Švejk's journey is mapped on an Austria-Hungary map from 1914, showing the military districts of the
k.u.k. Heer. The entire plot of The Good Soldier Švejk is set within the territory of the former Dual Monarchy.
The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk (commonly known as The Good Soldier Švejk) by Jaroslav Hašek is rich in geographical
references, whether through the plot itself, in dialogues, or in the author's narrative voice. Hašek was unusually
well-travelled and had a photographic memory for geographical (and other) details. Geography mattered to him: eight
of the 27 chapter headings in the novel contain geographical names.
This website will, in due course, provide a complete overview of the novel's geographical references, from Prague in
the introduction to Klimontów in the unfinished Part Four. It includes continents, states (including defunct ones),
cities, market squares, city gates, regions, districts, towns, villages, mountains, mountain passes, oceans, lakes,
rivers, caves, channels, islands, streets, parks, and bridges.
The list is sorted according to the order in which the names appear in the novel. The chapter headings are taken from
Zenny Sadlon's recent translation (1999–2026); in most cases, these differ from Cecil Parrott's translation from 1973.
The Czech quotations are taken from the online version of The Good Soldier Švejk provided by Jaroslav Šerák and link to the relevant chapter. The
toolbar provides direct links to Wikipedia, Google Maps, Google Search, svejkmuseum.cz, and the novel online.
The names are colour-coded according to their role in the novel, as illustrated by the following examples:
Konopiště
is mentioned by Mrs. Müllerová in the opening passage as she explains to Švejk which Ferdinand has been murdered: "the Archduke Ferdinand, the one from Konopiště, the fat one, the pious one".
Background
Konopiště
is a village and castle near Benešov that, from 1887 to 1914, was owned by Archduke Franz Ferdinand, then the Austrian heir to the throne. He and his family lived there for extended periods. The castle is now a museum, exhibiting, among other items, Franz Ferdinand's approximately 475,000 hunting trophies and large quantities of classic furniture and paintings.
Demography
According to the 1910 census, Konopiště had 483 inhabitants, of whom 463 (95 per cent) reported using Czech as their everyday language. The judicial district was okresBenešov, administratively it reported to hejtmanstvíBenešov.
Per the recruitment districts, infantrymen from Konopiště were usually assigned to Infanterieregiment Nr. 102 (Beneschau) or k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 28 (Pisek).
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] „Ale, milostpane, pana arcivévodu Ferdinanda, toho z Konopiště, toho tlustýho, nábožnýho.“ „Ježíšmarjá,“ vykřikl Švejk, „to je dobrý. A kde se mu to, panu arcivévodovi, stalo?“ „Práskli ho v Sarajevu, milostpane, z revolveru, vědí. Jel tam s tou svou arcikněžnou v automobilu.“
Sarajevo
was, in 1914 as now, the capital of Bosnia-Hercegovina. In 1878, Austria-Hungary occupied the area, although it formally remained a part of Turkey until 1908, when it was annexed.
The Bosnian capital was, on 28 June 1914, the scene of the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne. This act set in motion the events that, a month later, led to the outbreak of World War I. The killing was carried out by Serbian nationalists, but it has not been proven that the Serbian government was involved.
The murders in Sarajevo are directly the starting point of the novel these webpages are about.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] „Práskli ho v Sarajevu, milostpane, z revolveru, vědí. Jel tam s tou svou arcikněžnou v automobilu.“ „Tak se podívejme, paní Müllerová, v automobilu. Jó, takovej pán si to může dovolit, a ani nepomyslí, jak taková jízda automobilem může nešťastně skončit. A v Sarajevu k tomu, to je v Bosně, paní Müllerová. To asi udělali Turci. My holt jsme jim tu Bosnu a Hercegovinu neměli brát.
Bosnia
is often mentioned together with Hercegovina as Bosnia-Hercegovina. This is the political unit to which both areas belong. Bosnia and Hercegovina have long been regarded as purely geographical terms.
The area was annexed by Austria-Hungary in 1908. This led to widespread dissatisfaction amongst Serbs and is arguably the main reason for the grievances that led terrorists to plot and carry out the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] „A v Sarajevu k tomu, to je v Bosně, paní Müllerová. To asi udělali Turci. My holt jsme jim tu Bosnu a Hercegovinu neměli brát."
[III.1] Zato už v Bosně jsme ani vodu nedostali. Ale do Bosny, ačkoliv to bylo zakázané, měli jsme různých kořalek, co hrdlo ráčilo, a vína potoky. Pamatuji se, že na jedné stanici nás nějaké paničky a slečinky uctívaly pivem a my jsme se jim do konve s pivem vymočili, a ty jely od vagónu!
Bosnia and Hercegovina
was (and is) the political entity consisting of Bosnia and Hercegovina. The area was annexed by Austria-Hungary in 1908. This led to widespread dissatisfaction amongst Serbs and is arguably the main reason for the grievances that led terrorists to plot and carry out the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand six years later.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] „A v Sarajevu k tomu, to je v Bosně, paní Müllerová. To asi udělali Turci. My holt jsme jim tu Bosnu a Hercegovinu neměli brát."
[I.1] "V tuhle dobu bývá v Bosně a Hercegovině strašný horko. Když jsem tam sloužil, tak museli dávat našemu obrlajtnantovi led na hlavu." "U kterého pluku jste sloužil, pane hostinský?"
[I.1] "V tom Sarajevu," navazoval Bretschneider, "to udělali Srbové." "To se mýlíte," odpověděl Švejk, "udělali to Turci, kvůli Bosně a Hercegovině."
[IV.3] Jurajda mluvil dál: "V jednom statku přišel jsem na jednoho starého, vysloužilého vojáka z doby okupace Bosny a Hercegoviny který vysloužil vojenskou službu v Pardubicích u hulánů a ještě dnes nezapomněl česky. Ten se se mnou začal hádat, že v Čechách se nedává do jitrnic marjánka, ale heřmánek.
Nusle
is first mentioned by Mrs. Müllerová when she refers to an assault with a revolver that took place there in her hometown. The area is later mentioned by pubkeeper Palivec at U kalicha, and it is clear that Nusle had a poor reputation at the time. There are several references to locations in Nusle later in the novel, including the tavern U Bansethů.
Background
Nusle
From 1898, Nusle was a town in the Prague conurbation that grew rapidly during the industrial revolution. Riegrovo náměstí (now Náměstí Bratří Synků) was regarded as the centre of the town. In 1922, it became part of Greater Prague.
Demography
According to the 1910 census, Nusle had 30,874 inhabitants, of whom 30,498 (98 per cent) reported using Czech as their everyday language. The judicial district was okresNusle, administratively it reported to hejtmanstvíKrálovské Vinohrady.
Per the recruitment districts, infantrymen from Nusle were usually assigned to Infanterieregiment Nr. 28 (Prag) or k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 8 (Prag).
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] Nedávno taky si hrál jeden pán u nás v Nuslích s revolverem a postřílel celou rodinu i domovníka, kterej se šel podívat, kdo to tam střílí ve třetím poschodí.“
General Ulrich Wille, Swiss commander-in-chief during World War I.
Národní listy,6.11.1904
Switzerland
provides, in an anecdote by Švejk, refuge for a guard who had lent his braces to an inmate who had murdered a captain. The prisoner hanged himself with the braces. The guard was sentenced to six months but escaped to Switzerland.
Background
Switzerland
was neutral during World War I and was, as today, a federal republic. As a curiosity, it should be mentioned that the House of Habsburg originated from Switzerland. During World War I, Lenin lived in Switzerland. From 1917, he was to play an important role in the events leading to Russia's withdrawal from the war.
In addition, Switzerland was at times during the war a place of refuge for Professor Masaryk and other Czechs who worked for national independence.
Hašek in Switzerland
Jaroslav Hašek wrote several stories set in Switzerland and by all accounts he visited the country in 1904. Although this cannot be confirmed by sources other than the author himself, the fact that he usually based his stories on places he knew gives a strong indication. In one story, he wrote that he walked from Switzerland through Bavaria back to Domažlice. The journey must have taken place between July and September.
The first story with a Swiss setting was published in Národní listy as early as 6 November 1904 and was called Oslík Guat (Guat the Donkey)[a] and takes place in the Bernese Alps. None of the places where the plot takes place can be identified according to the author's spelling. These places were "Dünsingen", "Tillingen", "Stroschein" and "Gallensheim". Mentioned in passing are Bern and Lake Constance. In the story Výprava na Moasserspitze[b], the narrator writes that he stayed in Bern and planned an excursion to "Moasernspitze, six hours away, in the canton of Bern". The summit is said to have been pointed, but none of the spelling variations give an indication of which mountain he meant. The narrator also states that the stay took place at the end of June, a timing that is at odds with the author's known whereabouts at the time.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] To vědí, paní Müllerová, že v takový situaci jde každému hlava kolem. Profousa za to degradovali a dali mu šest měsíců. Ale von si je nevodseděl. Utek do Švejcar a dneska tam dělá kazatele ňáký církve.
Portugal
is referred to by Švejk when he talks about the killing of a fat king of Portugal. This surely refers to the assassination of King Carlos I I of the House of Bragança in 1908.
Background
Portugal
was in 1914 a republic which still retained some colonies, mostly in Africa. At the beginning of the 20th century, Portugal experienced a power struggle between reformist and conservative groups. The republicans gained the upper hand, and a republic was established in 1910, two years after the murder of King Carlos I.
On 9 March 1916, Germany declared war on Portugal and Portuguese forces took part in Africa and on the Western Front. Several Portuguese ships were sunk by German U-boats during the war.
Waterloo
in the context of the famous battle is mentioned by the author when he describes the pub landlord pubkeeper Palivec and his knowledge of Victor Hugo.
Švejk also mentions Waterloo in [II.1] when on the train to Tábor, again in the context of Napoléon.
Background
Waterloo
is a town in Walloon Brabant in Belgium, near Brussels.
The town is known for the famous battle that took place nearby on 18 June 1815, when Wellington and Blücher were victorious against Napoléon's French army. The battle took place at Mont-Saint-Jean, south of the town, and marked the end of Napoleon's political and military career.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] Palivec byl známý sprosťák, každé jeho druhé slovo byla zadnice nebo hovno. Přitom byl ale sečtělý a upozorňoval každého, aby si přečetl, co napsal o posledním předmětě Victor Hugo, když líčil poslední odpověď staré gardy Napoleona Angličanům v bitvě u Waterloo.
[II.1] Napoleon se u Waterloo vopozdil vo pět minut, a byl v hajzlu s celou svou slávou..."
Balkans
was, at the start of the 20th century, the least stable part of Europe. The two Balkans Wars had been fought in 1912 and 1913: first Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Montenegro against Turkey, then Serbia, Montenegro and Greece against Bulgaria.
In the Second Balkans War, Romania and Turkey joined the war against Bulgaria when they realised that Bulgaria was about to lose. Serbia emerged from these wars politically strengthened, a fact which made Austria-Hungary increasingly uneasy and may have contributed to their uncompromising stance in 1914.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] A Švejk vyložil svůj názor na mezinárodní politiku Rakouska na Balkáně. Turci to prohráli v roce 1912 se Srbskem, Bulharskem a Řeckem. Chtěli, aby jim Rakousko pomohlo, a když se to nestalo, střelili Ferdinanda.
[I.14.5] Pro chmel je nyní ztracena Francie, Anglie, Rusko i Balkán.
Serbia is mentioned 35 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.
Serbia
is first mentioned in the conversation at U kalicha between Švejk and detective Bretschneider about the Balkans. Thereafter, it reappears repeatedly; the slogan Heil, nieder mit den Serben! is quoted a few times.
From Part Two onwards, the Serbian army, irregulars, and civilians are often mentioned in stories told by veterans from the campaign against Serbia. Among those who served there were Sappeur Vodička, Oberst Schröder, Hauptmann Ságner, and Major Wenzl.
Background
Serbia
was, in 1914, a kingdom in the Balkans. The borders were somewhat different from those of today's republic. The kingdom included Macedonia but not Vojvodina and Banat, areas which at the time were part of Hungary. The capital was (and still is) Belgrade.
Repelling the invaders
Serbia played a key role during the outbreak of World War I. Austria-Hungary held the Serbian government responsible for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian and Hungarian thrones. It was the first country to have war declared against it, and the first to experience fighting.
The Serbian army, experienced from the Balkans wars, stood up well against the invaders from the Dual Monarchy, despite being poorly equipped. The first invasion ended in disaster for the Austro-Hungarian army at the battle of Cer, and a new attempt at the mouth of the Drina similarly failed with huge losses. Gradually, however, the invaders gained a foothold, munitions shortages took their toll on Serbia, and Belgrade was abandoned.
However, Serbia's situation was about to change dramatically. New munitions supplies began to arrive from France, and a counter-offensive was launched. The enemy was forced into a chaotic retreat, and they were driven out of the country, and the capital was liberated.
Occupied
The country was subjected to a new invasion by Austria-Hungary, now supported by Germany and Bulgaria. Severely weakened by the fighting the previous year, and now facing a two-front battle, the Serbian army collapsed and parts of it escaped to Albania. The country remained occupied until the reconstituted Serbian army, supported by forces from the Western Allies, attacked from Thessaloniki up the Vardar valley.
Serbia was the country that, relative to its population, suffered the worst losses in the war (indeed, in any modern European conflict): a large proportion of the population perished, many in the worst typhus epidemic in history.
War crimes
In The Good Soldier Švejk, several references to Serbia pertain to war crimes inflicted on the civilian population. These are by no means exaggerated. Towns in the north and west, like Šabac, were subjected to widespread looting, massacres, rapes, and wanton destruction, often ordered by higher commanders, for instance General Lothar von Hortstein of KORPS-KO9[c].
Hostage-taking was common practice and hostages were sometimes used as human shields. The cruelty was often fuelled by alcohol, and the perpetrators were rarely punished. The pretext for the executions was often "spying" and "sabotage"[b], and at times provoked by the involvement of Komitis (paramilitaries) and also armed civilians. Still, most of the atrocities were committed without any apparent reason[a].
Regiments recruited from Bohemia were obviously involved, but their participation in the atrocities appears less evident (or at least less documented) than the widespread involvement of Hungarian and Croat units[c]. The extent of the war crimes in Serbia is, according to historian Alan Kramer, still not extensively researched[d]. Even less is known about war crimes committed by Serbians, especially the paramilitaries.
The 91st regiment in Serbia
Infanterieregiment Nr. 91 was sent to the Serbian front immediately after the outbreak of war and took part in all three invasions. They spent most of the time on Serbian territory. Like the other units that invaded Serbia, they suffered disastrous losses, and when they finally withdrew across the Danube by Belgrade, they were, like the rest of the invading army, utterly decimated.
Several officers who later provided prototypes for Švejk's superiors took part in the campaign: Franz Wenzel, Čeněk Sagner, Rudolf Lukas, Josef Adamička, and Jan Eybl. Every one of them, apart from Eybl (who was there only the last three weeks), was at some stage injured or reported sick.
The regiment was, as part of 9. Infanteriedivision, sent back to Serbia because Bulgaria had pulled out of the war and their forces needed to be replaced. This was eventually one long retreat northwards in an army that was by now disintegrating. Hans Bigler was the only prototype of figures from The Good Soldier Švejk who took part in this desperate campaign, and he ended up being captured.
The Good Soldier Švejk in Captivity
In Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí the country is briefly mentioned at the start of chapter 5. The author notes that the Austrian army was in trouble in Serbia, in Prague people were happy and in Moravia they were preparing cakes to welcome the cossacks. This had happened when Švejk was in prison at the start of the war.[1]
Mezitím co byl Švejk zavřen, ruská vojska zabrala Lvov, oblehla Přemyšl, dole v Srbsku stálo to také velmi špatně s rakouskou armádou, lidé v Praze byli veselí a na Moravě dělali již přípravy k pečení koláčů, až přijdou kozáci.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] A Švejk vyložil svůj názor na mezinárodní politiku Rakouska na Balkáně. Turci to prohráli v roce 1912 se Srbskem, Bulharskem a Řeckem. Chtěli, aby jim Rakousko pomohlo, a když se to nestalo, střelili Ferdinanda.
[I.9] Byly to fotografie různých exekucí, provedených armádou v Haliči a v Srbsku. Umělecké fotografie s vypálenými chalupami a se stromy, jichž větve se skláněly pod tíhou oběšených. Zejména pěkná byla fotografie ze Srbska s pověšenou rodinou.
[I.10.1] U samých dveří seděl voják s několika civilisty a vykládal jim o svém zranění v Srbsku. Měl obvázanou ruku, plné kapsy cigaret, které od nich dostal.
[I.11.2] Drožkář byl rebelant. Dělal různé poznámky o vítězství rakouských zbraní, jako: „Ti vám to v Srbsku nahnuli“ a pod. Když přejížděli potravní čáru, ptal se zřízenec, co vezou.
[I.12] Když se pak hnuli, musel s nimi a dostal se až do Uher, kde někde poprosil taky někoho, aby mu počkal u vozu, a tím se jedině zachránil, a to by ho táhli do Srbska.
[I.13] Nadporučík Machek zajat v Srbsku, dluhuje mně 1500 korun. Je zde víc takových lidí. Ten padne v Karpatech s mou nezaplacenou směnkou, ten jde do zajetí, ten se mně utopí v Srbsku, ten umře v Uhrách ve špitále.
[I.14.4] Švejk posadil se na lavici ve vratech a vykládal, že v bitevní frontě karpatské se útoky vojska ztroskotaly, na druhé straně však že velitel Přemyšlu, generál Kusmanek, přijel do Kyjeva a že za námi zůstalo Srbsku jedenáct opěrných bodů a že Srbové dlouho nevydrží utíkat za našimi vojáky.
[I.14.5] Kromě toho naše manévry na Srbsku pokračují velice úspěšně a odchod našich vojsk, který jest fakticky jen přesunutím, vykládají si mnozí zcela jinak, než jak toho vyžaduje naprostá chladnokrevnost ve válce.
[I.14.6] "Náš pán je přísnej, a jak posledně se říkalo, že nám Srbsku natloukli, tak přišel celej vzteklej domů a sházel v kuchyni všechny talíře a chtěl i mně dát vejpověď."
[I.15] Všechny civilisty Srbsku spálit do posledního. Děti ubít bajonety!
[II.2] Tu odcházel domů a po jeho odchodu vždy někdo řekl: "Naši to zas někde Srbsku prosrati, že je vachmajstr takovej nemluva."
[II.2] Černožluté obzory počaly se zatahovat mraky revoluce. Na Srbsku, v Karpatech přecházely batalióny k nepříteli. 28. regiment, 11. regiment.
[II.2] ...jak nadporučík Kretschmann, který se vrátil ze Srbska s bolavou nohou (trkla ho kráva), vypravoval, jak se díval od štábu, ku kterému byl přidělen, na útok na srbské posice:
[II.3] Nešťastnou náhodou ještě nad tím nápisem byl jinej: ,My na vojnu nepůjdeme, my se na ni vyséreme,` a to bylo v roce 1912, když jsme měli jít do Srbska kvůli tomu konzulovi Procházkoví.
[II.3] „U pětasedmdesátýho regimentu,“ ozval se jeden muž z eskorty, „prochlastal hejtman celou plukovní kasu před válkou a musel kvitovat z vojny, a teď je zas hejtmanem, a jeden felák, kterej vokrad erár vo sukno na vejložky, bylo ho přes dvacet balíků, je dneska štábsfeldvéblem, a jeden infanterista byl nedávno v Srbsku zastřelenej, poněvadž sněd najednou svou konservu, kterou měl si nechat na tři dny.“
[II.3] Švejk seděl na odestlané posteli nadporučíkově a naproti němu seděl na stole sluha majora Wenzla. Major se opět vrátil k regimentu, když byla v Srbsku konstatována jeho úplná neschopnost na Drině.
[II.4] V Srbsku jsme pověsili dva jednoroční dobrovolníky od 10. kompanie a jednoho od 9. jsme zastřelili jako jehně.
[II.4] „Když jsem byl v Srbsku,“ řekl Vodička, „tak u naší brigády věšeli, kteří se přihlásili, čúžáky za cigarety.
[II.5] "Já z toho nemám moc velkou radost," důvěrně se ozval účetní šikovatel, "vypravoval štábsfeldvébl Hegner, že pan hejtman Ságner v Srbsku na počátku války chtěl někde u Černé Hory v horách se vyznamenat a hnal jednu kumpačku svého baťáčku za druhou na mašíngevéry do srbských štelungů, ačkoliv to byla úplné zbytečná věc a infantérie tam byla starýho kozla co platná, poněvadž Srby odtamtud z těch skal mohla dostat jen artilérie. Z celého bataliónu zbylo jen 80 mužů, pan hejtman Ságner sám dostal handšús, potom v nemocnici ještě úplavici, a zase se objevil v Budějovicích u regimentu a včera prý večer vypravoval v kasiné, jak se těší na front, že tam nechá celý maršbatalión, ale že něco dokáže a dostane signum laudis, za Srbsko že dostal nos, ale teť že bud padne s celým maršbataliónem, nebo bude jmenován obrstlajtnantem, ale maršbaták že musí zařvat. Já myslím, pane obrlajtnant, že se takové riziko týká i nás.
[II.5] A potom jsme nevěděli, kam pojedeme. Ani obršt to nevěděl, už jsme projeli potom celou Maďárii, a pořád nikdo nic nevěděl, jestli pojedeme na Srbsko nebo na Rusko.
[II.5] Já myslím, že spíš do Srbska. To uvidíme, až budem v Pešti. Jestli nás povezou napravo, tak z toho kouká Srbsko, a nalevo Rusko.
[II.5] Vyprávěl o hrdinských činech 6. maršové roty na Srbsku a že zbyl z ní jen sám.
[III.1] A tak se objevil místo gulášových konzerv vrchní polní kurát Ibl, který zabil tří mouchy jednou ranou. Odsloužil polní mši najednou pro tři pochodové prapory, dvěma z nich požehnal do Srbska a jednomu do Ruska.
[III.1] "Neškodilo by," řekl Chodounský, "kdyby nás někde čekali s nějakým dobrým obědem. To když jsme my na začátku vojny jeli do Srbska, tak jsme se přežrali na každé stanici, jak nás všude hostili.
Bulgaria
was a kingdom in the Balkans that was neutral during the first year of World War I. In September 1915, the country entered the war on the side of the Central Powers. Its main motive for joining was to recover from the defeat by Serbia in Second Balkan War. Bulgaria took part in the attack on Serbia in October 1915, an offensive that finally broke Serbia's resistance. In 1914, Bulgaria was slightly larger than today; it had to cede Thrace to Greece after the war.
Bulgaria was the first country among the Central Powers to withdraw from the war. After the Entente's breakthrough at the Thessaloniki front, Bulgaria capitulated.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] A Švejk vyložil svůj názor na mezinárodní politiku Rakouska na Balkáně. Turci to prohráli v roce 1912 se Srbskem, Bulharskem a Řeckem. Chtěli, aby jim Rakousko pomohlo, a když se to nestalo, střelili Ferdinanda.
Greece
is mentioned in the conversation at U kalicha between Švejk and detective Bretschneider about the Balkans. The former touched on Greece's role in First Balkan War.
Background
Greece
was neutral at the start of the war, but later joined the Entente, strongly influenced by Prime Minister Venizelos. At the time, Greece was a kingdom ruled by the House of Glücksburg. The country was slightly smaller than today; it acquired Thrace from Bulgaria in 1923.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] A Švejk vyložil svůj názor na mezinárodní politiku Rakouska na Balkáně. Turci to prohráli v roce 1912 se Srbskem, Bulharskem a Řeckem. Chtěli, aby jim Rakousko pomohlo, a když se to nestalo, střelili Ferdinanda.
Vltava is mentioned 8 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.
Vltava
is first mentioned in the anecdote about the man who jumped from the bridge in Krumlov. The river is mentioned several times later in the novel and Švejk must have crossed it twice during his anabasis in [II.2], without it being explicitly stated. The first crossing would have been between Květov and Vráž, the second on the train just before arriving in Budějovice.
Because the Vltava flows through Prague, Švejk must have crossed it a few times in the first part of the novel. Across Karlův most he was escorted by two soldiers on the way from Hradčany to serve Feldkurat Katz. Before that, Mrs. Müllerová pushed him across a bridge in a wheelchair so he could get to the draft board at Střelecký ostrov. He would also have had to cross the river when he went to Bruska kasárna to borrow money from Captain Hauptmann Šnábl.
Background
Vltava
is the longest river in Bohemia. From its sources in Šumava, it passes Český Krumlov, České Budějovice and Prague, before emptying into the Elbe by Mělník. The river's length is 430 km, and the catchment area is 28,090 km². In foreign languages, the German name Moldau is frequently used.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] Musel skočit v Krumlově s toho mostu do Vltavy a museli ho vytáhnout, museli ho křísit, museli z něho pumpovat vodu a von jim musel skonat v náručí lékaře, když mu dal nějakou injekci.“
[I.3] Soudní lékaři podívali se významně na sebe, nicméně jeden s nich dal ještě tuto otázku: „Neznáte nejvyšší hloubku v Tichém oceáně?“ „To prosím neznám,“ zněla odpověď, „ale myslím, že rozhodně bude větší než pod vyšehradskou skálou na Vltavě.“
[I.10.2] Projevoval mučednické touhy, žádaje, aby mu utrhl hlavu a hodil v pytli do Vltavy.
[I.10.3] Vy máte vilu na Zbraslavi. A můžete jezdit parníkem po Vltavě. Víte, co je to Vltava?“
[I.15] "Před dvěma léty, pane nadporučíku," řekl plukovník, "přál jste si být přeložen do Budějovic k 91. pluku. Víte, kde jsou Budějovice? Na Vltavě, ano, na Vltavě a vtéká tam Ohře nebo něco podobného.
[II.2] Zášť hrozná, nesmiřitelná, vendetta, krevní msta, dědící se z ročníku na ročník, provázená na obou stranách tradičními historkami, jak buď infanteristi naházeli dělostřelce do Vltavy, nebo opačně.
Krumlov
is mentioned in the anecdote about Bohuslav Ludvík and also a few times in Part Two. The miller Offiziersdiener Baloun, a central character in the latter part of the novel, comes from the area around Krumlov.
Background
Krumlov
was, until 1920, the name of Český Krumlov, a town not far from the Austrian border. The district of Krumlov was located in the recruitment area of Infanterieregiment Nr. 91, so Jaroslav Hašek would have known many fellow soldiers from there. See Ergänzungskommando.
The medieval structure of the town has been preserved and it is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. It has become a major tourist attraction.
Demography
According to the 1910 census, Krumlov had 8,716 inhabitants, of whom 1,295 (14 per cent) reported using Czech as their everyday language. The judicial district was okresKrumlov, administratively it reported to hejtmanstvíKrumlov.
Per the recruitment districts, infantrymen from Krumlov were usually assigned to Infanterieregiment Nr. 91 (Budweis) or k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 29 (Budweis). In 1913, the military presence was only one person.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] Musel skočit v Krumlově s toho mostu do Vltavy a museli ho vytáhnout, museli ho křísit, museli z něho pumpovat vodu a von jim musel skonat v náručí lékaře, když mu dal nějakou injekci.“
[II.5] U dveří stál tlustý pěšák, zarostlý vousy jako Krakonoš. To byl Baloun, nový sluha nadporučíka, v civilu mlynář někde u Českého Krumlova.
Most v Krumlově
is mentioned in the anecdote about Bohuslav Ludvík, who jumped from the bridge in Krumlov into the Vltava.
Background
Most v KrumlověBridge in Krumlov
was, according to the story, a bridge across the Vltava in Krumlov. The story does not reveal which one the author has in mind, but it is probably Lazebnický most in the centre, which is the oldest and best-known bridge there. In this mainly German-speaking town, the bridge was at the time also called Baderbrücke.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] Musel skočit v Krumlově s toho mostu do Vltavy a museli ho vytáhnout, museli ho křísit, museli z něho pumpovat vodu a von jim musel skonat v náručí lékaře, když mu dal nějakou injekci.“
During the summer of 1896 (or 1897), Hašek's mother Kateřina took the children on a trip to the area around Protivín to visit relatives. Both his parents were from this area. They visited Zliv, Mydlovary, Hluboká, Budějovice, Putim, Skočice, Krč, Protivín, Ražice, and Vodňany. All these places appear in The Good Soldier Švejk and some even in Hašek's short stories.
In the spring of 1915, Jaroslav Hašek reportedly appeared in Zliv again, now on an unauthorised "excursion" from the Budějovice garrison.
Demography
According to the 1910 census, Zliv had 1,324 inhabitants, of whom 1,307 (98 per cent) reported using Czech as their everyday language. The judicial district was okresHluboká, administratively it reported to hejtmanstvíBudějovice.
Per the recruitment districts, infantrymen from Zliv were usually assigned to Infanterieregiment Nr. 91 (Budweis) or k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 29 (Budweis).
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] To byl ve Zlivi u Hluboké před léty jeden hajný, měl takové ošklivé jméno Pinďour.
Credit: Radko Pytlík, Václav Menger, Jaroslav Šerák
Hluboká
is mentioned in the same anecdote as Zliv, about the widow of the gamekeepers who turns up at the office of Fyrsten på Hluboká to ask for advice.
Later in the chapter, Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek tells how he was given an injection by a cripple from Hluboká. This caused muscle rheumatism and he was admitted to hospital (Budějovická nemocnice).
Background
Hluboká
is a small town in South Bohemia, 15 km north of Budějovice. It was one of the favourite haunts of the German-Roman emperor Charles IV, who often visited when he resided in Budějovice. Nowadays, Hluboká is best known for its Windsor-style chateau, which until 1938 belonged to the Schwarzenberg estate.
Jaroslav Hašek visited Hluboká during his childhood (1896 or 1897), and probably also in 1915. See Zliv.
Demography
According to the 1910 census, Hluboká had 2,835 inhabitants, of whom 2,788 (98 per cent) reported using Czech as their everyday language. The judicial district was okresHluboká, administratively it reported to hejtmanstvíBudějovice.
Per the recruitment districts, infantrymen from Hluboká were usually assigned to Infanterieregiment Nr. 91 (Budweis) or k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 29 (Budweis).
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] Byla až v kanceláři knížete pána na Hluboké a stěžovala si, že má s těmi hajnými trápení. Tak jí odporučili porybnýho Jareše z ražické bašty.
[II.2] Tak se podívejte, vojáku. Od nás na jih je Protivín. Od Protivína na jih je Hluboká a od ní jižně jsou České Budějovice.
[II.2] Až jsem se ti jednou ,U růže’ seznámil s jedním invalidou z Hluboké. Ten mně řekl, abych jednou v neděli k němu přišel na návštěvu, a na druhý den že budu mít nohy jako konve. Měl doma tu jehlu i stříkačku, a já jsem opravdu sotva došel z Hluboké domů. Neoklamala mne ta zlatá duše. Tak jsem konečně přece měl svůj svalový rheumatismus.
In [I.5], Mydlovary is mentioned again when Švejk tells an anecdote from his military training with Infanterieregiment Nr. 91.
Background
Mydlovary
is a village in South Bohemia, 16 km north-west of Budějovice and the birthplace of Josef Hašek, the father of Jaroslav Hašek. He was born in house number 8. The budding satirist visited Mydlovary during his childhood (1896 or 1897) and could not have been far away in 1915. See Zliv.
The fact that his father was born in Mydlovary is significant. This meant that Jaroslav Hašek had right of domicile here, so he, just like his literary hero, was drafted into Infanterieregiment Nr. 91.
Early story
In 1911, Hašek wrote a story centred around Mydlovary: Vislingská aféra v Mydlovarech. It was first printed in Karikatury7 March 1911 and soon after appeared in Šípy in Chicago![a]
Demography
According to the 1910 census, Mydlovary had 687 inhabitants, of whom 680 (99 per cent) reported using Czech as their everyday language. The judicial district was okresHluboká, administratively it reported to hejtmanstvíBudějovice. In 1913, the community consisted of two villages. It had a church, a school, and four pubs. The closest railway station and post office were found in Zliv. Zaháj was actually the larger of the two and the church was located here. The mayor at the time was Jan Kolář (relevant to the story about the scouts who were spanked with birch branches, see hejtmanství Budějovice).
Per the recruitment districts, infantrymen from Mydlovary were usually assigned to Infanterieregiment Nr. 91 (Budweis) or k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 29 (Budweis).
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] Zastřelili ho pytláci a zůstala po něm vdova s dvěma dítkami a vzala si za rok opět hajného, Pepíka Šavlovic z Mydlovar.
[I.5] „U skautů,“ zvolal Švejk. „o těch skautech rád slyším. Jednou v Mydlovarech u Zlivi, okres Hluboká, okresní hejtmanství České Budějovice, právě když jsme tam měli jednadevadesáté cvičení, udělali si sedláci z okolí hon na skauty v obecním lese, kteří se jim tam rozplemenili.
Ražická bašta
is mentioned by Švejk in an anecdote about the pond warden Jareš, no doubt inspired by the author's grandfather, Antonín Jareš. This connection appears again in chapters [I.14] and [II.2].
Background
Ražická bašta
was a fish pond construction between Ražice and Putim that belonged to the noble Schwarzenberg family. According to Hašek, his grandfather was pond warden here and Hašek wrote a few stories about him in Veselá Praha in 1908 called Historky z ražické bašty. The pond and barrier are still there but are no longer used for fish-farming. The pond warden's building is not there, but is still visible on an army map from 1928.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] Tak jí odporučili porybnýho Jareše z ražické bašty.
In [II.2], the country appears again, again indirectly, through the term "the Mexican border". Here Fähnrich Dauerling is compared to Mexican bandits, so the theme is no doubt the border with the USA.
Background
Mexico
was, in 1914, a republic suffering turmoil after the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz had been overthrown in the revolution in 1911. In the period from 1864 to 1867, Maximiliano I. av Mexico was emperor, and it is in this context the country is mentioned in the novel.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] Manželku Alžbětu mu propíchli pilníkem, potom se mu ztratil Jan Orth; bratra, císaře mexického, mu zastřelili v nějaké pevnosti u nějaké zdi.
[II.2] Nyní vám, kamaráde, musím něco říct o Dauerlingovi," pokračoval jednoroční dobrovolník, "o něm si vypravují rekruti u 11. kompanie tak, jako nějaká opuštěná babička na farmě v blízkostí mexických hranic bájí o nějakém slavném mexickém banditovi.
Cerro de las Campanas
is mentioned indirectly in the conversation between Švejk and detective Bretschneider, where it is stated that the brother of Emperor Franz Joseph I was executed at "some fortress by some wall".
Background
Cerro de las Campanas
is a hill in Queretaro where Emperor Maximilian I was executed in 1867 after losing the war against the republican rebels led by Benito Juárez.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] Manželku Alžbětu mu propíchli pilníkem, potom se mu ztratil Jan Orth; bratra, císaře mexického, mu zastřelili v nějaké pevnosti u nějaké zdi.
Russia is mentioned 22 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.
Russia
is briefly mentioned during the conversation at U kalicha about the political situation following the assassinations in Sarajevo. The next brief reference is in [I.14,1] when Feldkurat Katz has lost Švejk in a game of cards "as if he were a serf from Russia".
Russia is also a theme when Švejk is suspected of being a spy and is interrogated at Gendarmeriestation Putim. Wachtmeister Flanderka wants to know if tea is drunk in Russia and if the girls there are attractive. When the policeman asks Švejk why he wants to join Infanterieregiment Nr. 91, he replies that it is because he wants to go to the front. Flanderka immediately concludes that this is a clever way to get back to Russia.
Later in the novel, the country is mentioned several times; after all, Russia was the main adversary the protagonists were sent to fight against. Russian citizens participate directly in the plot when Švejk is assigned to a transport of Russian prisoners in Chyrów. The author at least once adds fragments from his own experiences in Russia (see Dubno). The original advertising poster for the novel makes it clear that Jaroslav Hašek planned to set the later part of the plot on Russian territory—the poster explicitly mentions the Russian civil war.
Jaroslav Hašek v revolučním Rusku, Jaroslav Křížek,1957
Russia
(rus. Россия) was, in 1914, an empire ruled by the Romanov dynasty and was considerably larger than the current Russian Federation. It included all of the later Soviet Union, all of Finland and the greater part of current Poland. The empire was at its largest in 1866 when it sold Alaska.
Russia's support to Serbia during the July crisis in 1914 is one of the prime reasons why a regional conflict on the Balkans developed into a world war.
Russia was ill-prepared for a prolonged war; serious supply problems and inept military leadership soon led to heavy losses. Still, they managed to invade Galicia and Bukovina in 1914 and for a while threatened to cross the Carpathians. On 2 May 1915, the Central Powers launched a successful offensive by Gorlice and Tarnów, and 1915 turned out to be a disaster for Russia, who had to withdraw from Poland and Galicia almost entirely. During that year, the lack of equipment took its toll, and soldiers were sent into battle without firearms.
In 1916, the situation improved somewhat as the Brusilov-offensive inflicted such heavy losses on Austria-Hungary that a collapse threatened. German reinforcements, however, stabilised the front and Russia spent much of her diminishing strength on futile breakthrough attempts. The Romanov dynasty was toppled in March 1917, but the new provisional government decided to continue the war. A final offensive was launched on 1 July 1917 but soon ground to a halt. During this fighting, Czech volunteers (including Jaroslav Hašek) for the first time operated as a unit against the Dual Monarchy (Zborów 2 July). A German counter-offensive from 19 July led to a complete meltdown of a Russian army that was already badly affected by mass desertions and breakdown in discipline.
In the aftermath of the October Revolution (7 November 1917), a ceasefire was concluded, and the new Communist authorities had to accept harsh terms in the peace treaty of Brest-Litovsk (signed 3 March 1918). All of the Baltics, Finland, Poland and Ukraine were ceded (Ukraina was recovered after the war). The subsequent civil war prolonged the suffering of the peoples of Russia for many years, and in 1921 a massive famine hit some regions. The Russian defeat in the world war had fatal consequences; it paved the way for 70 years of Communist dictatorship, at times extremely brutal.
Hašek in Russia
Jaroslav Hašek in Russia
Jaroslav Hašek served as a messenger in Infanterieregiment Nr. 91 on the front against Russia from 11 July 1915, and at the end of the month the regiment took part in the bloody battle against the Russian 8th army by Sokal. On 27 August 1915 the regiment crossed the border and it was on Russian territory, by Khorupan north of Dubno, that he was captured on 24 September 1915.
After nine months as a prisoner, Hašek was from July 1916[1] until March 1918 a volunteer in the Legions in Russia, and thus formally a Russian soldier. During this period he worked both as a reporter and as a recruiter among Czech prisoners of war. His base was Kiev but he also spent long periods at the front by the river Stochod in 1916. Disciplinary problems led to his expulsion from Kiev in May 1917 and he was sent to the area by Sarny as an ordinary soldier. From there he was, together with what was now called the Czechoslovak Brigade, transferred to occupied Austrian territory where they took part in the battle at Zborów (Ru./Cz. Zborov, ukr. Zboriv) on 2 July 1917. He took part in the withdrawal from Tarnopol (ukr. Ternopil) later that month and for his efforts was decorated with the Russian Cross of Saint George, 4th class.
Irkutsk. Hašek worked here in 1920.
After breaking with the Legions in April 1918, he became a journalist, agitator and recruiter for the Czech communists, later directly for the Bolsheviks—positions he held until he was sent back to his homeland as agitator at the end of 1920. He had learnt Russian already as a youngster and reportedly mastered the language very well, and by his return he had adapted to the degree that even his novel contains “Russianisms”.
During his five-year stay in Russia, his travels covered extensive areas, mostly in Ukraine, in the Volga region and in Siberia. On 15 May 1920 he married a Russian woman, Alexandra Lvova, who later accompanied him back to Prague. In his story I vyklepal prach z obuvi své... Hašek states that he left Russia 4 December 1920 in Narva.
Places in Russia where Jaroslav Hašek had prolonged stays were: Totskoye (prisoner's camp), Kiev, Moscow, Samara, Bugulma, Ufa and Irkutsk. He obviously had shorter stays in many other places, mainly along the Trans-Siberian Railway.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] „Vy myslíte, že to císař pán takhle nechá bejt? To ho málo znáte. Vojna s Turky musí být. Zabili jste mně strejčka, tak tady máte přes držku. Válka jest jistá. Srbsko a Rusko nám pomůže v té válce. Bude se to řezat!“
[I.14.1] Polní karát prodal Švejka nadporučíkovi Lukášovi, čili lépe řečeno, prohrál ho v kartách. Tak dřív prodávali na Rusi nevolníky.
[I.14.5] Francie, Anglie i Rusko jsou příliš slabé proti rakousko-turecko-německé žule.
[I.14.5] Pro chmel je nyní ztracena Francie, Anglie, Rusko i Balkán.
[II.2] Strážmistr podíval se na Švejka a začal: "Pravda, že v Rusku se pije mnoho čaje? Mají tam také rum?"
[II.2] A otázal se důvěrně nakláněje se k Švejkovi: "Jsou v Rusku hezké holky?"
[II.2] "A já se zas pamatuji," prohlásil, "že oni říkali, že jsme proti Rusku kratinové, a že řvali před tou naší bábou ,Ať žije Rusko!`"
[II.4] Jen pořád rovně za nosem do Ruska a z radosti vypalte do vzduchu všechny patrony
[II.5] A potom jsme nevěděli, kam pojedeme. Ani obršt to nevěděl, už jsme projeli potom celou Maďárii, a pořád nikdo nic nevěděl, jestli pojedeme na Srbsko nebo na Rusko.
[II.5] "Do Ruska."
"Já myslím, že spíš do Srbska. To uvidíme, až budem v Pešti.
Jestli nás povezou napravo, tak z toho kouká Srbsko, a nalevo Rusko.
[III.1] A tak se objevil místo gulášových konzerv vrchní polní kurát Ibl, který zabil tří mouchy jednou ranou. Odsloužil polní mši najednou pro tři pochodové prapory, dvěma z nich požehnal do Srbska a jednomu do Ruska.
Turkey is mentioned 4 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.
Turkey
is the theme of the conversation at U kalicha about the political situation after the assassination in Sarajevo. Švejk blames the Turks for the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Turkey
(the Ottoman Empire) was a state that existed until 1922 and was succeeded by modern Turkey. The area was, in 1914, still far larger than that of the current republic and included great parts of the Middle East. It was a multi-ethnic empire, consisting of Turks, Arabs, Armenians, Albanians, Greeks, Jews, etc. The capital was Constantinople.
The first world war
From 29 October 1914, the Ottoman Empire entered the war as one of the Central Powers. It started with an attack on Russian Black Sea ports, and a few days later Russia declared war, and soon after Turkey was also at war with England and France.
Turkey fought on several fronts: against Russia in Caucasus, against the British in Egypt and Mesopotamia, against the Russians and British in Persia. In 1915, the Allies attempted to force the Dardanelles open, although the attempt failed. In addition, the Ottomans had to fight uprisings on the Arab Peninsula and elsewhere.
Several high-ranking Germans served in the Ottoman armed forces, both as commanders and advisors. Amongst them were Marschall Liman von Sanders, Goltz Paşa and Usedom Paşa. A lasting shadow over the final years of the Ottoman Empire was cast by the genocide of Armenians in 1915.
Turkey had only minor military success in the war, but a major exception was the defence of the Dardanelles and the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. By the end of 1917, Allied forces stood deep in Ottoman territory: Palestine and also in Mesopotamia.
After Bulgaria pulled out of the war in September 1918, Turkey's position became untenable and the armistice was signed on 30 October 1918. The defeat in the World War meant the end of the empire and the loss of all her Arabic possessions. The core Turkish areas of the empire were transformed into a republic and were to become the pillar of modern Turkey.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] „Může být,“ pokračoval v líčení budoucnosti Rakouska, „že nás v případě války s Tureckem Němci napadnou, poněvadž Němci a Turci drží dohromady. Jsou to takový potvory, že jim není v světě rovno. Můžeme se však spojit s Francií, která má od 71. roku spadeno na Německo. A už to půjde. Válka bude, víc vám neřeknu.“
[I.14.5] „A co Turecko?“ otázal se obchodník s chmelem, uvažuje přitom, jak začít, aby se dostal k jádru věci, pro kterou přijel.
France is mentioned 8 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.
France
is mentioned in the conversation between Švejk and detective Bretschneider at U kalicha about the political situation after the assassinations in Sarajevo. In this case, the theme is the Franco-German war of 1870-71. Many French people are mentioned in the novel: Napoléon, Victor Hugo, Papin and Rabelais are amongst them.
In the conversation between hop trader Wendler and Oberleutnant Lukáš in [I.14], French places are mentioned, all along the front in northern France. The officer also mentions the country itself and Wendler mentions these places along the front: Combres, Woëvre, Marchéville and Vosges. The rivers Meuse and Moselle, which partly flow through the country, are mentioned in the same sequence. French culinary connections appear through the terms Cognac and Bordeaux.
France
was, in 1914, a democratic republic of nearly 40 million inhabitants and also ruled over a large colonial empire, mainly in Africa.
France was one of the main participants in World War I. Germany declared war on her on 3 August 1914, and on 11 August France declared war on Austria-Hungary. Already from 1894, France had signed a military alliance with Russia, and from 1907 England joined them in the so-called Triple Entente, albeit with fewer military obligations. The rising power of Germany was the reason why these former rival powers now joined forces.
Throughout the war, nearly the whole of the Western Front cut through northern France, and the area where the fighting took place was devastated. French war casualties totalled 1.7 million dead, and out of these 1.4 million were soldiers. The losses made up more than 4 per cent of the population. France was close to collapse both in 1914 and 1918 when the German army reached the river Marne, north-east of Paris.
France was the first state to recognise the Czech and Slovak claim for an independent state, and the Czechoslovak National Council was seated in Paris from 1916. On 7 February 1918, the Czechoslovak Army Corps in Russia formally became part of the French army and were to be transferred to the Western Front. See České legie. This was a decision Jaroslav Hašek disagreed with and it was the main reason why he left the army corps two months later.
After the Treaty of Versailles, France was given back Alsace and Lorraine, provinces that had been ceded to Germany in 1871.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] „Může být,“ pokračoval v líčení budoucnosti Rakouska, „že nás v případě války s Tureckem Němci napadnou, poněvadž Němci a Turci drží dohromady. Jsou to takový potvory, že jim není v světě rovno. Můžeme se však spojit s Francií, která má od 71. roku spadeno na Německo. A už to půjde. Válka bude, víc vám neřeknu.“
[I.14.5]Francie, Anglie i Rusko jsou příliš slabé proti rakousko-turecko-německé žule.
[I.14.5] Stejně Francouzům hrozí v nejkratší době ztráta celé východní Francie a vtržení německého vojska do Paříže.
[I.14.5] Pro chmel je nyní ztracena Francie, Anglie, Rusko i Balkán.
Germany is mentioned 8 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.
Germany
is first mentioned in the conversation at U kalicha about the political situation after the assassinations in Sarajevo. The country then appears repeatedly throughout the novel, particularly during the march battalion's journey to the front. Towards the end of the novel, Švejk even meets German soldiers. The author notes how well they are provided for compared with their allies from Austria-Hungary.
Many German nationals are mentioned; amongst them Emperor Wilhelm II and Hindenburg. A number of German cities also appear: amongst them Berlin, Hamburg and Leipzig. It is also revealed that Švejk once visited Bremen, and this is as far as we know the only time he ever ventured beyond the borders of Austria-Hungary. When forging the pedigree of Fox, Švejk mentions the names of several institutions in Germany related to dog-breeding (see Nuremberg). A few places in Elsass (Alsace) are mentioned in the conversation between Oberleutnant Lukáš and hop trader Wendler, amongst them Mühlhausen (Mulhouse). During his famous dream, Kadett Biegler refers to some smaller places in his account of the battle by Leipzig in 1813 (see Wachau). The last time we hear about Germans is when Švejk arrives at Żółtańce where he has to witness that the Germans get draught beer, a luxury he and his comrades can only dream of. We are also told that men from his regiment have been in a brawl with the Bavarians at the town square.
Background
Germany
was, in 1914, a constitutional monarchy with the emperor as head of state, officially named Das Deutsche Kaiserreich. She entered the war as an ally of Austria-Hungary on 1 August 1914 when she declared war on Russia. The two Central European powers had been allies since 1879, and Germany’s explicit support was one of the reasons that the Dual Monarchy risked "teaching Serbia a lesson" in 1914. Two days later, the two-front war became a reality through the French declaration of war. The German attack on Belgium on 4 August 1914 contributed to landing an even more powerful enemy: England and the vast British Empire.
In 1914, Germany possessed the strongest army in the world but despite her military might she could ill sustain a prolonged conflict where the adversaries were superior in industrial resources, manpower and not least in raw materials. The British naval superiority was also a determining factor; the blockade was soon to lead to serious shortages and later outright destitution.
From 1915 onwards, Germany repeatedly had to act to help its weaker ally Austria-Hungary. At the section of the front in Galicia and Volhynia where Jaroslav Hašek and his Infanterieregiment Nr. 91 took part in 1915, troops of the Dual Monarchy were supported by German units and three of these are mentioned in the novel (see Posen, Hanover and Brandenburg). Although Germany plays a peripheral role in the novel, it appears considerably more often in the stories Jaroslav Hašek wrote when serving in the Czech exile organisations in Russia in 1916 and 1917. These mainly served propaganda purposes against the Central Powers and Germany is, as one would expect, portrayed in a negative way. Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí and the story Gott strafe England are typical examples. In the autumn of 1916, the author spent much of his time at the front by the river Stochod (now Stochid), where they faced the German army.
The defeat in 1918 meant the end of imperial Germany and the Versailles peace treaty of 1919 forced Germany to cede large areas; mostly to Poland and France but also smaller areas to Denmark, Belgium and Czechoslovakia. Germany suffered more than 2 million fallen and in addition a few hundred thousand civilians died due to hunger and shortages. The economic, social and political consequences of the defeat were fatal and to a large extent paved the way for Nazism and the even more disastrous World War II.
Jaroslav Hašek and Germany
Serving the Bolsheviks in 1919 and 1920, Jaroslav Hašek worked closely with German internationalists (communists), recruited from prisoner of war camps. There is every indication that he closely followed the revolutionary movement in Germany and at this time he even wrote a poem in German. It was called Spartaks Helden and was a homage to the murdered communists Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. The poem is, however, dangerously close to plagiarism, borrowing heavily from Erich Mühsam's Generalstreik - Marsch.
Jaroslav Hašek visited Germany in the summer of 1904, probably only Bavaria. Here he at least must have spent a few weeks and he wrote a handful of short stories about this trip. He knew German well although quotes from the novel indicate certain shortcomings (in the German translation numerous German-language quotes are corrected). In another story he indicates that he visited Dresden, which is also very probable.
On 8 December 1920 Hašek again set foot on German soil. He and his Russian wife Alexandra arrived from Tallinn to Swinemünde (now Swinoujście). They were returning from Russia as repatriates and took the train onwards from Stettin (now Szczecin) in the evening on 9 December. The stay on German soil was brief, probably less than 48 hours, with a likely change of trains in Berlin before they travelled onwards to Pardubice where they arrived in the evening of the "second day” (probably 10 December). Hašek described his arrival in Germany in this story[a].
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.1] „Může být,“ pokračoval v líčení budoucnosti Rakouska, „že nás v případě války s Tureckem Němci napadnou, poněvadž Němci a Turci drží dohromady. Jsou to takový potvory, že jim není v světě rovno. Můžeme se však spojit s Francií, která má od 71. roku spadeno na Německo. A už to půjde. Válka bude, víc vám neřeknu.“
[I.14.3] A vopravdu, lidi hned byli rádi, že to tak dobře dopadlo, že mají doma čistokrevný zvíře, a že jsem jim moh nabídnout třebas vršovickýho špice za jezevčíka, a voni se jen divili, proč takovej vzácnej pes, kerej je až z Německa, je chlupatej a nemá křivý nohy.
[I.15] Nebyl o nic horší než německý básník Vierordt, který uveřejnil za války verše, aby Německo nenávidělo a zabíjelo s železnou duší milióny francouzských ďáblů..
[I.15] Potom si vypravovali o tom, že se obilí od nás vozí do Německa, němečtí vojáci že dostávají cigarety a čokoládu.
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