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The Rest Is HistorySeptember 10, 2025

599. The First World War: Downfall of the Habsburgs (Part 6)

About This Episode
After endeavouring to wreak their revenge on Serbia, what would be the greatest hammer blow to the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the First World War? With Leviv having fallen apocalyptically to the Russian hordes, what had gone so wrong? How might the war have been brought to an end before Christmas of 1914? And, with the darkness gathering around the Austrian defences, could the great fortress of Przemyśl hold out against the Russian barrage for a second time…? Join Dominic and Tom as they discuss the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Russian advance, on the brutal Eastern front, as the first year of the First World War grinds bloodily on… ______ Try Adobe Express for free now at https://www.adobe.com/uk/express/spotlight/designwithexpress?sdid=HM85WZZV&mv=display&mv2=ctv or by searching in the app store... Learn more at https://uber.com/onourway Explore the world’s most loved stories in their most beautiful form - only at https://www.foliosociety.com/. ______ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude
Book Mentions
8 book mentions in this episode.
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Books Mentioned

Kaiserjäger cover

A thrillingly titled work discussing the heroic death of the 2nd Regiment of the Tyrolean Kaiserjäger in September 1914, published in the New York Times in the late 1930s.

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On the Eastern Front cover

Nick Lloyd's new book, which quotes the Kaiserjäger and discusses the intricacies of war.

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The Fortress cover
The Fortress
Alexander Watson

In his book, The Fortress, Alexander Watson says, it absolutely does matter. Because if the Russians had taken the fortress then, they would never have had a better chance to strike into the heart of the Habsburg Empire.

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Catastrophe cover
Catastrophe
Max Hastings

In his book, Catastrophe, Max Hastings tells an awful story about this woman who fights her way into this carriage with her three children.

ASIN: B08PC4TNDQ
Buy on Amazon
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1984 cover
1984
George Orwell

Things like George Orwell's 1984 or the quests in J.R.R. Tolkien or Frank Herbert's Dune.

ASIN: 605746222X
Buy on Amazon
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Dune cover
Dune
Frank Herbert

Things like George Orwell's 1984 or the quests in J.R.R. Tolkien or Frank Herbert's Dune.

ASIN: B000R34YKC
Buy on Amazon
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The Eastern Front cover

The speaker mentions Nick Lloyd's book, The Eastern Front, which quotes one of their memoirs about soldiers suffering in harsh conditions.

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The White War cover

There are amazing stories in this book, The White War, about the Italians advancing up a mountain while the Austrians machine gun them from above.

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