In "The Guns of August," Barbara W. Tuchman highlights a paradox in German attitudes during World War I, particularly regarding international law. The Germans displayed an intense fixation on upholding legal norms while simultaneously ignoring their own violations when invading Belgium. They rationalized their aggressive actions by focusing on what they perceived as violations by the Belgians, who resisted their occupation.

This selective perspective illustrates how the Germans constructed a narrative that justified their military actions, demonstrating a disconnect between their ideals of legality and the harsh realities of war. Their fixation on condemning others while absolving their conduct reflects a broader theme of moral ambiguity that often accompanies wartime justifications.