The outcome of the Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, was a comprehensive peace settlement that officially ended World War I. However, it predominantly placed the blame for the war on Germany and its allies, leading to significant territorial losses, military restrictions, and crippling reparations imposed on Germany. This punitive approach fostered widespread resentment and economic hardship, contributing to political instability in the Weimar Republic. The treaty's harsh terms are often viewed as a key factor in the rise of extremist movements, including Nazism, and set the stage for World War II, as many Germans sought to overturn its consequences in the following decades.