The Terms of Brest-Litovsk

After the October Revolution, which Trotsky had masterfully planned and executed, the new Soviet leadership quickly endorsed Vladimir's Ilich Lenin's “Decree on Peace,” urging all combatants to conclude a “just, democratic peace.” This, of course, was not at all to the liking of Russia's erstwhile allies. Germany, needless to say, was highly enthused about this. After all, the Kaiser had funded Lenin's "sealed train" trip back to Russia in hopes he would help sabotage the tsar's regime and end the war. This was the "deal" that Germany imposed on the now Communist-led government of Russia.

However, when the Germans lost the Great War, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was negated and the Bolsheviks managed to gain back much territory ceded to the Germans once they emerged victorious from their civil war. The challenge that the Bolsheviks placed before the world was not lost on the leaders of the Entente. Because of Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, the Germans arrived at Versailles believing that they were about to negotiate a peace without annexation and indemnities.

Despite the best efforts of President Wilson, the Europeans were not ready to pursue peace without draconian consequences for the defeated foe. The Germans did it to the Russians and in the minds of the French and British, it was now their (the Germans') turn to suffer a devastating defeat. Ironically, the Imperial Army fell victim to the collapse of Russian society and was not decisively defeated by the Germans. And the German military entered the postwar period believing that the failure of civilian politicians and not their operational performance allowed the Entente to dictate the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Both nations had to endure humiliating defeats although their respective armies had not been defeated. Harsh peace treaties and undefeated armies did little to resolve deeply rooted problems in both countries as they entered the post-World War I era. 

Source: Over the Top, February 2018