Although the causes of the First World War can not be attributed solely to one country, or one event, there is no doubt that a majority of the blame could be foisted on one or two major influencing factors. Some of the major influences however, are those that many would consider lesser forces and lay in the outer shell of the `pattern of concentric circles'; a major one of these forces was the system of alliances and agreements which stemmed from nationalism and nationalistic feelings.

Nationalism is defined as "belief in political independence for a particular country" or "patriotic feeling, often to an excessive degree." This `belief in political independence' was demonstrated throughout the years before the First World War by almost every nation at some point in time. Several countries, however, took it a few steps further.

Germany was one of them.

As a country it had...