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Russia and Central Powers sign armistice

Postcard celebrating the ceasefire on the Eastern Front. The troops are Russian, Austro-Hungarian, and German. The flags are Austrian and Russian; the coat of arms and bunting German. Russia declared a ceasefire on December 15, 1917. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, ending Russia's involvement in the war, was signed on March 3, 1918 between Russia and the Central Powers.
In the foreground, a dog scowls at the photographer.
Text:
Waffenstillstand im Osten
Ceasefire in the East

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Reverse:
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Postcard celebrating the ceasefire on the Eastern Front. The troops are Russian, Austro-Hungarian, and German. The flags are Austrian and Russian; the coat of arms and bunting German. Russia declared a ceasefire on December 15, 1917. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, ending Russia's involvement in the war, was signed on March 3, 1918 between Russia and the Central Powers.

Image text

Waffenstillstand im Osten

Ceasefire in the East



Logo NPG (?) B347



Reverse:

Lines only

Other views: Larger

On December 15, 1917, Russia and the Central Powers signed an armistice effective December 17 through January 15, 1918. The agreement called for automatic extensions barring a seven-day notice of cancellation. No troops were to be removed from the front, and there were to be two or three points along each Russian division's sector to allow for fraternization by not more than 25 unarmed soldiers on each side. To help re-establish ties between the former adversaries, limited postal service was resumed, and the men were permitted to exchange views, books, and newspapers, allowing the Bolsheviks to distribute propaganda along the front.

The Bolsheviks expected the Central Powers to withdraw their forces from occupied territory and called for self-determination in these lands. Negotiations in Brest-Litovsk dragged. Russian Foreign Minister Leon Trotsky played for time, expecting German workers and soldiers to re-enact Russia's revolution. He walked away from the negotiations on February 10 saying Russia would not sign a peace treaty, but would withdraw from the war.

It was not until and only after an unresisted advance by German forces that the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed.

1917-12-15