argument that the traditional assessments of the German leadership's actions in World War I are rife with distortions and inaccuracies. He asserts that after the conclusion of the war, German officials attempted to justify their roles by publishing memoirs and justifications that were contradicted by official documents. Kanner highlights specific instances where he believes the German government misled the public and the historical record, particularly regarding their awareness and complicity in the events leading up to the war. He establishes a critical tone and sets the stage for a detailed exploration of the discrepancies between public claims and documented actions in the lead-up to one of history's deadliest conflicts. (This is an automatically generated summary.)