Reply #24: Germany,

[Xithras]

Quite frankly, all sides were at fault because everyone wanted the war (except, perhaps, Serbia). All sides saw it as an opportunity to grab more land, more colonies, and more of Europe. I blame Germany because they are unique in their role as escalators. Germany alone was in a position to confine the war to a regional conflict between the AH Empire and the Serbians, but chose instead to launch an invasion of the low countries and escalate it further. Germany could have ended WWI before it became a World War, but chose not to. When Austria called on their ally to back them up in their war, Germany SHOULD have politely declined, citing the injustice of the invasion. They could have taken the moral high ground by negotiating a new truce between their own ally, and the alliance of their enemies.

They didn't do any of that, which is why they share more of the blame than others.