How far do you think Bismarck's policies, internal and external, contributed to the debacle of 1914?

... How far do you think Bismarck's policies, internal and external, contributed to the debacle of 1914? After the unification of Germany in 1870, the domestic and foreign policies of Germany were mainly in the hands of Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor. His principal object was to preserve a peaceful situation for the building up of the German Empire. His foreign policy was also adopted towards this direction. Yet his aim of internal stability and solidarity not only led to the growth of German Empire, but also an external policy that brought to a complicated diplomatic scene and finally the debacle of 1914. Bismarck's internal policy was to wipe away any opposition and obstacles that would threaten his system of state. He manipulated the party system in the interest of the country. His anti-socialism and anti-Catholicism policies, though not completely successful, reached a certain degree of success. A certain extent of compromise in these

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