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Section III (Personalities): Leon Trotsky, Revolutionary and Theorist of Permanent Revolution
Quick questions on Trotsky, Brest-Litovsk and Foreign Affairs: HSC Modern History Personality
8short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What are appointment as Commissar for Foreign Affairs?Show answer
The Second Congress of Soviets, in establishing Sovnarkom on 26 October 1917, appointed Trotsky Commissar for Foreign Affairs. Trotsky took the post reluctantly, telling Lenin he expected the post to consist of "issuing some revolutionary proclamations to the peoples and then closing up shop." His expectation was that the Russian Revolution would shortly be followed by revolutions in Germany, Austria, France, and Britain, and that conventional diplomacy would become irrelevant.
What is trotsky at Brest?Show answer
Trotsky took personal command of the Soviet delegation in early January 1918. His strategy was delay: he counted on imminent revolution in Germany and Austria, where the January 1918 mass strikes (Berlin, Vienna, Budapest) seemed to confirm the analysis.
What is operation Faustschlag?Show answer
On 18 February 1918 the Germans launched Operation Faustschlag ("Fist Punch"), advancing on Petrograd, Kiev, and the southern Russia oilfields. Russian forces collapsed; in five days the Germans took Pskov and Reval. The Bolshevik Central Committee debated in continuous session. Lenin threatened to resign if the German terms were not accepted.
What is the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk?Show answer
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed at 5:50 PM on 3 March 1918 by Grigori Sokolnikov for the Soviet side. Russia ceded:
What is move to the War Commissariat?Show answer
The Brest-Litovsk experience destroyed Trotsky's tenure at the Foreign Affairs Commissariat. He resigned shortly after the signature. On 13 March 1918 he was appointed People's Commissar for War. From the new post he built the Red Army that would fight the Civil War.
What is q1?Show answer
Source A is an extract from Trotsky's address at the Brest-Litovsk negotiations (10 February 1918). Using Source A and your own knowledge, explain the "no war, no peace" formula. [5 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Evaluate the extent to which Trotsky's conduct of foreign affairs in 1917 to 1918 served Bolshevik interests. [25 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Compare the views of Isaac Deutscher and Robert Service on Trotsky at Brest-Litovsk. [10 marks]