Q. Consider the following statements:

1. Bolshevik Russia signed the treaty of Brest Litovsk with Germany in order to pull out of the WWI.
2. ‘Cheka’ was the secret police that punished the critics of Bolshevik party.

Which of the above is / are correct?
Answer: Both 1 and 2
Notes: In March 1918, despite opposition by their political allies, the Bolsheviks made peace with Germany at Brest Litovsk. However, this peace treaty was very humiliating as Germany annexed almost one third of the total European territories of Soviet Russia in this treaty. Lenin agreed to this treaty so that the Bolshevik party could focus on internal consolidation and winning the civil war. So, statement 1 is correct. Soviet Russia soon became a one-party state as all the parties, other than the Bolshevik Party, were banned. Trade unions were kept under strict party control. The secret police (called the Cheka first, and later OGPU and NKVD) punished those who criticised the Bolsheviks. So, the statement 2 is correct.