Historian Niall Ferguson, now at Harvard, says that the single most catastrophic decision of the 20th Century was Britain's decision to enter WWI. If they hadn't done this, he says, the Germans would have quickly beaten the French and Europe today would be a peaceful continent under benevolent German hegemony, a bit like the EU of today. But no Russian Revolution, communism, Nazism, Holocaust, etc. An interesting thesis. Not sure I agree but he makes an interesting point.
Very interesting point. A friend of mine astutely pointed out that Europe today looks an awful lot like the Germans wanted it to look back in the early 20th century . . . a largely pacified, modern continent with a robust economy dominated by Germany.
the russians started WWI by mobilizing. the germans just followed that move and then the whole thing got out of control.