What was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
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The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace agreement signed on March 3, 1918, between the new Soviet government of Russia and the Central Powers, led by Germany. The treaty ended Russia's participation in World War I and ceded vast territories to Germany and its allies, including Ukraine, Belarus, and Finland. The treaty was highly controversial in Russia, as the Bolsheviks saw it as a necessary step to end the war and consolidate their power, while others saw it as a betrayal of national interests. The treaty was later nullified by the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I.
What did Russia lose as part of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?
Under the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Russia lost significant territories and natural resources to the Central Powers. The treaty allowed Germany and Austria-Hungary to annex modern-day Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, as well as parts of Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine. Finland was also granted its independence. Russia lost about a quarter of its population, more than a third of its farmland, and nearly half of its industrial assets. In addition to territorial losses, Russia had to pay a large indemnity to the Central Powers. The treaty was highly unpopular in Russia and contributed to the Russian Civil War, which followed soon after.