Final answer:
The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to accept the war guilt clause, pay $33 billion in reparations, and make significant territorial concessions, which set the stage for future unrest and the rise of Adolf Hitler.
Step-by-step explanation:
The German politicians accepted several harsh terms as part of the Treaty of Versailles. One of the most onerous requirements was the war guilt clause, which forced Germany to accept all the blame for starting World War I. This was coupled with the obligation for Germany to pay reparations amounting to $33 billion to the Allied Powers. The treaty also demanded significant territorial concessions, including the surrender of Alsace-Lorraine to France, as well as the loss of colonies and the reduction of Germany's military. These stipulations of the treaty, particularly the war guilt clause and reparations, crippled the new German state, fueling anger and resentment that Adolf Hitler would later exploit to rise to power during the 1930s.