Russia left World War I primarily because the Bolsheviks, a communist party led by Vladimir Lenin, seized power in November 1917. Their priority was to end Russia's involvement in the war to focus on winning a civil war against domestic opponents and to build a communist state. Russia was also suffering from severe economic strain, food shortages, military defeats, and internal unrest, which made continuing the war effort unsustainable. The Bolsheviks signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany in March 1918, officially ending Russia's participation in World War I and ceding large territories to Germany as part of the peace agreement. Key reasons for Russia's withdrawal include:
- The Bolsheviks' promise to bring "peace, land, and bread," with peace meaning immediate withdrawal from the war.
- The February and October Revolutions of 1917, which destabilized the country and led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the provisional government.
- Russia's military defeats and exhaustion, such as the crushing loss at the Battle of Tannenberg.
- Economic hardship, food shortages, and general war weariness among the population.
- The calculation by Bolshevik leadership that Germany would lose the war soon, making withdrawal a lesser evil.
- The need to focus resources on the Russian Civil War following the Bolshevik takeover.
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk saw Russia lose about a third of its population and significant industrial and agricultural land, but the treaty allowed the new Soviet government to consolidate power internally.
