The main outcome of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 was the formally ending of World War I and the imposition of heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany. The treaty aimed to establish lasting peace in Europe; however, its harsh terms created economic and political instability in Germany, ultimately contributing to the rise of Adolf Hitler and World War II. The treaty also established the League of Nations, an international organization intended to prevent future conflicts, although the League's effectiveness was limited. Overall, the Treaty of Versailles significantly shaped 20th-century geopolitics and international relations.