The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace agreement that formally ended Russia’s involvement in World War I.
It was signed in the Polish city of the same name on March 3rd 1918. The treaty was controversial due to its costly terms, which saw Russia surrender large amounts of territory and people to Germany and her allies. These terms caused debate and considerable division within the Bolshevik party.
Background
The path to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a bumpy one, filled with demands, delays and divided opinions. The Bolsheviks, a party which had derived considerable public support from its consistent demands for peace, found themselves under pressure to produce a rapid peace settlement.
