{"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\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eGeoffrey Wawro\u003c\/b\u003e is professor of history and director of the Military History Center at the University of North Texas and the author of six books, including \u003ci\u003eA Mad Catastrophe: The Outbreak of World War I and the Collapse of the Habsburg Empire\u003c\/i\u003e. Wawro lives in Dallas, Texas.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Basic Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50460291629330,"sku":"9780465057955","price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_f43e9199-6950-44fe-b9ae-7702c4c03678.jpg?v=1730035837","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/a-mad-catastrophe-the-outbreak-of-world-war-i-and-the-collapse-of-the-habsburg-empire-9780465057955","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}