Final answer:
The failures of the Treaty of Versailles contributed to the start and intensity of World War II by imposing harsh penalties on Germany and failing to address underlying tensions and disputes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The failures of the Treaty of Versailles had a significant role in the start and ferocity of World War II. The treaty imposed harsh penalties on Germany, which created bitterness and resentment among the German people.
The economic burden of reparations and the loss of territories and resources fueled discontent and provided a fertile ground for extremist ideologies, such as Nazism, to rise in Germany. Additionally, the treaty failed to address underlying political and territorial disputes, leaving unresolved tensions that eventually led to the outbreak of another global conflict.