Not releasing perhaps what would be unlease, Wilhelm's German Foreign Minister gave permission for Lenin to pass from Zurich through Germany into Russia to help destabilize the country. At Lenin's request the carriage would be protected from interference by a special grant of extraterritorial status. They boarded at Gottmadingen, just short of the official German crossing station at Singen. Accompanied by two German Army officers, who sat at the rear of the single carriage behind a chalked line, the exiles travelled through Frankfurt and Berlin to Sassnitz , where a ferry took them to Trelleborg. The Bolsheviks were the only major political faction to demand an immediate end to Russia's participation in World War I. This central demand brings them not only widespread support in Russia, but also financial and logistical help from the government of Wilhelm. Lenin's revolution is in large part made possible by the Germans, who want to be able to withdraw their troops from the Eastern front to deploy them in the war theater in France. Didn't end up so well for his relations.
There is still some question involving British involvement behind the scenes in terms of a rescue, I always was curious about the Danish response. The Danes were just as close relationship-wise (first cousin to the Emperor, the Dowager a Danish princess) as well as geographically closer. They were also able to perhaps play a better diplomatic game. I wonder if some of that information is filed away in the archives that researchers aren't allowed access to. It certainly gets little attention.
