[Petronski]

Then, as the Schlieffen Plan required, Germany launched it's war against RUSSIA by invading NEUTRAL BELGIUM!

But of course! How would you do it?

Invade Russia?

;OD

[BroJoeK]

"But of course! How would you do it?

Invade Russia?"

Were you on vacation, while all this excitement is going on? ;-)

Of course, I would not invade anyone!
But the German military mindset in those days was much different.
German generals saw France as a declining power, easily bumped-off, and Russia as a rapidly rising power, which must be reduced soon, before it was too late.

Yes, by standards of today, German behavior in 1914 was totally unacceptable.
But by standards of, say 1814, Germans were entirely rational and justified.

And the Germans themselves in 1914 understood that they could no longer go willy-nilly invading their neighbors, without just cause. It had actually sunk through their skulls that they needed a serious excuse.

And when the Kaiser's best pal, the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand got murdered, German leaders figured they had the best excuse they'd ever get. It was time to make hay!