The main consequence of the Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, was the imposition of heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany following World War I. The treaty aimed to establish lasting peace but ended up creating significant political and economic instability in Germany. The harsh terms fostered resentment and national humiliation, setting the stage for extreme political movements, including the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. The treaty's failure to create a stable and lasting peace ultimately contributed to the outbreak of World War II two decades later.