We stopped being scared of the russians when suddenly a random Tannenberg appeared.
We started being scared again in 1945.
But in regard to how it really happened (not how it was planed by Schlieffen) invading Belgium was useless. However I think Britain would have joined anyway.
Close to winning is wrong. It's true, 1918 there were no non-captured enemied soldiers on German ground.
But the German forces were really decimated and the allies got supplies en masse from the USA. It was a good decision from Wilhelm II. not to do a total war like Hitler did.
@who the victory deserves: I really think it would have been better if Germany had won. Not because I am German, but because many bad things would not have happened like for example the financial crisis, Hitler's takeover or the conflicts in the mideast or the balcans.
@Kammin:
Google "Seabattle of Jutland"