Russia and France were world wide empires. Brittan also. Germany wanted to be a world wide empire. That is why they were better prepared and used the excuse to invade France. Germany wanted to be the big cheese in Europe and took steps to accomplish that goal.
Germany wanted this war. This is why the Keiser didn’t even try to avoid committing Germany into a war over the Austro-Hungary infighting. This is why the Keiser and the German high command was furious when they found out that Charles I was negotiating an exit to the war with France.
I used to think that it wasn’t that difficult to understand but I’ve been wrong before.
Then the German high command were fools. No sane leader wants a two front war against powerful adversaries. You are out flanked before the fighting even starts.
Germany did not want the war. The Kaiser probably did more than anybody else to prevent it. He tried to negotiate with his cousin the Tsar and explained to him that Russia mobilizing on Germany’s border would leave Germany defenseless if it did not react by going to war immediately. Germany’s only defense was speed - it could mobilize a lot faster than Russia could. It couldn’t afford to watch this crucial advantage frittered away when faced with a much larger enemy. The Tsar then promised not to mobilize on Germany’s border only to have his arm twisted by his own generals to do exactly that.
What did France do to prevent the war? Britain? Italy? The Ottoman Empire? Russia? The Hapsburg Empire? None of them even tried to engage in personal diplomacy to head off what was coming.