Of all the European belligerents in 1914, was Germany most responsible for the onset of the Great War?
Of all the European belligerents in 1914, was Germany most responsible for the onset of the Great War?
Germany was not responsible for the onset of the Great War in 1914, Germany might have some responsible but not most. I think the onset of the Great War was responsible for several countries.
When there was German nationalism. Through the unification, German industry and power were growing so rapidly that it was threat to other European countries. Their steel industry took two of the third in entire Europe, also, their naval power was growing and although they lost but had naval race with greatest naval country Britain. So, these were threats to other European countries which caused the alliance system. Triple Alliance: Britain, France, Russia and Triple Entente: Germany ,Austria-Hungary ,Italy. It caused the tension between these countries. From the book of Imperial Germany,1871-1914 “The activation of Schlieffen Plan and the German invasion of Luxemburg, Belgium and France was a decision that made war inevitable.” As the source said, the Schlieffen plan and the invasion of Belgium was a great factor that caused the WW1. In the same source it tells about “Blank Cheque.” With the German government’s support Austria could do anything to Serbia. This assurance was a bad decision and the greatest cause of the Great War. It encouraged Vienna top launch a limited war in the Balkans.