Germany lost WW1 because they were allied with the failing but ambitious Austr-Hungarian empire. They did pretty well considering the situation of a two front war against three, later four major powers.

Isn’t internal propaganda like that just a way to sell a decision you’ve already made, rather than the cause of the decision?

I’m very skeptical of the idea that states go to war for ideological reasons. I’d always heard they were afraid of being contained and believed that their unfavourable position could only possibly get worse so they decided to roll the dice now.