--- product_id: 51353321 title: "A Mad Catastrophe: The Outbreak of World War I and the Collapse of the Habsburg Empire" brand: "geoffrey wawro" price: "197.94 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true category: "Paperback" url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/51353321-a-mad-catastrophe-the-outbreak-of-world-war-i-collapse store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # Global impact In-depth analysis Historical context A Mad Catastrophe: The Outbreak of World War I and the Collapse of the Habsburg Empire **Brand:** geoffrey wawro **Price:** 197.94 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 📖 Unlock the Secrets of History! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** A Mad Catastrophe: The Outbreak of World War I and the Collapse of the Habsburg Empire by geoffrey wawro - **How much does it cost?** 197.94 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/51353321-a-mad-catastrophe-the-outbreak-of-world-war-i-collapse) ## Best For - geoffrey wawro enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted geoffrey wawro brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Richly Researched:** Benefit from extensive academic insights. - • **Unravel the Chaos:** Dive deep into the intricate causes of WWI. - • **Engaging Narrative:** Experience history through compelling storytelling. - • **Visual Aids Included:** Enhance understanding with maps and illustrations. - • **Explore the Empire's Fall:** Understand the Habsburg Empire's dramatic decline. ## Overview A Mad Catastrophe offers a comprehensive exploration of the events leading to World War I and the subsequent collapse of the Habsburg Empire, blending rigorous research with engaging narrative to provide readers with a profound understanding of this pivotal moment in history. ## Description The Austro-Hungarian army that marched east and south to confront the Russians and Serbs in the opening campaigns of World War I had a glorious past but a pitiful present. Speaking a mystifying array of languages and lugging outdated weapons, the Austrian troops were hopelessly unprepared for the industrialized warfare that would shortly consume Europe.As prizewinning historian Geoffrey Wawro explains in A Mad Catastrophe, the doomed Austrian conscripts were an unfortunate microcosm of the Austro-Hungarian Empire itself—both equally ripe for destruction. After the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in June 1914, Germany goaded the Empire into a war with Russia and Serbia. With the Germans massing their forces in the west to engage the French and the British, everything—the course of the war and the fate of empires and alliances from Constantinople to London—hinged on the Habsburgs' ability to crush Serbia and keep the Russians at bay. However, Austria-Hungary had been rotting from within for years, hollowed out by repression, cynicism, and corruption at the highest levels. Commanded by a dying emperor, Franz Joseph I, and a querulous celebrity general, Conrad von Hötzendorf, the Austro-Hungarians managed to bungle everything: their ultimatum to the Serbs, their declarations of war, their mobilization, and the pivotal battles in Galicia and Serbia. By the end of 1914, the Habsburg army lay in ruins and the outcome of the war seemed all but decided. Drawing on deep archival research, Wawro charts the decline of the Empire before the war and reconstructs the great battles in the east and the Balkans in thrilling and tragic detail. A Mad Catastrophe is a riveting account of a neglected face of World War I, revealing how a once-mighty empire collapsed in the trenches of Serbia and the Eastern Front, changing the course of European history. ## Features - A Mad Catastrophe The Outbreak of World War I and the Collapse of the Habsburg Empire ## Images ![A Mad Catastrophe: The Outbreak of World War I and the Collapse of the Habsburg Empire - Image 1](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/416AxNxdUuL.jpg) ![A Mad Catastrophe: The Outbreak of World War I and the Collapse of the Habsburg Empire - Image 2](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51syrlF8gNL.jpg) ![A Mad Catastrophe: The Outbreak of World War I and the Collapse of the Habsburg Empire - Image 3](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31gXm-NkM%2BL.jpg) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/51353321-a-mad-catastrophe-the-outbreak-of-world-war-i-collapse](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/51353321-a-mad-catastrophe-the-outbreak-of-world-war-i-collapse) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-07-28*