Open University.
"The escalation of the crisis to full-scale war was in no small measure due to Germany's war plans. But more importantly, it unleashed the war with Germany's invasion of neutral countries to the West.

The violation of Belgian neutrality in particular proved to Germany's enemies that they were fighting an aggressive and ruthless enemy. It provided the perfect propaganda vehicle for rallying the country behind an unprecedented war effort and sustained the will to fight for four long years of war.

And it provided ample proof, if proof were needed, for the victors to allocate responsibility for the outbreak of the war to Germany and its allies."
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/history/world-history/the-schlieffen-plan