The main outcome of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 was the formal conclusion of World War I and the redrawing of national borders in Europe and beyond. It imposed harsh penalties and reparations on Germany, significantly limiting its military capabilities and requiring territorial concessions. The treaty aimed to prevent future conflicts, but the severe conditions it imposed contributed to economic hardship and political instability in Germany. Many historians argue that the Treaty of Versailles set the stage for the rise of extremism and ultimately contributed to the outbreak of World War II.