments of the Brest Peace Treaty are diametrically opposed. Many believe that the treaty served as a catalyst for the further development of the Russian state.

According to others, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk pushed the state to the abyss, and the actions of the Bolsheviks should be perceived as a betrayal of the people. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk had unfavorable consequences.

The occupation of Ukraine by Germany created a food problem, disrupted the ties between the country and the regions of grain and raw materials production. Economic and economic devastation worsened, Russian society split at the political and social level. The results of the split were not long in coming - the Civil War(1917-1922).

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The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a forced measure based on the economic and military decline of Russia, as well as the activation of German and allied troops on the Eastern Front.

The document did not last long - already in November 1918 it was canceled by both sides, but it was he who gave impetus to fundamental changes in the power structures of the RSFSR. Historical assessments of the Brest peace make it clear: the Russian state lost to the losing side, and this is a unique event in the history of mankind.

In contact with

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:

Secretary of State 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 Russian-controlled parts of the Black Sea, 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 the 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.