“WORLD WAR II DAY BY DAY”: THE APPROACH TO WAR

   In June 1919, the treaty of Versailles is concluded. 

This treaty, and the similar Treaty of St. Germain between Austria-Hungary and the Allies together help to foster some of the grievances and weaknesses which will form the causes of

World War II. 

   Germany is to be largely disarmed and the Rhineland is to be occupied by Allied forces. Considerable reparations are to be paid but the amount of the burden is not yet fixed.  The map of Europe is substantially redrawn. From the wreck of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire a whole group of new states are created. Each of these states has grievances against the others and none has a wholly homogeneous population.

   Poland too has been created and will fight successfully in 1920 to retain its independence again the Soviet Union.

Japan (still allied with Britain) gains a mandate over islands in the Pacific, including the Marshalls, Marianas and Carolines.

The Charter of the Leaque of Nations is part of the Versailles agreement but its scope is left substantially weakened by the refusal of the United States Congress to ratify it.