Peace
The Ukrainian delegation arrives at the peace negotiations
Role range: 1914-1918
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Leon Trotsky Biography and Timeline — Page 5
Follow Leon Trotsky through 326 dated historical records for Russia.
Leon Trotsky, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
326Distinct records
5 of 9Page
1918–1918Years on this page
1918
Bolshevik Party
The Bolsheviks resume negotiations under Trotsky
Role range: 1914-1918
Peace
The Bolsheviks resume negotiations under Trotsky
Role range: 1914-1918
Conference of Brest Litovsk
The Brest negotiations resume with Trotsky heading the Russian delegation. Plays for time but would capitulate if Germany gave an ultimatum
Role range: 1914-1918
Peace
Trotsky breaks off the peace negotiations
Role range: 1914-1918
Treaty of Brest Litovsk
Trotsky obtains a 10 day adjournment to return to Petrograd for further instructions. Hoffman demands the German occupation of Poland, Lithuania, White Russia & Latvia
Role range: 1914-1918
Peace
Trotsky suspends the peace negotiations
Role range: 1914-1918
Conference of Brest Litovsk
Trotsky denounces the German Peace Terms as unacceptable and walks out of the peace negotiations at Brest- Litovsk
Role range: 1914-1918
Peace
Trotsky resumes peace talks
Role range: 1914-1918
Treaty of Brest Litovsk
Negotiations are resumed with strikes & anti-war demonstrations spreading from Berlin. At this stage Trotskys policy of procrastination seems to be paying off
Role range: 1914-1918
Treaty of Brest Litovsk
The Soviet delegates leave Brest Litovsk. Declares the State of war with Germany, Austria, Turkey & Bulgaria at an end
Role range: 1914-1918
Supply Commission
Appointed Head of the Supply Commission, responsible for food for the cities. Appointed Head of the Extraordinary Commission for Supply
Role range: 1917-1918
Supply Commission
Appointed Head of the Extraordinary Commission for Supply
Conference of Brest Litovsk
The Germans invade Russia which is all but defenceless as virtually the entire army has deserted
Role range: 1914-1918
Peace
Germany resumes the war against Russia
Role range: 1914-1918
Invasion of Russia
Trotsky requests French military help. German & Austrian troops resume their offensive against Russia
Role range: 1914-1918
Trotsky requests French military help during the invasion of Russia
Trotsky requests French military help during the invasion of Russia
Role range: 1914-1918
Peace
The Soviets accept the German peace terms
Role range: 1914-1918
Treaty of Brest Litovsk
Leaves for Brest Litovsk with instructions to sign German peace terms without argument
Role range: 1914-1918
Treaty of Brest Litovsk
Returns from the peace negotiations at Brest
Role range: 1914-1918
Treaty of Brest Litovsk
The future of Courland, Lithuania & part of White Russia will be decided locally. Signs the Treaty of Brest Litovsk. Russian naval bases are stripped. Renounces Riga. Livonia & Estonia are occupied by Germany. A Russo-German peace is signed
Role range: 1914-1918
People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs
Becomes People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs and takes a leading role in building the Red Army.
Role range: 1917-1991
Treaty of Brest Litovsk
The Soviets ratify the Treaty of Brest Litovsk. The Soviet Congress ratifies the Treaty of Brest Litovsk
Role range: 1914-1918
Treaty of Brest Litovsk
The Allies refuse to recognize the Treaty of Brest Litovsk
Role range: 1914-1918
Bolshevik Party
The Bolsheviks accept the dictated peace of Brest Litovsk
Role range: 1914-1918
Conference of Brest Litovsk
The Bolsheviks accept the dictated peace of Brest Litovsk
Role range: 1914-1918
Mobilization
A train is constructed for Trotsky to command the Red Army
Role range: 1918-1920
Capture of Kazan
The White Army has captured Kazan & Trotsky mobilizes his command train to relieve it
Role range: 1918-1920
Mobilization
Leaves Moscows in his command train, "a flying apparatus of administration"
Role range: 1918-1920
Siege of Kazan
"The fate of the revolution hangs in the balance". Arrives at Svyazk to go to the relief of Kazan
Role range: 1918-1920
Treaty of Russo-German
Supplementary Russo-German Treaty is signed with secret clauses
Role range: 1914-1918
Capture of Kazan
Commands the re-capture of Kazan from the White Army
Role range: 1918-1920
Capture of Simbirsk
Commands the re-capture of Simbirsk from the White Army
Role range: 1918-1920
Registration Directorate
The predecessr of the GRU is created under the sponsorship of Leon Trotsky, who was then the civilian leader of the Red Army; it was originally known as the Registration Directorate. Given the task of handling all military intelligence, particularly the collection of intelligence of military or political significance from sources outside the Soviet Union
Role range: 1954-1958
Capture of Valuiki
The Red Army occupies Valuiki
Role range: 1918-1920
Red Army
The Red Army occupies Valuiki
Role range: 1918-1920
Capture of Dvinsk
The Red Army occupies Dvinsk
Role range: 1918-1920
Red Army
The Red Army occupies Dvinsk
Role range: 1918-1920
Capture of Minsk
The Red Army occupies Minsk
Role range: 1918-1920
Red Army
The Red Army occupies Minsk
Role range: 1918-1920
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.