Signed amid hopes that the mass carnage of the First World War would never be repeated, the
1919 Treaty of Versailles was, ironically, to open up seemingly irresolvable conflicts that fester
to this day. This attempt to ensure lasting peace by creating a new world order in which nations
would enjoy self-determination met with insurmountable problems, as this series explains. Noble ideals soon ran up against harsh realities.
Focusing on Eastern Europe and the Middle East, A BLOODY LEGACY (Monday 24th, 6.15pm) shows how ill-considered decisions arrived at a century ago would lay the groundwork for lasting strife. For any true understanding of many present-day conflicts in these regions and elsewhere, it is necessary to examine their roots in the resolutions agreed at Versailles.