Intense social crises marked European societies in 1917, as a result of the first three years of conflicts that marked the First World War. Food was lacking in several locations and the number of people dying at the front increased, along with the number of wounded and mutilated. The growing deaths among the civilian population were another factor that accentuated the crises.
After three years of war, some nations involved in the conflict had to rebuild their contingents of soldiers and weapons. For this, the military enlistment it became mandatory and peasant reservists were called to join the war. This fact caused serious problems in Russia, which in 1917 was sending thousands of unprepared peasants to war.
Even in 1917, Russia was in the midst of social disorder, ruled by the absolutist power of Tsar Nicholas II, which imposed high tax rates on Russian society. The population demanded improvements in the quality of life, reduction of tax rates and the country's exit from the war, as the maintenance of Russia in the war brought a burden to the population.
In February 1917, the Russian liberal-conservative party, Menshevik, ousted Tsar Nicholas II from power and implemented a provisional government with the support of the bourgeoisie. In October 1917, the Socialist Revolution took place in Russia. Led by Lenin and Trotsky, the Bolshevik revolutionary party managed to gain power after the victory over the Mensheviks, implementing socialism and nationalization of the economy.
One of the first measures stipulated by the Bolshevik leaders was to amnesty the exiles and withdraw the contingents of Russian soldiers from World War I. In this way, Russia withdrew from the war because of enormous internal political problems. Shortly after the withdrawal of socialist Russia from the war, its main leader, Lenin, signed with Germany a Treaty of Peace between Nations. The Treaty was called Brest-Litovsk (1918). With it, Russia lost several territories to Germany, such as Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Finland.
Russia's withdrawal from World War I anchored Germany's forces. Several territories were left free for the deployment of German troops, enabling the Germans an optimistic climate, that is, Germany reawakened the belief in victory during World War I World.
By Leandro Carvalho
Master in History
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/historiag/saida-russia-primeira-guerra-mundial.htm