[YorkshireSeason]

   wasn’t a very good strategy for Germany

In what sense?

It did end the war in the East, and delayed the war for dominance in the East (which was seen as inevitable -- as it by the US left today, pace the mainstream press' demonisation of the Trump/Putin connection) by two decades. Even today Germany is wealthier than Russia despite having no natural resources.

The biggest victims of the Bolsheviks were the Russian people (and inhabitants of neighbouring states).

[1] https://history.stackexchange.com/questions/14608/did-the-ge...

[cm2187]

But the rise of communism and resulting violence in Germany greatly contributed to the rise of the nazis in the 20s and 30s.

I think comparing Germany to Russia today is missing the point. Europe self-destroyed through two world wars during the XX century. At the end of the XIX and for about 300 years before it pretty much dominated the world. Now it is a club of mid-size countries that have lost most of their international influence and military might.

The rising demography of developing countries being probably the second biggest factor.