The activities of both encroach to so great an extent on each other as to form one whole, and very naturally in a war precedence is given to military needs.
Nevertheless, the complete displacement of politicians into subordinate positions which was effected in Germany and thereby made manifest the fact that the German Supreme Military Command had possessed itself of all State power of command, was a misfortune.

Had the politicians at Berlin obtained a hearing there would never have been any invasion of Belgium, nor yet the ruthless U-boat warfare, the abstention from which would in both cases have saved the life of the Central Powers.
From the very first day the Emperor William was as a prisoner in the hands of his generals.
The blind faith in the invincibility of the army was, like so much else, an heirloom from Bismarck, and the "Prussian lieutenant, inimitable save in Germany," became her doom.

The entire German people believed in victory and in an Emperor who flung himself into the arms of his generals and took upon himself a responsibility far surpassing the normal limit of what was bearable.

Thus the Emperor William allowed his generals full liberty of action, and, to begin with, their tactics seemed to be successful.

The first battle of the Marne was a godsend for the Entente in their direst need.