Final answer:
The Treaty of Versailles placed responsibility for World War I on Germany, leading to reparations and territorial changes that fueled future conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was held responsible for starting World War I. This blame was formalized through the infamous 'war guilt clause,' which asserted Germany's responsibility for the conflict and justified the reparations and territorial losses imposed on the country. The Treaty also resulted in the redrawing of Europe's maps with the emergence of new nations and territories shifting control as a result of the dissolution of empires. These harsh terms against Germany and the nationalistic turmoil that followed contributed to the resentment that facilitated the rise of Adolf Hitler and the onset of World War II.