The First World War and the End of the Habsburg Empire

Der Erste Weltkrieg und das Ende der Habsburgermonarchie 1914 1914 is the result of the authors scientific research and University lecturing throughout at least 25 years. The book deals in its introducing parts with the years from 1908 onwards and describes the external and mainly the inner situation of the Austria-Hungary. After the assassination of the heir to the throne the Austrian Emperor, Franz Joseph, enabled the unleashing of the war. He knew that war against Serbia could result in an all-out war. But this was accepted not only by him. From 1914 onwards the Habsburg monarchy fought for her self assertion and suffered extremely heavy losses in the battles in Serbia and Russia. And it was again and again the German Reich which prevented the breakdown of its main ally. The price for the German support was the formation of a Common Supreme War Council (Gemeinsame Oberste Kriegsleitung), in which at least the German emperor decided about the continuance of the war or an armistice. This didnt change after the death of Franz Joseph and stopped every attempt of emperor Karl to start secret peace talks with the Entente. The book describes the outbreak of the war, the political and social situation of Austria- Hungary during the war, the outbreak of hunger and undernourishment, the events at the fronts in Russia, Serbia and Italy, the continuing heavy losses, the problems caused by mass desertion, and the creeping dissolution. Great chapters are dealing with the behaviour of the eleven nationalities during the war, questions of financing the military expenditures mainly by loans, the breakdown of the military elite and the unavoidable armistice which resulted in a capitulation, whilst the Habsburg monarchy dissolved.