Final answer:
In 1914, Germany saw encirclement by France and Russia as its greatest challenge, driving it toward aggressive policies that contributed to the outbreak of World War I. The situation was exacerbated by alliances that seemed to threaten Germany, leading to a war that was far more devastating than German leaders had anticipated.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1914, Germany perceived its greatest challenge to be the potential for encirclement and conflict with its neighbors, particularly France and Russia. France harbored a grudge since the Franco-Prussian War and desired revenge, while Russia resented Austria and Germany for the threats posed to Slavic interests in the Balkans.
Britain, on the other hand, had no vested interest but could not avoid involvement once the war commenced. General Friedrich von Bernhardi expressed Germany needed to assert itself as a major world power.
The alliances forming around Germany fueled Emperor Wilhelm II's concerns of einkreisung (encirclement), prompting Germany to adopt a more aggressive stance, which contributed to the outbreak of World War I. This stance was partly in response to the military and economic alliances of Britain, France, and Russia, which were interpreted as a direct threat to German ambitions and security.
Initially, Germany aimed for a swift, decisive war to expand its territory and influence. However, the resulting war became a protracted and devastating conflict, with the Schlieffen Plan failing against France and Russia mobilizing faster than anticipated. The Treaty of Versailles later forced Germany to accept blame for the conflict, igniting deep resentments that would resurface in World War II under Adolf Hitler's regime.