1918: The end of a dynasty that lasted over 600 years. November 1918: The Habsburg monarchy lies in ruins. The army is disbanding, and Emperor Karl leaves Schönbrunn Palace through the back door. Was this end truly inevitable, or even delayed? With the death of Emperor Franz Joseph in 1916, the monarchy lost not only its symbolic figure. Or was it the other way around, with the downfall merely a chain of unfortunate circumstances? The war had certainly not simplified the situation in Austria-Hungary. However, the signs of a complete collapse remained limited despite social tensions and economic crises. A new perspective on the history of the Habsburgs presented by the popular non-fiction historian. Hannes Leidinger challenges the traditional narrative of the years leading up to 1918, telling stories of everyday life as well as historical events.