The Good Soldier Švejk

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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 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 (1999-2024) and will in most cases differ from Cecil Parrott's version from 1973.

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. This are still listed as fictional because they are literary creations that are only partly inspired by their like-sounding "models".

Military ranks and some other titles related to Austrian officialdom are given in German, and in line with the terms used at the time (explanations in English are provided as tooltips). This means that Captain Ságner is still referred to as Hauptmann although the term is now obsolete, having been replaced by Kapitän.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 translated into English. This also goes for ranks in the nobility, at least where a direct translation exists.

People index of people, mythical figures, animals ... (588) Show all

I. In the rear

Introduction (6)

Napoléon Alexander the Great Švejk Artemis Herostratus Hašek

2. The good soldier Švejk at police headquarters (5)

Detective Brixi Columbus Jesus Christ Lombroso Jan Nepomucký

3. Švejk before the court physicians (10)

Mr. Demartini Murderer Valeš Pontius Pilate Prokop Švejk Mrs. Antonie Švejková Doctor Heveroch Rittmeister Rotter Vlčka Doctor Kallerson Doctor Weiking

4. They threw Švejk out of the madhouse (9)

Virgin Mary The Pope King of England Saint Wenceslaus Archbishop Saint Cyril Saint Methodius Publisher Otto General Windischgrätz

5. Švejk at the district police station in Salmova street (3)

Inspektor Braun Císař Nero Josef Mareček

6. Švejk at home again, having broken through the vicious circle (4)

The Devil Čimpera Miss Mařena Detective Kalous

7. Švejk goes in the military (5)

Doctor Pávek Mucius Scaevola Lynch Doctor Bautze Marschall Radetzky

8. Švejk as a malingerer (16)

Giordano Bruno Galileo Franta Henčlů Doctor Grünstein Macuna Pokorný Kovařík Koťátko Socrates Baronesse von Botzenheim Editor Filip Shrapnel Footman Johann Babinský Emperor Wilhelm II. Prince Eugen

9. Švejk in the garrison prison (14)

Mr. Klíma Mr. Slavíček Stabsprofus Slavík Feldwebel Řepa Hauptmann Linhart Feldkurat Katz Archbishop Kohn Machar Páter Albán François de Sales Auditor Bernis Korporal Říha Josef Koudela Infanterist Maixner

10. Švejk as a military servant to the field chaplain (16)

Odysseus Toník Pubkeeper Serabona Mařka Soldier Franta Polizeikommissar Drašner Mařena Epicurus Oberleutnant Feldhuber Oberleutnant Helmich Oberst Just Doctor Batěk Hauptmann Šnábl Oberleutnant Mahler Hauptmann Fišer Mrs. Kejřová

11. Švejk rides with the field chaplain to serve a field mass (6)

Saint Adalbert Guillotin Teacher Kolařík Pivoňka Oberleutnant Witinger Dalton

12. A religious debate (12)

Heine Susanna in the bath Papin Brahms Saint Augustine John the Baptist Saint Joseph Saint Serapion Saint Ludmila Saint Bernhard Herod Boccaccio

13. Švejk goes to provide the last rites (10)

Božena Němcová Mr. Tauchen Saint John Chrysostom Boušek Oberleutnant Janata Leutnant Prášek Hauptmann Wichterle Oberleutnant Machek Feldkurat Matyáš Professor Zenger

15. Catastrophe (8)

Oberst Kraus Mannlicher Schiller Poet Vierordt Bagmaker Kuneš General Laudon Božetěch Graf Crenneville

Afterword to the first volume, "In the rear" (5)

Doctor Guth Saint Aloysius Monk Eustach Mrs. Laudová Olga Fastrová

II. At the front

2. Švejk's budějovická anabasis (55)

Xenophon Caesar Toníček Mašků Pantáta Melichárek Jew Herrman Jareš Fürst Schwarzenberg (st.) Fürst Schwarzenberg (ml.) Kořínek Wachtmeister Flanderka Oberleutnant Berger Wachtmeister Bürger Pepík Vyskoč Starý Procházka Minister für Landesverteidigung Gendarm Rampa Pejzlerka Nicholas Nikolaevich Hus Butcher Chaura Palacký Rittmeister König Wachtmeister Matějka Hercules Pubkeeper Rampa Fähnrich Koťátko Einjährigfreiwilliger Materna Leutnant Anton Doctor Masák Icarus Oberst Schröder Einjährigfreiwilliger Wohltat Saint Agnes Kriegsminister Pushkin Publisher Kočí Korporal Althof Gefreiter Müller Feldwebel Sondernummer Fähnrich Dauerling Feldmarschall Conrad Hauptmann Adamička Major Wenzl Kadettstellvertreter Zítko Hauptmann Ságner Carpenter Mlíčko Kanonýr Jabůrek Leutnant Pelikán Oberleutnant Kretschmann Hauptmann Spíro Mrs. Schreiterová Oberleutnant Dankl Leutnant Schleisner Hauptmann Skoday Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek

III. The famous thrashing

1. Across Magyaria (52)

Feldoberkurat Ibl King Carlo Alberto Fahnenführer Hrt Archduke Joseph Ferdinand Telephone operator Chodounský Korporal Matějka Oberleutnant Macek Jurajdová Professor Herold Detective Chodounský Detective Stendler Mr. Zemek Mrs. Grotová Detective Stach Mr. Stern Mr. Grot Ludwig Ganghofer Kronek Albert Bügler von Leuthold Archduke Albrecht Bronckhorst-Gronsveld Leutnant Dub Kerckhoffs Kircher Oberleutnant Fleissner Ronovský Róža Šavaňů Metal caster Adamec Nikodém Zugsführer Zyka Kolařík Kozel čeledín Vomel Oberleutnant Šeba Ordonnanz Matušič General Woinovich Sir Edward Grey Greinz Judas Iscariot General Ritter von Herbert Udo Kraft General Mazzuchelli General Benedek Bahnhofskommandant Zykán Offiziersdiener Batzer Fürst Schwarzenberg General Merveldt General Dankl Archduke Friedrich Doctor Welfer Major Koch

IV. The famous thrashing continued

2. Spiritual consolation (3)

Oberleutnant Wurm Růžena Gaudrsová Porter Faustýn

	I. In the rear
	5. Švejk at the district police station in Salmova street

Inspektor Braun

Braun was a sadistic inspector at Salmova ulice police station. The author compared him to císař Nero. His abrupt order when Švejk entered was: "put him behind bars!".

Background

If Braun was inspired any particular person it was most likely Karel Fahoun who was chief inspector at Policejní komisařství Salmova ulice at least from 1906 until 1910. From 1903 to 1912 Jaroslav Hašek was repeatedly in touch with this police station due to public order offences and Fahoun signed documents that directly implicated the author. Fahoun had moved on to Vinohrady by 1911, and in 1917 he had become head of c.k. policejní ředitelství.

It has also been claimed that the police inspector and the author were personal friends, but this is categorically refuted by Břetislav Hůla. It is easy to imagine that Hašek's many appearances at this police station served as inspiration for Švejk's stay there, albeit displaced in time. There is no known records that connect the author with this police station after outbreak of war.

Another possible inspiration is the policeman Friedrich Brauner who held a similar post at the police station in Nusle. Jaroslav Hašek also knew this district, not the least from his time in the Anarchist movment. There is however no record of him having been detained here.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.5] Po krásných slunných dnech v blázinci přišly na Švejka hodiny plné pronásledování. Policejní inspektor Braun aranžoval scénu setkání se Švejkem s krutostí římských pochopů doby roztomilého císaře Nerona. Tvrdě, jako tenkrát, když oni říkali: „Hoďte toho lumpa křesťana lvům,“ řekl inspektor Braun: „Dejte ho za katr!“ Ani o slovíčko více, ani méně. Jenom oči pana policejního inspektora Brauna zasvítily přitom zvláštní, perversní rozkoší.

Credit: Jaroslav Šerák

Císař Nero

*15.12.37 Antium (no Anzio) - †9.6.68 Roma

Nero is mentioned when the author compares him unfavourably with police inspector Inspektor Braun.

Background

Nero was Roman emperor from 54 AD. The chronicles portray Nero as a tyrant and libertarian and he is known as the Emperor who "played while Rome was on fire", and an early persecutor of Christians. These stories originate from Tacitus, Svetonius and Cassius Dio. But other contemporary sources claim that Nero really was very popular in his lifetime. The first part of his time as Emperor was characterized by stability and prosperity, much thanks to his advisers, amongst them the philosopher Seneca. But Nero initiate many expensive building projects which eventually led to an economic crisis.

In 66 AD Nero added the title of "Imperator" to his name. The empire experienced insurgencies because of the economic problems. After the people had rebelled in 68 AD he was deposed by the senate. Nero though that the Senate would execute him, so he took his own life.

As Emperor he used the official name Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, but was born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.5] Policejní inspektor Braun aranžoval scénu setkání se Švejkem s krutostí římských pochopů doby roztomilého císaře Nerona. Tvrdě, jako tenkrát, když oni říkali: „Hoďte toho lumpa křesťana lvům,“ řekl inspektor Braun: „Dejte ho za katr!“

Credit: Wikipedia

Also written:NeronHašekNeroneit

Mareček, Josef

Josef Mareček was a merchant from Vršovice who had been in Švejk's cell at Salmova ulice police station the previous year. He had written his name, the date of 5 June 1913, and his profession on the cell wall. Nothing more is revealed about him.

Background

Josef Mareček may have borrowed the name (or more) from a real person, although the facts about the people listed in the address book from 1910 do not quite correspond to the information about the man who wrote on the cell wall. Of the five Marečeks listed in the address book a grocery merchant from Vinohrady seems the likeliest candidate.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.5] Jiný opět prostě konstatoval fakt: „Seděl jsem zde 5. června 1913 a bylo se mnou slušně zacházeno. Josef Mareček, obchodník s Vršovic.“

	I. In the rear
	5. Švejk at the district police station in Salmova street