They had adopted a weltpolitik policy which led to the morrocan crises, the Anglo-German Arms race, and also issued Austro-Hungary with a blank check of support in punishing Serbia. The schlieffen plan was aggressive and relied on speed to avoid fighting a 2 war front, the Septemberprogramm was based on lebensraum and drive to the east. Should we place all of the blame on Germany though?

Russia mobilised first and set off a chain reaction of countries enacting their war plans. Austro-Hungary's ultimatum to Serbia was draconian and although they accepted most of the terms war was declared anyway. I've mainly learnt about this topic through historians Mcmeekin, Fischer, and Clark and I'd be interested in hearing everyone's opinions on how far Germany should accept blame for starting the war