The controversial inclusion in the Treaty of Versailles that set the stage for future conflict was:
b. Germany is forced to take responsibility for the war and pay billions in reparations.
This provision in the treaty placed full blame for World War I on Germany and required them to make extensive reparation payments to the Allies. The economic burden of these reparations, along with the humiliation of accepting sole responsibility for the war, fueled resentment and a desire for revenge in Germany. This contributed to the economic hardships and political instability in the country, eventually leading to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the outbreak of World War II.
By imposing harsh reparations on Germany, the Treaty of Versailles created deep-seated animosity and a sense of injustice among the German population, providing fertile ground for the emergence of extremist ideologies and nationalist sentiments that would later spark another global conflict.
