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The Peace Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
3 March, 1918
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Article I. Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey, for the one part, and Russia, for the
other part, declare that the state of war between them has ceased. They are resolved to live
henceforth in peace and amity with one another.
Article II. The contracting parties will refrain from any agitation or propaganda against the
Government or the public and military institutions of the other party. In so far as this obligation
devolves upon Russia, it holds good also for the territories occupied by the Powers of the
Quadruple Alliance.
Article III. The territories lying to the west of the line agreed upon by the contracting parties which
formerly belonged to Russia, will no longer be subject to Russian sovereignty; the line agreed upon
is traced on the map submitted as an essential part of this treaty of peace. The exact fixation of the
line will be established by a Russo-German commission.
No obligations whatever toward Russia shall devolve upon the territories referred to, arising from the fact that they formerly belonged to Russia.
Russia refrains from all interference in the internal relations of these territories. Germany and
Austria-Hungary purpose to determine the future status of these territories in agreement with their
population.
Article IV. As soon as a general peace is concluded and Russian demobilization is carried out
completely Germany will evacuate the territory lying to the east of the line designated in paragraph 1
of Article III, in so far as Article IV does not determine otherwise.
Russia will do all within her power to insure the immediate evacuation of the provinces of eastern
Anatolia and their lawful return to Turkey.
The districts of Erdehan, Kars, and Batum will likewise and without delay be cleared of the russian
troops. Russia will not interfere in the reorganization of the national and international relations of
these districts, but leave it to the population of these districts, to carry out this reorganization in
agreement with the neighboring States, especially with Turkey.
Article V. Russia will, without delay, carry out the full demobilization of her army inclusive of
those units recently organized by the present Government. Furthermore, Russia will either bring her
warships into russian ports and there detain them until the day of the conclusion of a general peace,
or disarm them forthwith. Warships of the States which continue in the state of war with the
Powers of the Quadruple Alliance, in so far as they are within Russian sovereignty, will be treated
as Russian warships.
The barred zone in the Arctic Ocean continues as such until the conclusion of a general peace. In the
Baltic sea, and, as far as Russian power extends within the Black sea, removal of the mines will be
proceeded with at once. Merchant navigation within these maritime regions is free and will be
resumed at once. Mixed commissions will be organized to formulate the more detailed regulations,
especially to inform merchant ships with regard to restricted lanes. The navigation lanes are always
to be kept free from floating mines.
Article VI. Russia obligates herself to conclude peace at once with the Ukrainian People's Republic
and to recognize the treaty of peace between that State and the Powers of the Quadruple Alliance.
The Ukrainian territory will, without delay, be cleared of Russian troops and the Russian Red
Guard. Russia is to put an end to all agitation or propaganda against the Government or the public
institutions of the Ukrainian People's Republic.
Esthonia and Livonia will likewise, without delay, be cleared of Russian troops and the Russian
Red Guard. The eastern boundary of Esthonia runs, in general along the river Narwa. The eastern
boundary of Livonia crosses, in general, lakes Peipus and Pskow, to the southwestern corner of the
latter, then across Lake Luban in the direction of Livenhof on the Dvina. Esthonia and Livonia will
be occupied by a German police force until security is insured by proper national institutions and
until public order has been established. Russia will liberate at once all arrested or deported
inhabitants of Esthonia and Livonia, and insures the safe return of all deported Esthonians and
Livonians.
Finland and the Aaland Islands will immediately be cleared of Russian troops and the Russian Red
Guard, and the Finnish ports of the Russian fleet and of the Russian naval forces. So long as the ice
prevents the transfer of warships into Russian ports, only limited forces will remain on board the
warships. Russia is to put an end to all agitation or propaganda against the Government or the
public institutions of Finland.
The fortresses built on the Aaland Islands are to be removed as soon as possible. As regards the
permanent non- fortification of these islands as well as their further treatment in respect to military
technical navigation matters, a special agreement is to be concluded between Germany, Finland,
Russia, and Sweden; there exists an understanding to the effect that, upon Germany's desire, still
other countries bordering upon the Baltic Sea would be consulted in this matter.
Article VII. In view of the fact that Persia and Afghanistan are free and independent States, the
contracting parties obligate themselves to respect the political and economic independence and the
territorial integrity of these states.
Article VIII. The prisoners of war of both parties will be released to return to their homeland. The
settlement of the questions connected therewith will be effected through the special treaties provided
for in Article XII.
Article IX. The contracting parties mutually renounce compensation for their war expenses, i.e., of
the public expenditures for the conduct of the war, as well as compensation for war losses, i.e.,
such losses as were caused [by] them and their nationals within the war zones by military measures,
inclusive of all requisitions effected in enemy country.
Article X. Diplomatic and consular relations between the contracting parties will be resumed
immediately upon the ratification of the treaty of peace. As regards the reciprocal admission of
consuls, separate agreements are reserved.
Article XI. As regards the economic relations between the Powers of the Quadruple Alliance and
Russia the regulations contained in Appendices II-V are determinative....
Article XII. The reestablishment of public and private legal relations, the exchange of war prisoners
and interned citizens, the question of amnesty as well as the question anent the treatment of
merchant ships which have come into the power of the opponent, will be regulated in separate
treaties with Russia which form an essential part of the general treaty of peace, and, as far as
possible, go into force simultaneously with the latter.
Article XIII. In the interpretation of this treaty, the German and Russian texts are authoritative for
the relations between Germany and Russia; the German, the Hungarian, and Russian texts for the
relations between Austria-Hungry and Russia; the Bulgarian and Russian texts for the relations
between Bulgaria and Russia; and the Turkish and Russian texts for the relations between Turkey
and Russia.
Article XIV. The present treaty of peace will be ratified. The documents of ratification shall, as soon
as possible, be exchanged in Berlin. The Russian Government obligates itself, upon the desire of
one of the powers of the Quadruple Alliance, to execute the exchange of the documents of
ratification within a period of two weeks. Unless otherwise provided for in its articles, in its
annexes, or in the additional treaties, the treaty of peace enters into force at the moment of its
ratification.
In testimony whereof the Plenipotentiaries have signed this treaty with their own hand.
Executed in quintuplicate at Brest-Litovsk, 3 March, 1918.
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