Signed on March 3, 1918, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk represented a pivotal moment for the Russian Empire, dictating its exit from WWI under dire conditions negotiated by Lenin and the Central Powers. The treaty led to the loss of vast territories and deepened divisions within the Russian Communist party, inciting support for monarchists during the Russian Civil War. Despite its harsh terms, Lenin justified acceptance of the treaty as essential for preserving the Bolshevik Revolution and delaying imperialist interventions, although he hoped for a subsequent rise of worker-led revolutions in Western Europe that ultimately did not materialize.
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a harsh agreement that forced the crumbling Russian Empire to withdraw from WWI, fundamentally changing the political landscape of Eastern Europe.
Lenin believed the treaty was necessary to preserve the Bolshevik Revolution's achievements and give space for further revolutions in Europe, despite its severe conditions.
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