On 3 March, 1918, Russia signed a treaty with the Central Powers ending its participation in the First World War in the city of Brest-Litovsk.
The Treaty recognized the independence of Ukraine Georgia and Finland. Russia gave up Poland and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to Germany and Austria-Hungary. The Treaty also surrendered Kars, Ardahan and Batum to Turkey.
The Treaty was a huge loss for Russia; it lost one third of its population, a majority of its coal, oil and iron stores, and much of its Industry. This was followed by the dismantling of the democratically elected parliament.
The Bolsheviks were met with widespread opposition after the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The political conditions in Russia led to a civil war that started in 1918. The war lasted for three years. After the civil war, the Bolsheviks started what came to be known as the Red Terror. Cheka, the secret police hunted down opponents of the state.
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