Bolshevik Revolution Seizes Power in Russia

Lenin's Bolshevik party overthrew the Provisional Government in a nearly bloodless coup, seizing power in Petrograd. One of Lenin's first acts was to publish the Decree on Peace, calling for an immediate armistice on all fronts. The Bolsheviks began armistice negotiations with Germany in December 1917, removing Russia from the war. This freed approximately 1 million German troops from the Eastern Front for redeployment to the West, enabling the Spring 1918 offensives.