This record by Trotsky is of the events in Russia from the October
Revolution of 1917 in Petrograd, to his Signing of the Brest-Litovsk
deal with Germany on 3rd March 1918 that removed Russia from World War
I. The treaty demanded heavy losses for Russia with regard to the
annexation of land and financial indemnities to Germany. In this
extended essay, Trotsky contends the reasons why he chose to sign what
appears to be a disastrous agreement for Russia.Had the revolution
developed more typically - - that is, under serene conditions, as it had
in 1912 - - the working class would constantly have stood firm on a
predominant situation, while the worker masses would progressively have
been taken close behind by the low class and brought into the whirlpool
of the unrest. In any case, the conflict delivered a by and large unique
progression of occasions.In this book, Trotzky (until close to the end)
involves the Russian Calendar in showing dates, which, as the reader
will recall, is 13 days behind the Gregorian Calendar, presently
introduced in Russia.