{"product_id":"a-mad-catastrophe-the-outbreak-of-world-war-i-and-the-collapse-of-the-habsburg-empire-9780465057955","title":"A Mad Catastrophe: The Outbreak of World War I and the Collapse of the Habsburg Empire","description":"\u003cb\u003eA masterful account of the Hapsburg Empire's bumbling entrance into World War I, and its rapid collapse on the Eastern Front\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The Austro-Hungarian army that attacked Russia and Serbia in August 1914 had a glorious past but a pitiful present. Speaking a mystifying array of languages and lugging obsolete weapons, the Habsburg troops were hopelessly unprepared for the industrialized warfare that would shortly consume Europe. As prizewinning historian Geoffrey Wawro explains in\u003ci\u003e A Mad Catastrophe\u003c\/i\u003e, the disorganization of these doomed conscripts perfectly mirrored Austria-Hungary itself. For years, the Empire had been rotting from within, hollowed out by complacency and corruption at the highest levels. When Germany goaded Austria into starting the world war, the Empire's profound political and military weaknesses were exposed. By the end of 1914, the Austro-Hungarian army lay in ruins and the course of the war seemed all but decided. Reconstructing the climax of the Austrian campaign in gripping detail, \u003ci\u003eA Mad Catastrophe\u003c\/i\u003e is a riveting account of how Austria-Hungary plunged the West into a tragic and unnecessary war.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Geoffrey Wawro\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Basic Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/28\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 480\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.10h x 5.40w x 1.30d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780465057955","brand":"Basic Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44402296553609,"sku":"9780465057955","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0636\/9240\/6921\/files\/img_8e65f69b-bf9b-41a8-b69e-cc117cbce37f.jpg?v=1752625034","url":"https:\/\/sonsanddaughtersbooks.com\/products\/a-mad-catastrophe-the-outbreak-of-world-war-i-and-the-collapse-of-the-habsburg-empire-9780465057955","provider":"Sons and Daughters Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}