Germany was most responsible for the starting of WW1.

Thesis:Firstly, I would like to start by stating that Germany was not the only nation or entity responsible for the start of the war, but ultimately their rampant bellicosity and chauvinistic views towards European counterparts brought them into a world conflict.First Argument (German Militarism):Under the lead of Kaiser Wilhelm, Germany became extremely militaristic. Since 1892, Germans had expected a war with Russia and France, and had actually built a plan of action called the “Schlieffen Plan” to prevent a two-front war. The Schlieffen plan, stated that Germany would first perform a quick, massive attack against France, considered the most dangerous, and then go on to eliminate the Russian forces. Second Argument (Outside Forces):Externally, their Weltpolitik was aggressive and created problems with France, Britain and Russia, three of the great powers. The Moroccan incident and the military race had produced disagreements between Germany and France, while the naval race made Britain suspicious of Germany’s attempt to gain world power and overthrow their Empire. Moreover, at a German war council in 1912 it was agreed that because war would come eventually, it was better to fight at that moment, with Germany at its peak. In addition, Germany’s “Blank Cheque” in 1914 encouraged Austria to attack Serbia. This granted Austria “permission” to follow an aggressive behaviour that would knowingly create a conflict with Russia, the protector of the Serbs. Official Start of the War:Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was murdered by Serb students inside Bosnia-Herzegovina. This incident, as insignificant as it may seem at an international level, was the main trigger for the detonation of the First World War, as it led to the Austrian invasion of Serbia. This supports the fact that Austria was keen to fight a war with the Serbs in order to solve the internal problems they had to face due to nationalism. This is emphasized by the Austrian ultimatum, considered unreasonable as it stated in one of its terms that the Serbs would have to allow Austrian officials inside their territory. This ultimatum can be considered as an excuse for the invasion of Serbia, as Austria’s Berchtold presumed the Serbs would refuse to accept it and it would seem he was determined to destroy the Serbian threat by direct military action.Conclusion:In conclusion, it could be argued that although there was some premeditated action from Germany, Austria-Hungary and also from some of the Allied powers, the war developed or worsened due to diplomatic miscalculations. Germany’s aggressive policy is shown to have been a terrible mistake, as although Germany was keen to fight a war to ease domestic problems, it had not planned to fight a world war with massive consequences and destruction. What is more, the atmosphere of mistrust created by the Alliance system was one of the most serious mistakes, as it led to hostility and massive paranoia between the countries. The Great Powers feared they would lose credibility and status if they sought diplomatic compromises, and in the end their fear for war led them straight into one.Disclaimer:It is intellectually dishonest to state that Germany was the definite cause of World War I. With current European issues, the war would have started eventually, it was just a matter of time. Sources: (I do not use websites when arguing in history, as they are not credible. I have used books for this matter)1. Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman2. The Long Fuse by Laurence Lafore3. Germany's Aims in the First World War by Fritz Fischer4. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque