The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, imposed harsh penalties on Germany after its defeat in World War I. The treaty required Germany to accept full responsibility for the war, leading to severe reparations payments, territorial losses, and military restrictions. Germany lost significant territories such as Alsace-Lorraine to France and parts of East Prussia to Poland, which fostered resentment and economic hardship. These punitive measures contributed to social and political instability in Germany, ultimately paving the way for the rise of Adolf Hitler and the onset of World War II as a reaction to the treaty's terms.