The First World War and the End of the Habsburg Monarchy 1914-1918

In this new work on World War I and its devastating consequences, Manfried Rauchensteiner offers the most detailed and insightful military history of the fall of the Habsburg Empire to date. Based on decades of meticulous research, this ground-breaking account of 'Austro-Hungary's final war' uncovers previously ignored historic connections to provide a work of unrivaled depth and scope. Covering everything from the eve of the war until its very last day, Rauchensteiner paints a captivating picture of the dramatic disintegration of a monarchy that had lasted for over 600 years. The book not only explains the underlying politics and military strategy that determined this grueling theater of war; it also powerfully evokes the impact of the war as a state of emergency on every aspect of everyday life. A skillfully crafted and utterly comprehensive chronicle of the crossing into a new era, this definitive book allows for a full understanding of the 'Great War' as a turning point in history. Originally published in German, this benchmark work is now available in English.

Manfried Rauchensteiner is professor of Austrian history at the University of Vienna and was until 2005 director of Vienna’s Museum of Military History.