Ever since the terrible events of 1914 showed that both the balance-of-power principle and the alliance system were not affective in preventing war, historians and journalists have sought to explain why the war occurred and which nation was to blame. Many have argued that Germany was solely responsible, while others, more realistically, have suggested that more factors should be taken into account prior to handing out blame.

Many believe that Germany was, in fact, entirely to blame for the events of 1914. As the intense emotional reactions to the war slowly settled, scholars and historians worked on the task of assessing the motives for the actions that had caused the war. Gradually it became apparent to many of them that the Germans had truly felt threatened with encirclement and were fearful of invasion. It was then argued that the penalties imposed on Germany in the peace settlements were too harsh...