Before the communist takeover of Russia in 1917, there were Mensheviks and Bolsheviks. The latter prevailed with a more extreme version of communism.
The Germans of course benefitted in their war effort by the Russian collapsed and were able to move significant numbers of troops west, but not all of them by any means. They had developed new tactics for dealing with static warfare and did make significant gains in territory in the 1918 offensive, but were unable to support the advance.
German troops were so hungry when they overran a French town they'd literally stop to eat. The French pastries were an effective French defense against the Ludendorf offensive.
One story of the origin of the croissant is that it was baked after the relief of the siege of Vienna using the sign of the Ottoman flag, the crescent, but this is disputed, and that it was brought to France by Marie Antoinette, who later lost her head over pastries.
And cake.
For a power team, a pastry is a tasty morsel on which you fatten up your record with another win and probably chance to play your 2s and 3s, unless they are Georgia State and you are Tennessee.
