The Treaty of Versailles contributed to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the outbreak of World War II in several ways. Firstly, it imposed harsh punishments on Germany, including large reparation payments and loss of territory, which fueled resentment and anger among the German people. Secondly, it created economic instability and hyperinflation in Germany, which created a fertile ground for extremist ideologies like Nazism to take root. Finally, it weakened the authority of the Weimar Republic and led to a power vacuum that Hitler and the Nazi Party were able to exploit to gain power.