Separate negotiations with Germany, successful in the beginning, soon reached a deadlock. At the first stage of negotiations the representatives of the countries of the Quadruple union accepted the offer of Russian delegation, including the one of prevention of forced joining of the territories, seized during the war. The Chief of the Headquarters of the German army, general - field marshal P. von Gindenburg bluntly opposed the proposal. On behalf of the kaiser William II he declared, that the supreme command itself should bear the responsibility for peace talks.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany considered it necessary to continue rapproachement with Russia and support Bolsheviks. William II approved this suggestion. However, the requirements of Germany soon became stricter and included giving the territories of Poland, Lithuania, Kurland, Estland, parts of Livland and the Grodno province into its possession.
The TSK of the RSDRP (b) (the Central Committee of the Russian Social Democratic Working Party (of Bolsheviks)), practically solving all the state questions, on January, 11, 1918 with the majority of voices approved the resolution project of Trotsky: " Stop the war, not make peace, demobilize the army". On January 27 Germany, aiming to put pressure upon Russia, signed the peace treaty with UNR as a first step " to the strong and honorable to all sides world peace ". William II, having received the news about it, demanded from Russia conclusion of peace on earlier raised conditions with simultaneous immediate clearance of Livland and Estland territories or immediate break of negotiations and termination of the armistice.
On the 28th of January Trotsky confirmed the former decision of the TSK of the RSDRP (b). After that the German command declared termination of an armistice and reopening of military actions from 12 o'clock on the 18th of February. The German armies were put before the task of realization " of territory - limited actions ", striking a short, but strong blow on the left wing of German East front (operation "Faustshlag"). February 18 the German army started approach maintained by armies of the Ukrainian National Republic in Ukraine, the 1st Polish corps of legionaries - in Byelorussia, Turkish armies - in Transcaucasia, and since February 28 by Austro-Hungarian army.
On the night of the 18th to 19th of November Sovnarkom of RSFSR sent the radiogram to the government of Germany with the consent to make peace. However, joint shifting groups of Germany continued approach, despite the persistent resistance showed in the Pskov, Valksk and Revelsk directions by forces of separate units of Russian army, Red Guards detachments and units of the formed Red Army, and by partial forces of the separate Czechoslovak corps in Ukraine. February, 22 - the TSK of the RSDRP (b) adopted a resolution on an admissibility of use of the help offered by France and England, in war with Germany. However, the events on the front rapidly developed and not in favor of Soviet Russia.
February 25 units of the German army occupied Revel (Tallinn) and 28th - Pskov. The same day peace talks were resumed in Brest-Litovsk. March 3 the Russian delegation headed by Bolshevik G.Y.Sokolnikov (Brilliant), signed the peace treaty with the Quadruple union. " The Congress recognizes as necessary, - the resolution of VII emergency congress of Bolsheviks ran, - to ratify the signed by the Soviet authority severest, most humiliating peace treaty with Germany ". At IV Emergency All-Russia Congress of Soviets in March 15 the contract was ratified by overwhelming majority of votes.
Under the contract Russia had to clear of its armies the provinces of East Anatoly and Ardagan, Kars and Batum districts, Estland, Livland, Aland islands and Ukraine, demobilize the army, make peace with the Ukrainian National Republic and admit the treaty signed with the powers of the Quadruple union.
The borderline in Ukraine still was not set Having taken advantage of it and due to the contract with UNR, Germany continued approach. In April the German armies together with the Ukrainian units occupied Crimea, and in the beginning of May - Rostov-on-Don. The heads of the governments of Great Britain, France and Italy, having discussed the current situation in Russia in March 1918 in London, made a decision to start allied intervention engaging Japan and USA with the purpose of rendering assistance to East Russia. Murmansk Soviet, headed by A.M.Yuryev, beware of possible attack of the German and Finnish armies, with the consent of narkom of foreign affairs Trotsky on March, 2 signed the verbal agreement with allied missions about joint actions on defense of Murmansk territory. In the beginning of March allied troops landed in Murmansk. The government of Great Britain declared its consent to support yesaul G.M.Semenov. In the beginning of April the Japanese and English troops landed in Vladivostok with the purpose of protection of life and the property of foreign citizens. |
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