The primary consequence of the Treaty of Versailles was the imposition of heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany following World War I. Signed in 1919, the treaty aimed to prevent future conflicts by holding Germany accountable for the war. However, the harsh terms fostered widespread resentment and economic instability in Germany, contributing to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Ultimately, the Treaty of Versailles failed to create lasting peace, instead sowing the seeds for World War II by neglecting the complexities of European nationalism and state sovereignty.