_On the night of August 4, between the hours of nine and midnight, the decision as to whether England would remain neutral or no lay with Germany._ Germany kept to her resolve to violate Belgian neutrality in spite of the certainty of the English declaration of war resulting therefrom.
That was the first fateful victory of the militarists over the diplomats in this war.

The former were naturally the motive power.
The German military plan was to overrun France and then make a furious onslaught on Russia.

This plan was shattered on the Marne.
In more respects than one, German policy foundered on the heritage left by Bismarck.

Not only was the conquest of Alsace-Lorraine a lasting obstacle to friendly relations with France, perpetually forcing the latter into the arms of every anti-German coalition, but Bismarck's heritage became Germany's curse, because the Germans, though desirous of following in his footsteps, had no one sufficiently competent to lead them therein.
Bismarck created the German Empire out of Dueppel, Koeniggraetz and Sedan.

His policy was one of "blood and iron"-- and for fifty years that policy of violence and violent means had been engrained in the mind of every German schoolboy as the gospel of diplomatic art--but Bismarck was not able to bequeath to the German people his genial efficiency, wisdom and prudence in the use of his violent means.
Bismarck carefully prepared the wars of 1866 and 1870, and struck when he held good cards in his hand.