WWI is a bit of a blind spot to me. My knowledge of it extends about as far as anybody else who learned about it in an American high school. The common story of WWI is that a bunch of clueless soldiers and generals marched to war thinking it was going to be a fun little adventure that would be over in mere months. Everybody thought they would just march through to the capital of whomever their enemy was and be home by Christmas.
How accurate is this depiction of politicians, generals, and the average person at the start of the war? Were there any major figures talking, either openly or secretly, about how violent and devastating the war could be? If not, how long was it before the inevitably of a long and catastrophic war was acknowledged?
^ these answers I've given should be pertinent
As to your question:
The common story of WWI is that a bunch of clueless soldiers and generals marched to war thinking it was going to be a fun little adventure that would be over in mere months. Everybody thought they would just march through to the capital of whomever their enemy was and be home by Christmas
An exaggeration to say the least
Were there any major figures talking, either openly or secretly, about how violent and devastating the war could be?
In Berlin and Vienna, there was talk of the likelihood that this would lead to a Weltkrieg (World War) or Volkskrieg (People's War). In Britain, the main war plan was for Blockade, and the Kitchener Volunteers were not expected to reach the front before spring 1915. In St. Petersburg, Tsar Nicholas spoke bitterly of knowing that he was signing off on the death warrant of hundreds of thousands of men when he signed the order for mobilization. The idea of general 'War Enthusiasm' has been dismissed by modern historical research, while military historians like Nicholas Murray have demonstrated the great extent to which military leaders were aware of the capabilities of modern weaponry. This being said, I think few could really have been prepared for the conflict that unfolded.