The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty between Soviet Russia and the Central Powers, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire, which took Russia out of the First World War. The Bolshevik government under Lenin had sought peace after the revolution, but negotiations were prolonged by Trotsky, and Germany resumed its advance. The final terms were harsh: Russia lost control of Poland, the Baltic provinces, Ukraine and Finland, along with a large part of its population, industry and coal mines. Many Bolsheviks opposed signing, but Lenin argued that the revolution had to survive. The treaty was annulled after Germany's defeat in November 1918, and Russia then fought a civil war.
Before and after
- 20 January 1918Battle of Imbros
- 26 January 1918Birth of Nicolae Ceaușescu
- from 27 January 1918 to 15 May 1918Finnish Civil War
- 6 February 1918British women over 30 win the vote
- 3 March 1918Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
- from 21 March 1918 to 5 April 1918Operation Michael
- from 21 March 1918 to 18 July 1918Spring Offensive
- 25 March 1918Death of Claude Debussy
- from 30 March 1918 to 28 November 1920Armenian–Azerbaijani War
More in Wars, politics & history
- from 25 April 1915 to 9 January 1916Gallipoli Campaign
- 4 June 1917Pulitzer Prize
- 30 September 1938Munich agreement
- from 1 September 1939 to 6 October 19391939 Invasion of Poland
- from 7 December 1941 to 2 September 1945Pacific War
- from 6 June 1944 to 29 August 1944Normandy landings
The era
This moment belongs to the Modern era (1914 CE to 1945 CE), world wars and a changing world. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.