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What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?

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World War I A British soldier inside a trench on the Western Front during World War I, 1914–18.

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, signed on March 3, 1918, was a separate peace agreement between the new Soviet government and the Central Powers, effectively ending Russia's participation in World War I on the Eastern Front.12

Facing internal pressure and the threat of German military advancement, Lenin pushed for the treaty to secure a "breathing space" for his regime, despite opposition from colleagues who viewed the terms as a betrayal. The treaty was highly onerous:12
* Territorial Loss: Russia ceded control over Poland, Finland, the Baltic states, and Ukraine, losing over one-quarter of its population and one-third of its grain-producing land.12
* Economic Indemnity: Russia agreed to pay significant reparations or provide equivalent raw materials.1
* Strategic Impact: The treaty allowed Germany to transfer hundreds of thousands of troops to the Western Front, posing a major threat to the Allies.2

The treaty was ultimately nullified following Germany's surrender in November 1918 and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles.2