The Germans signed the Treaty of Versailles means that Germany acknowledged responsibility for the start of World War I and accepted the terms to bring about peace. They agreed to significant territorial and military restrictions and accepted sole responsibility for the war's damages, which were to be paid in the form of reparations to the victorious Allied countries. The treaty had far-reaching consequences, including economic hardships, political instability, and resentment among the German population, setting the stage for the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in the years that followed.