Kaiser Wilhelm II believes that the crisis that led to war was sparked by the growing power and influence of Germany, which threatened the balance of power in Europe. He argues that Germany's rapid industrialization and military buildup were legitimate efforts to secure its rightful place among the great nations of the world. However, he also criticizes other nations for feeling threatened by Germany's rise and engaging in hostile actions, such as forming alliances against it and initiating an arms race. He asserts that Germany's actions were defensive in nature and aimed at preserving peace, but its adversaries misinterpreted them as aggression. Thus, in the Kaiser's view, the crisis and ultimately the war were triggered by the fear and jealousy of other nations towards Germany.
