The Good Soldier Švejk is a novel with an unusually rich array of characters. In addition to the many who directly form part of the plot, a large number of fictional and real people (and animals) are mentioned; either through the narrative, Švejk's anecdotes, or indirectly through words and expressions.
This web page contains short write-ups on the people/animals that the novel refers to; from Napoléon in the introduction to Hauptmann Ságner in the last few lines of the unfinished Part Four. The list is sorted in the order of which the names first appear. The chapter headlines are from Zenny Sadlon's recent translation (1999-2008) and will in most cases differ from Cecil Parrott's version from 1973. In January 2024 there were still around twenty entries to be added.
The quotes in Czech are copied from the on-line version of The Good Soldier Švejk: provided by Jaroslav Šerák and contain links to the relevant chapter. The toolbar has links for direct access to Wikipedia, Google maps, Google search, svejkmuseum.cz and the novel on-line.
The names are coloured according to their role in the novel, illustrated by the following examples:
- Dr. Grünstein as a fictional character who is directly involved in the plot.
- Fähnrich Dauerling as a fictional character who is not part of the plot.
- Heinrich Heine as a historical person.
Note that a number of seemingly fictional characters are inspired by living persons. Examples are Oberleutnant Lukáš, Major Wenzl and many others.
Titles and ranks have until 2020 largely been missing on this web page. Senior Lieutenant Lukáš has, for instance, only been known as Lukáš. This weakness is now (24 Desember 2020) slowly being addressed. Military ranks and other titles related to Austrian officialdom will appear in German, and in line with the terms used at the time. This means that Captain Ságner is still referred to as Hauptmann although the term is now obsolete, having been replaced by Kapitän. Civilian titles denoting profession etc. are in general translated into English.
IV. The famous thrashing continued | |||
1. Švejk in the transport of russian prisoners of war |
Jaroslav ze Šternberka | |||||
*1220 - †1287 | |||||
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Jaroslav ze Šternberka is mentioned by Švejk when he tells his fellow prisoner who is a Crimean Tatar how miserably his forebears performed in Moravia.
Background
Jaroslav ze Šternberka was a Czech nobleman (probably mythical) who is said to have won a battle against the Mongols by Hostýn in 1241.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] „Tak ty seš tedy Tatar,“ soustrastně řekl Švejk, „ty jsi se vydařil. Pak mně máš rozumět a já tobě, když seš Tatar. Hm - znáš Jaroslava ze Šternberka? To jméno neznáš, ty kluku tatarská? Ten vám natřel prdel pod Hostýnem.
Literature
Muhlahalej Abdrachmanov | |||||
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Muhlahalej Abdrachmanov was one of the prisoners in Švejk's transport.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] „To mně nikdo nebude věřit,“ pomyslil si Švejk, „že se někdy někdo moh tak jmenovat jako ti Tataři kolem: Muhlahalej Abdrachmanov - Bejmurat Allahali - Džeredže Čerdedže - Davlatbalej Nurdagalejev atd.
Also written:Муглагалей Абдрахманов ru
Bejmurat Allahali | |||||
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Bejmurat Allahali was one of the prisoners in Švejk's transport.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] „To mně nikdo nebude věřit,“ pomyslil si Švejk, „že se někdy někdo moh tak jmenovat jako ti Tataři kolem: Muhlahalej Abdrachmanov - Bejmurat Allahali - Džeredže Čerdedže - Davlatbalej Nurdagalejev atd.
Also written:Беймурат Аллагали ru
Džeredže Čerdedže | |||||
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Džeredže Čerdedže was one of the prisoners in Švejk's transport, a Georgian to judge by the name.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] „To mně nikdo nebude věřit,“ pomyslil si Švejk, „že se někdy někdo moh tak jmenovat jako ti Tataři kolem: Muhlahalej Abdrachmanov - Bejmurat Allahali - Džeredže Čerdedže - Davlatbalej Nurdagalejev atd.
Also written:Джередже Чердедже ru
Davlatbalej Nurdagalejev | |||||
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Davlatbalej Nurdagalejev was one of the prisoners in Švejk's transport.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] „To mně nikdo nebude věřit,“ pomyslil si Švejk, „že se někdy někdo moh tak jmenovat jako ti Tataři kolem: Muhlahalej Abdrachmanov - Bejmurat Allahali - Džeredže Čerdedže - Davlatbalej Nurdagalejev atd.
Also written:Давлатбалей Нурдагалеев ru
Priest Vobejda | |||||
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Vobejda was the priest in Židohoušť who Švejk thought had a somewhat easier name than Davlatbalej Nurdagalejev.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] To mně nikdo nebude věřit,“ pomyslil si Švejk, „že se někdy někdo moh tak jmenovat jako ti Tataři kolem: Muhlahalej Abdrachmanov - Bejmurat Allahali - Džeredže Čerdedže - Davlatbalej Nurdagalejev atd. To u nás máme přeci lepší jména, jako ten farář v Židohoušti, kterej se jmenoval Vobejda.“
Allāh | |||||
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Allāh is metioned by the Crimean tatar Švejk talks to in Dobromil. He uses the term "Alláhu-Akbar" (God is great).
Background
Allāh is the Arab word for God and is commonly used in the context of Islam. The conception of Allah is very close to judaism's Jahve and the Christian God, which is natural as these religions have common roots.
In Austria-Hungary Islam joined the varied spectrum of religions when Bosnia-Hercegovina became part of the empire. In k.u.k Militärseelsorge the Feldiman had his recognised place next to the Feldkurat and the Feldrabbiner.
The author had himself extensive knowledge of muslim peoples in Russia, mostly from his stays in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan in 1918 and 1919. Another possible source of knowledge: according to his wife Alexandra Lvova (as retold by Franta Sauer), he employed a group of body-guards from the muslim region of Cherkessia during his stay in Irkutsk in 1920.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] „Ne ponymat, já krymsky Tatárin, Allah achper.“ Tatar sedl si, zkříživ nohy, na zem, složiv ruce na hruď, začal se modlit: „Allah achper - Allah achper - bezmila - arachman - arachim - málinkin mustafír.“
Löfler, Hans | |||||
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Hans Löfler was a cripple from Styria who was routinely humiliated by the corporal who interrogated Švejk in Dobromil after he was captured trying on a Russian uniform. Hans Löfler was ordered to crawl around on the floor with a pipe in his mouth, then he had to bark like a dog.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Otevřel dveře do vedlejší místnosti a zavolal: „Hans Löfler!“ Ozvalo se „Hier!“ a dovnitř vstoupil volatý voják, Štajeráček, s výrazem ubrečeného kreténa. To byla na etapě holka pro všecko.
Džindralej Hanemalej | |||||
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Džindralej Hanemalej was one of the prisoners in Švejk's transport.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Zas chodil dál vystrojenými řadami zajatců, kteří postupně vykřikovali svá jména a příjmení: „Džindralej Hanemalej - Babamulej Mirzahali“ atd.
Also written:Джидралей Ганемалей ru
Babamulej Mirzahali | |||||
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Babamulej Mirzahali was one of the prisoners in Švejk's transport by Dobromyl.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Zas chodil dál vystrojenými řadami zajatců, kteří postupně vykřikovali svá jména a příjmení: „Džindralej Hanemalej - Babamulej Mirzahali“ atd.
Also written:Бабамулей Мирзагали ru
Štěpánek, Bohuslav | |||||
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Bohuslav Štěpánek was like Jaroslav Matoušek and Růžena Svobodová much easier than tatar names like Babamulej Mirzahali according to Švejk. He was very likely a real person.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] „Že si nepřekousneš jazyk,“ říkal každému z nich s dobráckým úsměvem Švejk. „Jestlipak to není lepší, když se u nás jmenuje někdo Bohuslav Štěpánek, Jaroslav Matoušek nebo Růžena Svobodová.“
Matoušek, Jaroslav | |||||
*18.12.1872 Praha - †30.3.1946 Praha | |||||
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Jaroslav Matoušek was according to Švejk preferable to be called rather than these Tatar names like Babamulej Mirzahali. Other examples of such uncomplicated names Růžena Svobodová and Bohuslav Štěpánek.
Background
Jaroslav Matoušek is not directly identifiable but the author almost certainly borrowed the name from a real person. Antonín Měšťan identifies him as a translator of mythical prose. The person he has in mind was an expert on Gnosticism and Hermeticism, wrote books on the theme and also translated neo-platonic prose.
The most visible trace of him is a book from 1924 on the philosopher Jakub Böhme, which is still widely available. The catalogue of the Czech National Library lists four titles (two of them translations from Greek) by him, published from 1922 to 1925. It is therefore probable that Jaroslav Hašek knew about Matoušek when he wrote those lines at the end of 1922. All four books were reprinted in the 1990's. In 1927 he wrote another book, this time about vampires.
Matoušek seems to have been a spare time author. Police records shows that he was a civil cervant in the k.k. post- and telegraph authorities. He was married to Marie Kalinova from Vršovice and in 1914 the couple lived in Prague IV., čp. 112 (Hradčany).
Antonín Měšťan
Jaroslav Matoušek war hauptsächlich als Übersetzer mystischer Schriften tätig.
NKČR
Narozen 18.12.1872 v Praze, zemřel 30.3.1946 v Praze. PhDr., práce z okultismu, překlady novoplatoniků.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] „Že si nepřekousneš jazyk,“ říkal každému z nich s dobráckým úsměvem Švejk. „Jestlipak to není lepší, když se u nás jmenuje někdo Bohuslav Štěpánek, Jaroslav Matoušek nebo Růžena Svobodová.“
Sources: Antonín Měšťan
Literature
Svobodová, Růžena | |||||
*10.7.1868 Mikulovice - †1.1.1920 Praha | |||||
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Růžena Svobodová was according to Švejk much easier to pronounce than Tatar names like Babamulej Mirzahali.
Background
Růžena Svobodová was a Czech writer who specialised in literature on the fate of women. She is vaguely classed as impressionist.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] „Že si nepřekousneš jazyk,“ říkal každému z nich s dobráckým úsměvem Švejk. „Jestlipak to není lepší, když se u nás jmenuje někdo Bohuslav Štěpánek, Jaroslav Matoušek nebo Růžena Svobodová.“
Literature
- Osobnosti regionu
- Růžena Svobodová12.7.1918
- Pohřeb Růženy Svobodové7.1.1920
Babula Halleje | |||||
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Babula Halleje is an invented name, this time by the author.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Když konečně Švejk po hrozném utrpení sepsal všechny ty Babula Halleje, Chudži Mudži, umínil si, že to zkusí ještě jednou a vysvětlí tlumočníkovi-šikovatelovi, že se stal obětí omylu, a jak už několikrát po cestě, když ho hnali mezi zajatci, marně se dovolával spravedlnosti.
Chudži Mudži | |||||
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Chudži Mudži is an invented name, this time by the author.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Když konečně Švejk po hrozném utrpení sepsal všechny ty Babula Halleje, Chudži Mudži, umínil si, že to zkusí ještě jednou a vysvětlí tlumočníkovi-šikovatelovi, že se stal obětí omylu, a jak už několikrát po cestě, když ho hnali mezi zajatci, marně se dovolával spravedlnosti.
Dreger, Karolina | |||||
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Karolina Dreger is a name the drunk corporal who interrogated Švejk sings about to the tones of Loreley. He picks the lyrics from a newspaper advert.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Přebubnovával si na židli na nápěv „Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten...“ nový inserát: „Karolina Dreger, porodní babička, doporučuje se ct. dámám v každém případě.“
Major Wolf | |||||
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Wolf was the major in Przemyśl who discovered that Švejk was a Czech in a Russian uniform. He advocated immediate hanging of the delinquent, preferably after a summary trial.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Potom je přejímal major Wolf, vládnoucí tou dobou nad všemi zajatci pracujícími na opravách v pevnosti Přemyšlu a okolí. To byl důkladný člověk. Měl u sebe celý štáb tlumočníků, kteří vybírali ze zajatců specialisty ku stavbám podle jejich schopností a předběžného vzdělání.
Professor Masaryk, Tomáš Garrigue | |||||
*7.3.1850 Hodonín - †14.9.1937 Lány | |||||
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Masaryk is mentioned 1 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.
Masaryk is mentioned by the author in connection with a discussion about Czechs who have joined the enemy. Masaryk is referred to as the former Austrian professor who has moved abroad and is involved in anti-Austrian agitation, being searched for in vain by k.k. Innenministerium. The author's personal greeting to the president was removed from editions from 1951 and 1955.
Background
Masaryk was a Czech politician and professor of philosophy who is strongly linked to the creation of the Czechoslovak state. He was president of the country from 1918 until 1935. He enjoyed enormous respect both at home and abroad and rarely has the term "father of the nation" been more appropriate.
Until 1914 he was a member of Reichsrat and was still loyal to Austria-Hungary, but his experience from the time after the outbreak of war made him change his mind and he decided to work for full Czech/Slovak independence. In December 1914 he moved abroad and started to campaign for an independent Czechoslovak state amongst allied politicians, influential press people, and other people in important positions. He soon became the leader of the Czech (and Slovak) independence movement abroad and during the war he spent time in Switzerland, France, England, USA and Russia. In his position in the independence movement he enjoyed almost unchallenged authority.
Masaryk spent almost a year in Russia at the time when Jaroslav Hašek was there: he arrived in Petrograd on 16 May 1917 and left again in March 1918. The two may even have met; in Berezno (HQ of Hašek's regiment from 11 August 1917) and in Kiev in February 1918. During his visit in Berezno in August 1917 Masaryk stayed in the mansion where Hašek worked. The author was at the time secretary of the staff of the 1st Czechoslovak rifle regiment.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Rakouské ministerstvo vnitra tápalo ještě ve tmách, pokud se týkalo zjištění nějaké bojovné organisace z přeběhlíků na ruskou stranu. Neznalo ještě nic určitého o revolučních organisacích v cizině a teprve v srpnu na linii Sokal - Milijatin - Bubnovo obdrželi velitelé batalionů důvěrné reserváty, že bývalý rakouský profesor Masaryk utekl za hranice, kde vede proti Rakousku propagandu. Nějaký pitomeček od divise doplnil reservát ještě tímto rozkazem: „V případě zachycení předvésti neprodleně k štábu divise!“ Toto tedy připomínám panu presidentovi, aby věděl, jaké nástrahy a léčky byly na něho kladeny mezi Sokalem - Milijatinem a Bubnovou.
Sources: Tomáš Masaryk, Josef Kopta, František Langer, Rudolf Medek
Literature
- Spisy TGM online
- Světová revoluce1925
- "Švejk“ a senátor Dyk24.4.1928
- Militarisierung der Politik - Thomas G Masaryk2014
Hatter Vašák | |||||
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Vašák was a hatter that always made trouble at Na Zavadilce in Libeň. The guests and the landlord therefore discussed if they were to thrown him out at first sight or wait until he'd had a few beers and had spent some money.
Background
Vašák was possibly inspired by a real person (or two). A certain Jan Vašák, born in Bukovany by Benešov on 17 September 1871 was a hatter who lived in Žižkov from 1907 and at least until 1909. But even more striking is the fact that he in 1906 lived in Prague VIII čp. 524, i.e. in Libeň. He had got married in Karlín in 1898 so he had probably spent a few years in the area. His wife was from Žižkov.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] To jsme se vám jednou v hospodě ,Na Zavadilce’ v Libni hádali mezi sebou, jestli máme nějakýho N(kloboučníka Vašáka), kerej vždycky dělal při zábavě neplechu, vyhodit, hned jak se vobjeví ve dveřích, nebo ho vyhodit, až si dá pivo, zaplatí a dopije, nebo mu vyndat boty, až přetančí první kolo.
Sources: Jaroslav Šerák
Literature
Znamenáček | |||||
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Znamenáček is mentioned in Švejk's imaginary anecdote about the judge who went mad and wanted to hang Znamenáček immediately because he had insulted the chaplain Hortík.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Nějakej Znamenáček řekl kaplanovi Hortíkovi, kerej při náboženství nafackoval jeho klukovi, když ho potkal na ulici: ,Vy vole, ty černá potvoro, ty nábožnej blbečku, ty černý prase, ty farní kozle, ty przniteli učení Kristova, ty pokrytče a šarlatáne v kutně!’
Chaplain Hortík | |||||
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Hortík was the chaplain in Švejk's anecdote about the mad judge. See Znamenáček.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Nějakej Znamenáček řekl kaplanovi Hortíkovi, kerej při náboženství nafackoval jeho klukovi, když ho potkal na ulici: ,Vy vole, ty černá potvoro, ty nábožnej blbečku, ty černý prase, ty farní kozle, ty przniteli učení Kristova, ty pokrytče a šarlatáne v kutně!’
Guard Horáček | |||||
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Horáček was a guard in an anecdote by Švejk about a mad judge. See Znamenáček.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Proti rozsudku není odvolání. Pane Horáček!’ zavolal potom na dozorce, vezmou tady tohodle pána a pověsejí ho tam, vědí, kde se klepají koberce, a potom sem přijdou, dostanou na pivo!’ To se rozumí, že pan Znamenáček i ten dozorce zůstali stát jako zkoprnělí, ale on si na ně dup a rozkřikl se: ,Poslechnou, nebo ne!’
Týnecký | |||||
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Týnecký is the centre of the anecdote Švejk uses against the Polish spy who enters his cell in Przemyśl.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] „Voni se museli rozhodně napít bahnitý vody,“ řekl Švejk. „jako ten mladej Týneckej od nás, člověk jinak rozumnej, ale jednou se pustil na cesty a dostal se až do Italie. Taky vo ničem jiným nemluvil než vo tej Italii, že jsou tam samý bahnitý vody a nic jinýho památnýho.
Also written:Týneckej Švejk
Saint Peter | |||||
*Betsaida - †64/67 Roma | |||||
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Saint Peter is the centre of the anecdote Švejk uses against the spy who enters his cell in Przemyśl.
Background
Saint Peter (Simon Peter) was a leader of the early Christian Church, who features prominently in the New Testament through the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. He was one of Christ's twelve disciples. The Catholic Church regards him as the first bishop of Rome and also the first pope.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] A taky dostal z tý bahnitý vody zimnici. Chytalo ho to čtyřikrát do roka. Na Všechny svatý, na svatého Josefa, na Petra a Pavla a na Nanebevstoupení panny Marie.
Also written:Svatý Petr cz Sankt Peter de
Saint Paul | |||||
*10 Tarsus - †67 Roma | |||||
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Saint Paul is the mentioned in the anecdote Švejk uses against the spy who enters his cell in Przemyśl.
Background
Saint Paul (Paul of Tarsos, born Saul) was a Greek Jew who became one of the early Christian leaders and one of the first missionaries. He is often mentioned in the New Testament and has written part of it. Paul was executed in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] A taky dostal z tý bahnitý vody zimnici. Chytalo ho to čtyřikrát do roka. Na Všechny svatý, na svatého Josefa, na Petra a Pavla a na Nanebevstoupení panny Marie.
Also written:Svatý Pavel cz
Leutnant Zimmer | |||||
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Zimmer was a lieutenant that Švejk talks about to the spy who enters his cell in Przemyśl.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] My padneme za císaře pána a jeho rodinu, za kterou jsme vybojovali Hercegovinu. Z našich kostí se bude vyrábět špodium pro cukrovary, vo tom už nám před lety vykládal pan lajtnant Zimmer. ,Vy svinská bando,’ povídá, ,vy nevzdělaní kanci, vy zbytečný, indolentní vopice, vy těma haxnama pletete, jako by neměly žádnou cenu.
Bookbinder Božetěch, Josef | |||||
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Božetěch was a bookbinder from Příčná ulice no. 16 who in July 1908 had taken a bath in Zbraslav with a tramp, and the latter had run off with his clothes. This is what Švejk tells during interrogation in Przemyśl. It also transpires that Božetěch read all the books that he bound, and was happy to sit at U Fleků and relate the content. Not to be confused with Božetěch from Košíře.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] „Vím, vod 91. regimentu mne už jistě hledají, ale jestli dovolíte, pane majore, malou poznámku vo tom, jak se lidi dobrovolně převlíkají do cizích šatů. Roku 1908 někdy v červenci koupal se knihař Božetěch z Příčný ulice v Praze na Zbraslavi ve starým rameni Berounky.
General Fink von Finkenstein | |||||
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Fink is mentioned 25 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.
Fink was a general who was commander of the garrison in Przemyśl and led the trial against Švejk. His great joy was to arrange summary trials and he had a strong dislike for defence lawyers. A succesful trial should be quick and the accused should preferably be strung up within three hours. Fink was such a patriot that he even ignored his Reichsdeutsche allies. It is revealed that he lived in Vienna, was married and had a son Fink.
Background
This figure is unlikely to have been directly modelled on a real person as the fortress commander of Przemyśl from 9 June 1915 (at the latest) was Generalmajor Gustav Stowasser[a].
According to Radko Pytlík Fink was a real person and documents about him exist in the Vienna war archive[b], but it is more likely that the author borrowed the name from the well-known Prussian noble family Finck von Finckenstein.
The name Fink von Finkenstein was not present in address books of Vienna from 1914 and 1915, although the surname Fink was quite common. Nor is it listed in any Kriegsgliederungen from 1915. We must therefore assume that this figure is a grotesque caricature with a random name, but still one that may have borrowed traits from people the author actually met.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Potom pokračoval tento podivný soud na způsob náhlého soudu, který aranžoval předsedající generál Fink von Finkenstein. Tento generál říkával, že žádných auditorů nepotřebuje, že to sezve dohromady a za tři hodiny že každý chlap musí viset. Dokud byl na frontě, tak u něho o náhlý soud nikdy nebyla nouze.
Sources: Österreich-Ungarns Letzter Krieg, Band III.
a | Poslední zprávy | 10.6.1915 | |
b | Osudy a cesty Josefa Švejka | 2003 | |
c | Olmütz, 20. Juli | 1.8.1855 |
Fink, Wilhelm | |||||
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Fink was the son of General Fink, mentioned in a letter from the front. The author uses the Czech pet names Vilouš and Viloušek, an equivalent to the German Willi, Willy or Willichen.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Připadalo mně to tak směšné, že jsem všem odpustil, kteří ho hlídali, a ještě jsem udělal vtip, že se ten učitel patrně sám šel poohlédnout po nějakém stromě. Tak vidíš, má drahá, že se zde nijak nenudíme, a řekni malému Viloušovi, že ho tatínek líbá a že mu brzo pošle živého Rusa, na kterém bude Viloušek jezditi jako na koníčkovi.
Feldkurat Martinec, Jan | |||||
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Martinec is mentioned 15 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.
Martinec was field chaplain at the Przemyśl garrison and a good Christian from near Nový Jičín in Moravia. After joining k.u.k. Heer his moral standards started to deteriorate. Under the influence of General Fink he got into the habit of enjoying drink and the company of loose women.
His task in the novel is to provide spiritual consolation for Švejk before the impending execution. He never achieved this objective as the good soldier drowned him in endless anecdotes.
His first name Jan appears in the diminutive form Jeníček.
Background
In 1914 there was no Martinec serving in k.u.k. Heer or k.k. Landwehr according to Schematismus. Nor has it been possible to identify any parish priest Martinec who lived at the time.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Polní kurát Martinec představoval si, že jsa ve službách duchovní útěchy raněným a umírajícím na bojišti, vykoupí i hříchy svého zpustlého faráře, který vraceje se v noci domů, nesčíslněkráte ho vzbudil a vypravoval mu: „Jeníčku, Jeníčku! Macatá děvka - to je můj celý život.“
von Hindenburg, Paul | |||||
*2.10.1847 Posen (Poznań) - †2.8.1934 Neudeck (Ogrodzieniec) | |||||
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Hindenburg is mentioned by the author in passing; he refers to some idiotic booklets published for the army by Lustige Blätter. General Fink finds them entertaining enough to pass them on to Feldkurat Martinec.
Background
Hindenburg was a German general who was Commander in Chief of the German forces on the Eastern front at the time of the events in the novel. From 1916 he became head of the entire German army and gradually became the most influential person in the country.
He was elected president of Germany in 1925, a position he had also when Hitler assumed power in 1933, and he remained in office until his death the year after. He is the only German head of state ever who has been directly elected by the people. Politically he was regarded as conservative.
Hašek here refers to issue no. 2 of the series Illustrierter Tornister-Humor, published by Lustige Blätter from February 1915 and onwards.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Měl celou knihovnu takových svazečků s pitomými názvy jako „Humor v tornistře pro oči i uši“, „Hindenburgovy anekdoty“, „Hindenburg v zrcadle humoru“, „Druhá tornistra plná humoru, naládovaná Felixem Schlemprem“, „Z našeho gulášového kanonu“, „Šťavnaté granátové třísky ze zákopů“, nebo tyto hovadiny: „Pod dvojitým orlem“, „Vídeňský řízek z c. k. polní kuchyně. Ohřál Artur Lokesch“.
Literature
Schloemp, Felix | |||||
*5.9.1880 Leipzig - †23.8.1916 Malinadr? | |||||
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Schloemp is mentioned by the author in passing; he refers to some idiotic booklets published for the army by Lustige Blätter. General Fink finds them entertaining enough to pass them on to Feldkurat Martinec.
Background
Schloemp (i romanen Schlemper) was a German book trader, editor and publisher. From 1909 onwards he published a number of illustrated humorous books.
In 1915 he contributed to Tornister-Humor, a series of humorous propaganda booklets that were published by Lustige Blätter. Installments no. 1, 2, 3, 8 and 15 are directly mentioned in The Good Soldier Švejk.[a]
Some time in late 1915 or early 1916 Schloemp was called up for service. Little about his military exploits is known until he was wounded at the Russian front on 25 July 1916. Two days later he was in person awarded the Eiserne Kreuz (Iron Cross) by Prince Leopold of Bavaria. Some weeks later Schloemp died from the injuries and was buried by Malinadr on 23 August. In official loss lists for Prussia he was first reported severely wounded on 16 August, then dead on 7 October. It is also revealed that he served in Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 48, 9. Kompagnie.
Malinadr was according to Lustige Blätter the site of his burial but it has not been possible to locate it. Presumably it is a mis-spelling (or rather an erroneous transcription) of some place name in current Belarus. Fortunately the history of his regiment[b] is available and it reveals that on 25 July 1916 they were attacked by Skrobava (Скробава) north of Baranovichi (Баранавічы). That day the regiment suffered 15 soldiers killed and 46 wounded. We must assume that the severely wounded Schloemp was brought to a field hospital behind the lines but exactly where this "Malinadr" is remains an enigma.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Měl celou knihovnu takových svazečků s pitomými názvy jako „Humor v tornistře pro oči i uši“, „Hindenburgovy anekdoty“, „Hindenburg v zrcadle humoru“, „Druhá tornistra plná humoru, naládovaná Felixem Schlemprem“, „Z našeho gulášového kanonu“, „Šťavnaté granátové třísky ze zákopů“, nebo tyto hovadiny: „Pod dvojitým orlem“, „Vídeňský řízek z c. k. polní kuchyně.
Sources: Andrew Lucas
Also written:Felix Schlemper Hašek
Literature
- Realien und Pseudorealien in Hašeks "Švejk"1983
- Tornister-Humor1.3.1916
- Schloemp gefallen1.9.1916
- Deutsche Verlustlisten (Pr. 608)16.8.1916
- Deutsche Verlustlisten (Pr. 653)7.10.1916
- Felix Schloemp
a | "Tornister-Humor" and 'The Good Soldier Švejk' | 10.5.2020 | |
b | Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 48 | 1925 |
Lokesch, Arthur | |||||
*23.3.1878 Praha - †? | |||||
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Artur Lokesch is mentioned by the author in passing; he refers to some idiotic booklets published for the army by Lustige Blätter. General Fink finds them entertaining enough to pass them on to Feldkurat Martinec.
Background
Artur Lokesch was a writer who from 1915 onwards contributed to the series Tornister-Humor published by Lustige Blätter. The novel specifically refers to Unter'm Doppeladler which was issue No. 15 in the series[1]. The adverts added the explanatory notes Wiener Schnitzel aus der k. k. Feldküche, aufgewärmt von Arthur Lokesch and Hašek probably was inspired by these adverts rather than the booklets themselves. Artur Lokesch also contributed to several other of these 64-page booklets.
1. Instalment no. 15 seems to have been published in late 1915 so Jaroslav Hašek could therefore not have drawn inspiration from his own time in k.u.k. Heer.
The author of this and other humorous booklets was the youngest son of Prague factory owner Eduard Lokesch. His factory in Holešovice manufactured buttons, garments and other clothing accessories. Artur Lokesch was born in 1878, at the time the family lived in Praha I./859 (Kozí plácek). At the time the factory/work shop was also located here and according to Egon Erwin Kisch a certain Mestek worked there for a short period!
Artur Lokesch graduated from the German commercial academy in Prague in 1898. From police records it transpires that he in 1906 and this fits well with the 1906 year-book of the comercial academy who reveals the he was chief editor of Rheinisch-Westphälischen Anzeige in Essen. In the same records he is listed as "disponent" (managing clerk). In 1910 he is mentioned in Národní politika as a "well known German editor". He wrote lyrics for songs in theatre plays that from 1912 were performed in Berlin and later across Europe. His most famous contribution is the lyrics of the internationally known vaudeville Der Regimentspapa (1914). He also contributed to Prager Tagblatt, using the pseudonym Tuxl.
Artur Lokesch moved to Berlin some time before 1909 and was as late as 1933 listed in the city's address book. He is known to have edited Der Luftballon, a magazine that in 1909 was located in the same building as Lustige Blätter. Both publications were owned by Dr. Eysler & Co.
His name is found in address books and in newspapers also after the war. He is now listed as an editor and dramaturgist and his name appears as far away as Essen (editor in chief of Rheinisch-Westphälischen Anzeiger). The Artur Lokesch family were Jewish but Arthur converted to protestantism as a young man.
In 1937 he was again living in Prague so he had obviously left Berlin after the 1933 Nazi takeover. He doesn't figure in the address book from 1942, but it has so far not been possible to determine if he emigrated or became a victim of Holocaust. He is in any case not on the list of Czech victims.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] ... nebo tyto hovadiny: „Pod dvojitým orlem“, „Vídeňský řízek z c. k. polní kuchyně. Ohřál Artur Lokesch“. Někdy mu také předzpěvoval ze sbírky veselých vojenských písní „Wir müssen siegen!“
Literature
- "Tornister-Humor" and 'The Good Soldier Švejk'10.5.2020
- Matriky židovských náboženských obcí v českých krajích
- Soupis pražských domovských příslušníků 1830-1910 (1920)
- Pobytové přihlášky pražského policejního ředitelství1851 - 1914
- In Sachen Purps16.6.1912
- Die süße Pille15.8.1913
- Breslauer Bühnenbrief11.5.1914
- Der süße Fraß22.8.1915
- Alte Kasperlstücke8.3.1931
- Lokesch, Artur
- Der Luftballon1909
- Lokesch, Arthur, Schriftsteller1915
- Lokesch, Arthur, Schriftsteller1933
- Through German Spectacles31.3.1919
- Kulturní adresář ČSR1934-1936
Ignatius of Loyola | |||||
*24.10.1491 Azpeitia - †31.7.1556 Roma | |||||
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Ignatius of Loyola is mentioned in passing in the description of Feldkurat Martinec.
Background
Ignatius of Loyola was a Basque/Spanish nobleman and soldier known for having founded the Jesuit Order in 1534 and also the instigator of the inquisition. He was declared a saint in 1622. The church kostel svátého Ignáce is named after him.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Generál oblíbil si kuráta Martince, který se mu prvně představil jako nějaký svatý Ignác z Loyoly a pomalu přizpůsoboval se generálovu okolí.
Also written:Ignác z Loyoly cz Ignacio de Loyola es
Mr. Grabowski | |||||
*2.12.1822 Lwów - †30.3.1908 Przemyśl | |||||
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Grabowski is mentioned because Feldkurat Martinec kneeled in front of his statue to confess his sins. Grabowski was according to the author mayor of Przemyśl in the 1880's and did the city great services, was a builder and a benefactor.
Background
Grabowski was according to Milan Hodík identical to Bronisław Grabowski, a Polish ethnographer, writer, translator and slavist. He translated, amongst others, the Czech writers Karolina Světlá and Vrchlický.
Radko Pytlík makes no assumptions about Grabowski's identity, and quotes Polish sources that there was no such statue in Przemyśl at the time. He suggests there might be a mix-up with a statue of Adam Mickiewicz that was indeed located in the city park (where the author placed the Grabowski monument)[a].
Aleksander Dworski
The author's additional facts are however sufficient to make us conclude that it was a mix-up of names. The mayor of Przemyśl from 1881 to 1901 was Aleksander Dworski and his biographical details fit well with information from The Good Soldier Švejk. No statue of him can be located, but he was (and is) well known in the city and a major street is named after him. Dworski and not Grabowski was thus obviously the man the author had in mind.
Dworski was born in Lwów and graduated as a doctor of law from the city's university in 1849. He entered politics early, serving as MP for Lwów and Grodek in Reichsrat from 1873 until 1880, where protocols reveal that he was very active. He was known as a Polish patriot and pan-slavist. Thereafter he served for 20 years as mayor of Przemyśl, the city he had lived in from 1855. His reign oversaw substantial development - building of schools, sewers and beginning electrification. Already in 1896 he was named honorary citizen and a street was renamed in his honour. From 1889 to 1901 he was also member of the Galician parliament. Dworski died in 1908 from pneumonia.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Potom dlouhou dobu vyčítal si toto zpustlé jednání, ačkoliv to nemohl ani napraviti tím, když tu noc, vraceje se domů, klečel omylem v parku před sochou stavitele a starosty města, mecenáše pána Grabowského, který získal si velké zásluhy o Přemyšl v letech osmdesátých.
Sources: Kurjer Lwowski, Milan Hodík, Radko Pytlík
Also written:Grabowský Hašek
Literature
- Im Sprengel des Lemberger Oberlandesgerichtes25.9.1855
- Mandats-Niederlegung23.6.1880
- Skon dr. Alexandra Dworskiego2.4.1908
- Aleksander Dworski1999
- Aleksander Dworski
a | Osudy a cesty Josefa Švejka | 2003 |
IV. The famous thrashing continued | |||
1. Švejk in the transport of russian prisoners of war |
© 2008 - 2024 Jomar Hønsi | Last updated: 16.3.2024 |