The Good Soldier Švejk

	Asia Minor
czMalá AsiedeKleinasientrAnadolu
czdeennnnotr SearchMap

Výbor ze spisů Xenofontových, Anabase, Kyrupaideie

Asia Minor is mentioned by the author when he describes Xenophon and explains the term anabasis.

Background

Asia Minor is a term rarely used nowadays, but refers to the region Anatolia which makes up a large part of modern Turkey.

It is the westernmost peninsula on the Asian continent, surrounded by the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, the Aegean Sea and the Marmara Sea. It is separated from the Balkans by the Bosporus and the Dardanelles.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Starověký válečník Xenofon prošel celou Malou Asii a byl bůhvíkde bez mapy. Staří Gotové dělali své výpravy také bez topografické znalosti. Mašírovat pořád kupředu, tomu se říká anabase. Prodírat se neznámými krajinami. Být obklíčeným nepřáteli, kteří číhají na nejbližší příležitost, aby ti zakroutili krk.

Literature

• Letem Malou Asií, Světozor,29.12.1905

	Caspian Sea
czKaspické moředeKaspisches MeerruКаспийское море
czdeennoru SearchMap

Стенька Разин, 1906

Caspian Sea is mentioned by the author when he explains the term anabasis.

Background

Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, variously classified as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. It does not have an outlet and lies 28 metres below sea level. The Volga contributes 80 per cent of the water. The sea borders Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran and Turkmenistan.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Když má někdo dobrou hlavu, jako ji měl Xenofon nebo všichni ti loupežní kmenové, kteří přišli do Evropy až bůhvíodkud od Kaspického nebo Azovského moře, dělá pravé divy na pochodu.

	Sea of Azov
czAzovské moředeAsowsches MeernnAzovhavetruАзовское море
czdeennnru SearchMap

Za svobodu,1925

Čechoslovan,30.4.1917

Sea of Azov is mentioned by the author when he explains the term anabasis.

Background

Sea of Azov is an extension of the Black Sea bordering Ukraine and Russia. It is the world's shallowest sea, with only 15 metres at its deepest point. The rivers Don and Kuban flow into it.

The Russian city of Taganrog (Таганрог) on the northern shore would have been well known to many Czechs, as the city's munitions factory employed many prisoners of war.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Když má někdo dobrou hlavu, jako ji měl Xenofon nebo všichni ti loupežní kmenové, kteří přišli do Evropy až bůhvíodkud od Kaspického nebo Azovského moře, dělá pravé divy na pochodu.

	Gallic Sea
czGalské moře
SearchMap

Curriculum, gymnasium Žitná ulice, 1896

Gallic Sea is mentioned by the author when describing the term anabasis. The legions of Caesar are said to have reached here without maps.

Background

Gallic Sea was an ancient name for the stretch of sea between Sardinia, the Balearic Islands and the Riviera.[a]

However, this does not fit with the author's information that the sea is "somewhere in the north". He therefore probably had English Channel in mind, and this assumption is supported by other sources[b] and historical circumstances.

The source of the information seems to be Caesar's own book De Bello Gallico (The Gallic Wars). It is also worth noting that this work was on the Latin curriculum in the 4th year at the gymnasium Hašek attended[c].

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Tam někde na severu u Galského moře, kam až se také dostaly římské legie Caesarovy bez mapy, řekly si jednou, že se zas vrátí a pomašírujou jinou cestou, aby ještě víc toho užily, do Říma.

Literature

• Historiarum adversum paganos libri VII, Paulus Orisius [a]
• Clas Merdin: Tales from the Enchanted Island, Edward Watson [b]
• Devátá výroční zpráva cís. král. vyššího gymnasia v Žitné ulici v Praze, C. k. vyšší gymnasium v Žitné ulici,1896 [c]

	Rome
czŘímdeRomitRomalaRoma
czdeenitlann SearchMap

Řím.Josef Svatopluk Machar,1907

Rome is mentioned by the author when he explains the term anabasis and the idea of wandering without a map. Specifically, the theme is Caesar's legions and the saying 'all roads lead to Rome'.

Background

Rome In this context, it refers to ancient Rome as the capital of the Roman Empire.

All roads lead to Rome

It is not confirmed that this saying dates back to Caesar. Its origin is often attributed to the French theologian Alain de Lille and his expression Mille viae ducunt hominem per saecula Romam[a]. It literally means 'A thousand roads lead men forever to Rome'.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Tam někde na severu u Galského moře, kam až se také dostaly římské legie Caesarovy bez mapy, řekly si jednou, že se zas vrátí a pomašírujou jinou cestou, aby ještě víc toho užily, do Říma. A dostaly se tam také. Od té doby se říká patrně, že všechny cesty vedou do Říma.

Literature

• All Roads Lead To Rome, BookBrowse.com [a]
• Řím, Josef Svatopluk Machar,1907

	Budějovický kraj
enBudějovice regiondeBezirk Budweis
SearchMap

Český jih a Šumava v písni.Karel Weiss,1937

Budějowský kraj w Králowstwí českém.Johann Loth,1847

Budějovický kraj is only briefly mentioned, as Švejk wanders through the Milevsko region instead of the intended Budějovice region.

Background

Budějovický krajBudějovice region may have been an unofficial name, as the official Budějovický kraj was dissolved in 1868[a]. Until that year, it was one of 13 kraje/Bezirke in Bohemia. The term seems to have lingered, as it appeared in newspapers well into the interwar period.

From 1949, Budějovický kraj was again an official administrative region, but larger than the 19th-century namesake. In 1960, it was renamed Jihočeský kraj, an administrative subdivision that still exists (2021).

The author probably used the term "kraj" in the looser sense of "area", but he may also have had hejtmanství Budějovice in mind, although this is not very likely.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Stejně vedou také všechny cesty do Českých Budějovic. O čemž byl plnou měrou přesvědčen dobrý voják Švejk, když místo budějovického kraje uviděl vesnice milevského. Šel však nepřetržitě dál, neboť žádnému dobrému vojákovi nemůže vadit takové Milevsko, aby přece jednou nedošel do Českých Budějovic.

[II.3] Dělali to Švédové a Španělé za třicetileté války, Francouzi za Napoleona a teď v budějovickém kraji budou to dělat zase Madaři a nebude to spojeno s hrubým znásilňováním.

Literature

• Budějovický kraj, Ottův slovník naučný,1891 [a]
• Budějowský kraj w Králowstwí českém, Johann Loth,1847
• Český jih a Šumava v písni, Karel Weiss,1937
• Zeměpis království Českého, Jan Tichý,1868

	Milevský kraj
deBezirk_Mühlhausen
de SearchMapŠvejkova cesta

Nejnovější příruční mapa království Českého s politickým rozdělením, 1905

Milevský kraj is just about mentioned as Švejk wanders through the area on his way to what he believed was Budějovice.

Background

Milevský kraj was, as opposed to Budějovický kraj, not an existing or former administrative region and the term hardly ever appeared in the press or in books and has at best been a colloquial term. Therefore, the author probably used the term "kraj" in the looser sense of "area", but he may also have had hejtmanství Milevsko in mind, although this seems less likely.

In 1913 hejtmanství Milevsko had 37,694 inhabitants and was an almost entirely Czech district. Only 52 of its citizens reported German as their everyday language. The military districts for k.u.k. Heer and k.k. Landwehr were No. 102 (Benešov) and No. 28 (Písek) respectively.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Stejně vedou také všechny cesty do Českých Budějovic. O čemž byl plnou měrou přesvědčen dobrý voják Švejk, když místo budějovického kraje uviděl vesnice milevského. Šel však nepřetržitě dál, neboť žádnému dobrému vojákovi nemůže vadit takové Milevsko, aby přece jednou nedošel do Českých Budějovic.

	Milevsko
deMühlhausen
czdeen SearchMapŠvejkova cestaŠvejkův slovník

Stodruhák,15.1.1938

Milevsko is just about mentioned as Švejk wanders through Milevský kraj and past the town on his way to what he believed was Budějovice.

Background

Milevsko is a town in South Bohemia with slightly fewer than 9,000 inhabitants (2019). It is located between Tábor and Písek.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Stejně vedou také všechny cesty do Českých Budějovic. O čemž byl plnou měrou přesvědčen dobrý voják Švejk, když místo budějovického kraje uviděl vesnice milevského. Šel však nepřetržitě dál, neboť žádnému dobrému vojákovi nemůže vadit takové Milevsko, aby přece jednou nedošel do Českých Budějovic.

Literature

• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915

	Květov
czdeensv SearchMapŠvejkova cestaŠvejkův slovník

Květov, 2010

Ottův slovník naučný,1900

Květov is mentioned 4 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.

Květov is mentioned in passing as Švejk starts repeating his repertoire of army songs while passing the village. On the way from here, shortly before reaching Vráž, he meets a kind and helpful grandmother who advises him on the route ahead.

Background

Květov is a village in South Bohemia with just over 100 inhabitants. It is situated between Milevsko and Písek.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] A tak Švejk se objevil na západ od Milevska v Květově, když již vystřídal všechny vojenské písně, které znal o mašírování vojáků, takže byl nucen začít znova před Květovem s písní:

Když jsme mašírovali,
všechny holky plakaly...

[II.2] Nějaká stará babička, která vracela se z kostela, zavedla na cestě od Květova do Vráže, což je neustále západním směrem, řeč se Švejkem křesťanským pozdravem: „Dobrý poledne, vojáčku, kampak máte namíříno?“

Credit: Miroslav Vítek

Literature

• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915
• Květov, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 15. Krajčij – Ligustrum,1900

	Vráž
czen SearchMapŠvejkova cestaŠvejkův slovník

Vráž 1902

Jahrbuch für die k.k. Gendarmerie, 1916

Ottův slovník naučný,1907

Vráž is mentioned 7 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.

Vráž appears in the plot when Švejk, on his way from Květov, just before Vráž, meets an old woman who helps him with food and gives him advice on which villages to avoid. Vráž is one of them, as the gendarmes there are like hawks. The old woman was herself from there and the meeting took place in a small forest just outside the village. She advised Švejk to continue to Radomyšl and ask for her brother pantáta Melichárek.

Background

Vráž is a village in South Bohemia with 275 inhabitants (2005). It is located 8 km north of Písek.

K.k. Gendarmerie

In 1915, Vráž actually had a k.k. Gendarmerie station. It reported to the district command in Písek, i.e. Gendarmeriebezirk Nr. 14 in Bohemia (Landesgendarmeriekommando Nr. 2). The local head of police in 1914 was strážmistr J. Šrám[a]. He had one assistant, J. Michal.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Nějaká stará babička, která vracela se z kostela, zavedla na cestě od Květova do Vráže, což je neustále západním směrem, řeč se Švejkem křesťanským pozdravem: „Dobrý poledne, vojáčku, kampak máte namíříno?“

[II.2] „Ale to jdou špatně, vojáčku,“ ulekaně řekla babička, „to tam nikdy nepřijdou tímhle směrem přes Vráž, kdyby šli pořád rovně, tak přijdou na Klatovy.“

[II.2] Přes tu naši vesnici Vráž nemůžou jít, tam jsou četníci jako vostříži. Dají se potom z lesejčka na Malčín.

[II.2] V Radomyšli Švejk našel k večeru na Dolejší ulici za Floriánkem pantátu Melichárka. Když vyřídil mu pozdrav od jeho sestry ze Vráže, nijak to na pantátu neúčinkovalo.

Credit: Miroslav Vítek

Literature

• Vráž Stará, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 26. U – Vusín,1907
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915 [a]
• Po cestách Švejkovy budějovické anabáze, Miroslav Vítek,2020

	Čížová
ReinerTschizowa
czen SearchMapŠvejkova cestaŠvejkův slovník

Čížová 1920

Ottův slovník naučný,1893

Čížová is a village which the old grandmother from Vráž strongly advised Švejk not to walk through because of the vigilant gendarmes. He followed the advice and turned east before Čížová. However, this would have taken him away from his destination, Malčín. Thus, he must have been on a detour which is not described in the book (unless it is a lapse from the author).

Background

Čížová is a village in South Bohemia with 1,034 inhabitants (2009). It is located 6 km north of Písek.

In 1915, Čížová was part of the municipality (obec) Nová Ves and had a post office, parish, and a railway station (still operating in 2020). However, there was no Gendarmerie station here in 1915, so the old accordion player must have bluffed (Vráž and Písek were the nearest).

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Dají se potom z lesejčka na Malčín. Vodtamtuď se vyhnou, vojáčku, Čížovej. Tam jsou četníci rasi a chytají desentýry.

[II.2] Od Čížové šel Švejk dle rady babičky na Radomyšl na východ a pomyslil si, že se musí dostat do těch Budějovic z každé světové strany, ať je to jakákoliv.

[II.2] Po zdvořilém odmítnutí Švejkově velice se rozčílil a dal se nalevo do polí, vyhrožuje Švejkovi, že ho jde udat na četnictvo do Čížový.

Credit: Miroslav Vítek

Literature

• Čížová, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 6. Čechy – Danseur,1893
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915
• Po cestách Švejkovy budějovické anabáze, Miroslav Vítek,2020

	Klatovy
deKlattau
czdeen SearchMap

Klatovy, 1913

Ottův slovník naučný,1899

Klatovy is mentioned by the old grandmother from Vráž when she tells Švejk that he is going the wrong way and might end up in Klatovy instead of Budějovice.

Background

Klatovy is a town in the Plzeň region with 22,257 inhabitants (2020). The key industry at the outbreak of World War I was textile manufacturing. The town had a railway station, hospital, power plant, etc. The centre has several historic buildings.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] „Ale to jdou špatně, vojáčku,“ ulekaně řekla babička, „to tam nikdy nepřijdou tímhle směrem přes Vráž, kdyby šli pořád rovně, tak přijdou na Klatovy.“ „Já myslím,“ řekl Švejk odevzdaně, „že se i z Klatov člověk dostane do Budějovic.

Literature

• Klatovy, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 14. Kartel – kraj,1899
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915

	Malčín
HašekMalčín
cz SearchMapŠvejkova cestaŠvejkův slovník

Ottův slovník naučný,1900

Pubs in Malčice

Alois Chytil,1915

Malčín was the village where Švejk went to a pub to buy spirits to keep warm. He was accompanied by an old accordion player on the long mile to Radomyšl.

Background

Malčín refers to Malčice, a part of the rural municipality Předotice in the Písek district of South Bohemia. In 2011, the village had 94 permanent residents.

The only Malčín in Bohemia was located in okres Habry, hejtmanství Čáslav. The village is only 13 km from Lipnice, so Hašek surely knew about it and probably got these similar names mixed up.

Pubs

In 1914, there were two public houses in Malčice. The landlords were Josefa Maříková and František Zeman. The first had a shop attached[b]. The municipal chronicle in 1932 lists the pub owners Josef Hach (no. 60) and Jan Mařík (no. 9)[c]. On old postcards, Hostinec u Hachů[a] appears, which obviously belonged to Hach. For Mařík in no. 9, the connection is clear. In no. 38, there was a pub until 1914. The owner may have been the mentioned Zeman, or he could have owned the house that later became U Hachů.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Je ta chalupa naše vodtuď vidět, právě za lesejčkem trochu vpravo. Přes tu naši vesnici Vráž nemůžou jít, tam jsou četníci jako vostříži. Dají se potom z lesejčka na Malčín. Vodtamtuď se vyhnou, vojáčku, Čížovej.

[II.2] Nakonec vytáhla z kapsáře u jupky korunu, aby si koupil v Malčíně kořalku na cestu, poněvadž do Radomyšle je dlouhá míle.

[II.2] Z Malčína šel s ním starý harmonikář, kterého našel tam Švejk v hospodě, když si kupoval kořalku na tu dlouhou míli k Radomyšli.

[II.2] Harmonikář považoval Švejka za desertýra a radil mu, aby šel s ním do Horažďovic, že tam má provdanou dceru, jejíž muž je taky desertýr. Harmonikář v Malčíně očividně přebral.

Credit: Miroslav Vítek

Literature

• Malčice, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 16. Líh – Media,1900
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915 [b]
• Do Malčina, Jaroslav Šerák [a]
• Po cestách Švejkovy budějovické anabáze, Miroslav Vítek,2020 [c]
• Obecní kronika Malčice 1922-1952, SOkA Písek

	Horažďovice
ReinerHoraždowitzdeHoraschdowitz
czdeen SearchMapŠvejkův slovník

Horažďovice, 1917

Ottův slovník naučný,1897

Horažďovice is first mentioned by the old woman from Vráž when she explains to Švejk where he can go without being harassed by gendarmes (state police).

Later, the drunk accordion player near Malčice tries to get Švejk to accompany him to Horažďovice. He thinks Švejk is a deserter and claims his daughter is hiding her husband, also a deserter, there.

Švejk later told both pantáta Melichárek and the police that he went there, but the plot never reaches Horažďovice.

Background

Horažďovice is a town of 5,600 inhabitants in the Plzeň region. It is located on the river Otava, about 50 km southeast of Plzeň.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Jdou přímo přes les na Sedlec u Horažďovic. Tam je moc hodnej četník, ten propustí každýho přes vesnici. Mají s sebou nějaký papíry?

[II.2] Harmonikář považoval Švejka za desertýra a radil mu, aby šel s ním do Horažďovic, že tam má provdanou dceru, jejíž muž je taky desertýr. Harmonikář v Malčíně očividně přebral.

Literature

• Horažďovice, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 11. Hédypathie – hýždě,1897
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915

	Sedlec
HašekSedlec
czdeen SearchMapŠvejkova cestaŠvejkův slovník

Sedlice 1900

Alois Chytil,1915

Ottův slovník naučný,1904

Sedlec is recommended by the old woman from Vráž who tells Švejk that the gendarmes there turn a blind eye to deserters. Švejk later claims that he went there, but there is nothing in the narrative to support this.

Background

Sedlec is the name of 20 places in Bohemia, but none of them fit the description in The Good Soldier Švejk. The author rather had Sedlice in mind, underpinned by the fact that in 1904 it was primarily known as Sedlec (Ottův slovník naučný).

Today, it is a minor town (městys) in South Bohemia, with 1,252 inhabitants (2019). It is located north of Strakonice, near Blatná Castle.

The kind grandmother from Vráž told Švejk that the gendarme in Sedlec is a good man and lets deserters pass through. In this context, we note that the town actually had a state police station, and it was headed by strážmistr František Svojík[a]. He is the only one listed, so it may well be that he was the sole policeman in town.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Jdou přímo přes les na Sedlec u Horažďovic. Tam je moc hodnej četník, ten propustí každýho přes vesnici. Mají s sebou nějaký papíry?

Credit: Miroslav Vítek

Literature

• Sedlec, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 22. Rozkošný – Schloppe,1904
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915 [a]
• Po cestách Švejkovy budějovické anabáze, Miroslav Vítek,2020

	Radomyšl
ReinerRadomyschldeRadomischl
czdeen SearchMapŠvejkova cestaŠvejkův slovník

Radomyšl 2010

Ottův slovník naučný,1904

Radomyšl is mentioned 7 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.

Radomyšl was visited by Švejk when, on the advice of the old woman from Vráž, he went to see her brother pantáta Melichárek in Dolejší ulice behind Floriánek. He was advised to go there at night because the gendarmes would then be in the pub.

Background

Radomyšl is a small town in South Bohemia, 6 km north of Strakonice. It has 1,250 inhabitants and was voted South Bohemian "Village of the Year" in 2005.

Radomyšl was indeed served by a gendarmerie station. It was located in the town hall[a], opposite Floriánek. The police chief was strážmistr František Křížek, and he had two assistants.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] „Tak ani tam nechodějí, jdou raději na Radomyšl, ale hledějí tam přijít kvečeru, to jsou všichni četníci v hospodě.

[II.2] Nakonec vytáhla z kapsáře u jupky korunu, aby si koupil v Malčíně kořalku na cestu, poněvadž do Radomyšle je dlouhá míle. Od Čížové šel Švejk dle rady babičky na Radomyšl na východ a pomyslil si, že se musí dostat do těch Budějovic z každé světové strany, ať je to jakákoliv. Z Malčína šel s ním starý harmonikář, kterého našel tam Švejk v hospodě, když si kupoval kořalku na tu dlouhou míli k Radomyšli.

[II.2] V Radomyšli Švejk našel k večeru na Dolejší ulici za Floriánkem pantátu Melichárka. Když vyřídil mu pozdrav od jeho sestry ze Vráže, nijak to na pantátu neúčinkovalo. Chtěl neustále na Švejkovi papíry. Byl to nějaký předpojatý člověk, poněvadž mluvil neustále něco o raubířích, syčácích a zlodějích, kterých se síla potlouká po celém píseckém kraji.

Credit: Miroslav Vítek

Literature

• Radomyšl, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 21. R (Ř) – Rozkoš,1904
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915 [b]
• Po cestách Švejkovy budějovické anabáze, Miroslav Vítek,2020 [a]
• Jak to bylo s Floriánkem, pantátou Melichárkem a babičkou u Vráže, Jaroslav Šerák

	Floriánek
SearchMapŠvejkův slovník

Floriánek 28 May 2010.

Strakonicko 6.1936

Radomyšl ~1900 / 2020

© Městys Radomyšl

Floriánek is mentioned in connection with Radomyšl; pantáta Melichárek lives behind this house.

Background

Floriánek is a building on the corner of Kostelní ulice and Maltézské náměstí in Radomyšl, house number 6, also known as Grunt Michalcovský. Its recorded history goes back to 1599. Old photos show a brass shield on the front where St. Florian is depicted[a].

In 2010, the building was in a derelict state, but by 2020 it had been renovated and a shelf in the front wall hosts a small statue of St. Florian!

Floriánek is named after the Christian saint and the first Austrian martyr, Saint Florian. He is the patron saint of Poland, the city of Linz, firefighters, and chimney sweeps.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] V Radomyšli Švejk našel k večeru na Dolejší ulici za Floriánkem pantátu Melichárka. Když vyřídil mu pozdrav od jeho sestry ze Vráže, nijak to na pantátu neúčinkovalo. Chtěl neustále na Švejkovi papíry. Byl to nějaký předpojatý člověk, poněvadž mluvil neustále něco o raubířích, syčácích a zlodějích, kterých se síla potlouká po celém píseckém kraji.

Credit: Miroslav Vítek, Ivana Sibková, Ivana Jonová, Jaroslav Šerák

Literature

• Po cestách Švejkovy budějovické anabáze, Miroslav Vítek,2020
• Jak to bylo s Floriánkem, pantátou Melichárkem a babičkou u Vráže, Jaroslav Šerák
• Grunt Michalcovský, Městys Radomyšl,5.8.2020

	Dolejší ulice
SearchMapŠvejkův slovník

Dolejší ulice is mentioned in connection with Radomyšl. pantáta Melichárek, brother of the kind woman from Vráž, lives here.

Background

Dolejší ulice was an informal name for Sokolská ulice in Radomyšl. The house where Václav Melichar (the alleged inspiration for pantáta Melichárek) lived has now been demolished (see the picture).

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] V Radomyšli Švejk našel k večeru na Dolejší ulici za Floriánkem pantátu Melichárka. Když vyřídil mu pozdrav od jeho sestry ze Vráže, nijak to na pantátu neúčinkovalo. Chtěl neustále na Švejkovi papíry. Byl to nějaký předpojatý člověk, poněvadž mluvil neustále něco o raubířích, syčácích a zlodějích, kterých se síla potlouká po celém píseckém kraji.

Credit: Miroslav Vítek, Ivana Sibková, Ivana Jonová, Jaroslav Šerák

Literature

• Jak to bylo s Floriánkem, pantátou Melichárkem a babičkou u Vráže, Jaroslav Šerák

	Budapest
czBudapešť
czdeennnno SearchMapŠvejkova cesta

Budapest, 1909

Budapest, Országház, 1907

Budapest is mentioned 13 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.

Budapest is the scene of the whole of [III.2], and the march battalion spends two days in the city. The principal historical reference is Italy's declaration of war on Austria-Hungary on 23 May 1915.

The plot takes place on the outskirts of the city in Újpest and Isatarcsa, on and around a military railway station on the Pest side of the Danube.

The march battalion experienced constant delays and food that was promised but never arrived. Švejk's first conflict with Leutnant Dub occurred here, and Švejk was accused of stealing a hen in Isatarcsa.

Another memorable event is the inspection by the unnamed "latrine general". At the end of the stay, Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek re-enters the story, now as battalion chronicler.

Background

Budapest was, in 1914, the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary, one of the two constituent parts of Austria-Hungary. Emperor Franz Joseph I was crowned king here in 1867 under the name I Ferenc Jószef. Since 1918, the city has been the capital of the Republic of Hungary. Budapest today has around 1.7 million inhabitants and is by far the largest city in the country. It is situated on both sides of the Danube, with Buda as the oldest part on the west bank, and Pest as the administrative and commercial centre on the east bank.

Hašek's march battalion

Jaroslav Hašek passed through the city with his XII. Marschbataillon on 1 July 1915. According to the poem Cestou na bojiště (The Road to the Battlefield), they arrived here in the morning, just like in the novel. It was surely the day after the departure from Királyhida, but they seem to have travelled onwards quickly: through Rakos, Aszód, and Hatvan. It is also known that Hašek visited Budapest in the summer of 1903, probably on the way to the Balkans.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Všichni měli naději, že válka musí za měsíc, dva skončit. Měli představu, že Rusové už jsou za Budapeští a na Moravě. Všeobecně se to v Putimi povídá.

[II.5] V tu dobu nadporučík Lukáš studoval ve své komnatě právě doručené jemu od štábu pluku šifry s poučením, jak je luštit, a současně sekretní šifrovaný rozkaz o směru, kterým se bude ubírat maršbatalion na haličské hranice (první etapa).

7217 - 1238 - 457 - 2121 - 35 = Mošon 8922 - 375 - 7282 = Ráb 4432 - 1238 - 7217 - 35 - 8922 - 35 = Komarn 7282 - 9299 - 310 - 375 - 7881 - 298 - 475 - 7979 = Budapešť

Luště tyto šifry povzdechl si nadporučík Lukáš: „Der Teufel soll das buserieren.“

[III.2] Matušič přinesl na vojenském nádraží v Budapešti hejtmanovi Ságnerovi z velitelství telegram, který poslal nešťastný velitel brigády dopravený do sanatoria. Byl téhož obsahu, nešifrován, jako na poslední stanici: „Rychle uvařit menáž a pochodem na Sokal.“ K tomu bylo připojeno: „Vozatajstvo začíslit u východní skupiny. Výzvědná služba se zrušuje. 13. pochodový prapor staví most přes řeku Bug. Bližší v novinách.“

	Písecký kraj
enPísek regiondeBezirk Pisek
cz SearchMap

Prácheňsko, from 1855 to 1868 Písecký kraj

Krátký zeměpis pro djtky obecných sskol, 1846

Písecký kraj is mentioned by the suspicious pantáta Melichárek during Švejk's visit. Thieves and robbers roam freely in Písecký kraj, he moans.

Later in the chapter, the author mentions the area again when he explains that soldiers for Infanterieregiment Nr. 11 were recruited from here.

Background

Písecký krajPísek region was probably an unofficial term for the area around Písek, as the official Písecký kraj was abolished in 1868[a] during a reform that separated the political executive from the judiciary. It was one of 13 kraje/Bezirke in Bohemia.

Another possibility is that the author meant hejtmanství Písek. However, this was a much smaller entity and did not include Radomyšl. Thus, the first explanation is more logical, particularly because the term was used by an old man.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Chtěl neustále na Švejkovi papíry. Byl to nějaký předpojatý člověk, poněvadž mluvil neustále něco o raubířích, syčácích a zlodějích, kterých se síla potlouká po celém píseckém kraji.

[II.2] 28. regiment, 11. regiment. V tom posledním vojáci z píseckého kraje a okresu.

Literature

• Zeměpis království Českého, Jan Tichý,1868 [a]
• Vlastivěda království českého, Matěj Radoslav Kovář,1867
• Děje Práchenského kraje, August Sedláček,1926

	Putim polní stoh
czen SearchMapŠvejkova cestaŠvejkův slovník

Putim, 1.6.2010

Putim polní stoh is the scene of the plot when Švejk, after walking almost the whole night from Radomyšl, stops to rest in a haystack. Here, he finds himself in the company of three deserters who think Švejk is one of them. Two are from Infanterieregiment Nr. 35 and one from the artillery in Budějovice, i.e. Feldkanonenregiment Nr. 24. The latter was from Putim and also owned the haystack. A few sentences further on, the author, for some curious reason, converts him to a Dragoner (cavalry soldier).

All the deserters hoped that the war would soon be over because in Putim it was said that the Russians had reached Moravia and were east of Budapest.

Background

Putim polní stoh (haystack) was, according to the author, situated somewhere near Putim, but we don't know exactly where. Judging by Švejk's route, it is likely to have been west of the village, but near enough for him to recognise it when he returned soon after.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Švejk šel opět hnedle celou noc, až někde u Putimě našel v poli stoh. Odhrabal si slámu a slyšel zcela blízko sebe hlas: „Vod kterýho regimentu? Kam se neseš?“ „Vod 91. do Budějovic.“

	Sušice
deSchüttenhofen
czdeen SearchMap

Sušice, 1911

Ottův slovník naučný,1906

Sušice is mentioned by the deserters in the haystack by Putim. In the mountains behind Sušice, one of them had contacts who could help them hide.

Background

Sušice is a town in the Šumava region in south-western Bohemia. The number of inhabitants is around 12,000.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] K ránu, ještě než se rozední, přinese panimáma dragounova snídani. Pětatřicátníci půjdou potom na Strakonice, poněvadž jeden z nich má tam tetu a ta zas má v horách za Sušicí nějakého známého, který má pilu, a tam že budou dobře schováni.

Literature

• Sušice, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 24. Staroženské – Šyl,1906
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915

	Štěkeň
HašekStěknodeStěkna
czdeen SearchMapŠvejkova cestaŠvejkův slovník

Štěkeň in May 2010

Ottův slovník naučný,1906

Královské město Písek, Jan Matzner, 1898

Štěkeň is mentioned as Švejk meets an old tramp here. They keep company all the way to the Švarcenberský ovčín, four hours to the south. When he is interrogated by Rittmeister König in Písek, he lists Štěkno as one of the places he visited on the way to his regiment. He recites the same list for Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek in the regimental prison in Budějovice.

Background

Štěkeň is a market town in the Strakonice district in South Bohemia. It is located west of Písek by the river Otava. In 2014, it had 839 inhabitants.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Švejk šel lesy a u Štěkna setkal se s vandrákem, starým chlapíkem, který ho uvítal jako starého kamaráda douškem kořalky.

[II.2] Švejk vysvětlil mu celou situaci. Jmenoval Tábor a všechna místa, kudy šel do Budějovic: Milevsko - Květov - Vráž - Malčín - Čížová - Sedlec - Horažďovice - Radomyšl - Putim - Štěkno - Strakonice - Volyň - Dub - Vodňany - Protivín a zas Putim.

Literature

• Štěkeň, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 24. Staroženské – Šyl,1906
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915
• Královské město Písek, Jan Matzner,1898

	Strakonice
deStrakonitz
czdeen SearchMapŠvejkova cestaŠvejkův slovník

Strakonice, 1917

Ottův slovník naučný,1906

Strakonice is a town Švejk claims he went through or passed by, although this is not directly stated in the plot. From Štěkeň to Švarcenberský ovčín, he walked in the company of a tramp who thought he was a deserter. The tramp therefore tried to persuade Švejk to come with him to Strakonice, Volyně, and Dub to get hold of civilian clothes. The good soldier was, of course, no deserter, so from the sheep-pen he continued on his own. Thus, the planned trip to Strakonice never materialised.

Strakonice is mentioned eight times in this chapter and is included on the list of places Švejk claims he visited on his anabasis.

Background

Strakonice is a town in South Bohemia, west of Písek, with around 24,000 inhabitants. It is an industrial town and was so during Švejk's lifetime as well.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Neboj se ale nic, teď půjdem na Strakonice, Volyň, Dub, a to by v tom byl čert, abychom nějakej civil nesehnali. Tam u Strakonic jsou ještě takoví moc blbí a poctiví lidi, že ti nechají ještě leckdes přes noc votevříno a ve dne to vůbec nezamykají. Jdou někam teď v zimě k sousedovi si popovídat, a ty máš civil hned. Co ty potřebuješ? Boty máš, tak jen něco přes sebe. Vojenskej mantl je starej?“

[II.2] Dnes půjdeme na Strakonice,“ rozvinoval dál svůj plán. „Odtud čtyry hodiny je starej švarcenberskej ovčín. Je tam můj jeden známej ovčák, taky už starej dědek, tam zůstaneme přes noc a ráno se potáhnem na Strakonice, splašit tam někde ve vokolí civil.“

Literature

• Strakonice, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 24. Staroženské – Šyl,1906
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915

	Volyně
deWolin
czdeen SearchMapŠvejkova cestaŠvejkův slovník

Volyně, 1906

Ottův slovník naučný,1907

Volyně is a town Švejk claims he went through or passed by, although this is not directly stated in the plot. From Štěkeň to Švarcenberský ovčín, he walked in the company of a tramp who thought he was a deserter. The tramp therefore tried to persuade Švejk to come with him to Strakonice, Volyně, and Dub to get hold of civilian clothes. The good soldier was, of course, no deserter, so from the sheep-pen he continued on his own. Thus, the planned trip to Volyně never materialised.

Background

Volyně is a town in South Bohemia, south of Strakonice, with around 3,000 inhabitants (2020).

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Neboj se ale nic, teď půjdem na Strakonice, Volyň, Dub, a to by v tom byl čert, abychom nějakej civil nesehnali. Tam u Strakonic jsou ještě takoví moc blbí a poctiví lidi, že ti nechají ještě leckdes přes noc votevříno a ve dne to vůbec nezamykají.

Literature

• Volyně, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 26. U – Vusín,1907
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915

	Dub
czdeen SearchMapŠvejkova cestaŠvejkův slovník

Pohled na městys z věže hradu Helfenburk

Ottův slovník naučný,1894

Dub, 1917

Dub is a town Švejk claims he went through or passed by, although this is not directly stated in the plot. From Štěkeň to Švarcenberský ovčín, he walked in the company of a tramp who thought he was a deserter. The tramp therefore tried to persuade Švejk to come with him to Strakonice, Volyně, and Dub to get hold of civilian clothes. The good soldier was, of course, no deserter, so from the sheep-pen he continued on his own. Thus, the planned trip to Dub never materialised.

Background

Dub is a village in the Prachatice district in South Bohemia with around 400 inhabitants (2020). Although there were 11 places named Dub in Bohemia and Moravia, there is no doubt that this is the one the author meant. All the others were too far from Švejk's itinerary.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Neboj se ale nic, teď půjdem na Strakonice, Volyň, Dub, a to by v tom byl čert, abychom nějakej civil nesehnali. Tam u Strakonic jsou ještě takoví moc blbí a poctiví lidi, že ti nechají ještě leckdes přes noc votevříno a ve dne to vůbec nezamykají.

[II.2] Švejk vysvětlil mu celou situaci. Jmenoval Tábor a všechna místa, kudy šel do Budějovic: Milevsko - Květov - Vráž - Malčín - Čížová - Sedlec - Horažďovice - Radomyšl - Putim - Štěkno - Strakonice - Volyň - Dub - Vodňany - Protivín a zas Putim.

Literature

• Dub, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 8. Dřevěné stavby – falšování,1894
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915

	Sweden
czŠvédskodeSchwedensvSverige
czdeennnnosv SearchMap

The Swedish siege of Prague in 1648. This was the final battle of the Thirty Year War.

Průvodce po dějinách věku starého, středního a nového, 1891

Sweden is mentioned indirectly through the expression The Swedish Wars when the old shepherd in Švarcenberský ovčín recalls what happened to deserters in previous wars.

The country is referred to directly in the final passages of the novel; see Stockholm.

Background

Sweden was, in 1914 as now, a kingdom and the area was exactly the same as today. The country was neutral in both world wars. Contemporary Sweden is a parliamentary democracy with around 10.4 million inhabitants (2020).

The Swedish Wars

This term refers to the period from 1630 until 1635, the so-called Swedish phase of the Thirty Year War (1618-1648)[a]. In 1630, King Gustav Adolf II intervened on the continent as the Protestants of Germany seemed destined for defeat. Sweden was supported by France, the Netherlands, some German states, and initially also England.

The Swedes first landed in Pomerania before advancing south. Their allies from Saxony invaded Bohemia and occupied Prague on 11 November 1631. In 1632, however, they were defeated by Wallenstein and were forced to leave Bohemia. The peace agreement that ended the Swedish phase of the Thirty Year War was signed in Prague in 1635.

The Swedish army, however, remained in Central Europe and in 1648 they besieged Prague and looted Hradčany without managing to occupy Staré město and Nové město. When the final peace agreement was signed, they abandoned the city.

The good Swedish soldier

Although Hašek never set foot in Sweden, the country was a theme not only in The Good Soldier Švejk but also in some of his short stories. In a Švejk context, the most relevant of these is titled Povídka o hodném švédském vojákovi (The story of the kind Swedish soldier), and already here Hašek introduced a theme we know well. It is about a duty-conscious soldier who gladly sacrifices himself for his monarch. The story was printed in the anarchist newspaper Nová Omladina on 30 January 1907[b].

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] „To myslíš,“ otázal se ovčák, „že to letos neskončí? A máš, hochu, pravdu! Byly už dlouhý vojny. Ta napolionská, potom, jak nám vypravovávali, švédský vojny, sedmiletý vojny. A lidi si ty vojny zasloužili.

Literature

• K dějinám třicetileté války od r. 1621 do r. 1648, Josef Thille,1879 [a]
• Povídka o hodném švědském vojákovi, Nová OmladinaJaroslav Hašek,30.1.1907 [b]

	Skočice
deSkočitz
czensv SearchMapŠvejkův slovník

Skočice, 30.5.2010

Ottův slovník naučný,1905

Skočice is mentioned by the old shepherd in Švarcenberský ovčín, who tells a story about a certain Kořínek down in Skočice who was arrested for alleged sedition.

When the plot reaches Putim later in this chapter, Skočice reappears as the terrified old Pejzlerka, who, when interrogated by Wachtmeister Flanderka, twice exclaims: "Virgin Mary of Skočice!"

Background

Skočice is a village in South Bohemia, south of Písek, near Vodňany and Protivín. It has 242 inhabitants (2020). Švejk must have been very close to the village on the morning he appeared in Putim for the second time.

Panna Maria Skočická

Pejzlerka's exclamation refers to a portrait of the Virgin MaryJ from the 17th century that survived a fire unscathed, an event regarded as a miracle. This prompted the construction of the pilgrimage church Navštívení Panny Marie, which was inaugurated on 21 August 1668[a].

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] „Na to se mu, hochu, teď každej vykašle,“ rozdrážděně promluvil ovčák, „máš bejt při tom, když se sejdou sousedi dole ve Skočicích. Každej tam má někoho, a to bys viděl, jak ti mluvějí. Po tejhle válce že prej bude svoboda, nebude ani panskejch dvorů, ani císařů a knížecí statky že se vodeberou. Už taky kvůli takovej jednej řeči vodvedli četníci nějakýho Kořínka, že prej jako pobuřuje. Jó, dneska mají právo četníci.“

[II.2] „Ježíšmarjá,“ vykřikla Pejzlerka, „panenko Maria Skočická!“

[II.2] Pejzlerka odpotácela se ke stolu za neustálého bědování: "Panenko Maria Skočická, že jsem sem kdy vkročila."

Literature

• Skočice, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 23. Schlossar – Starowolski,1905
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915
• Historie, Obec Skočice
• Skočický poutní kostel Navštívení Panny Marie, Obec Skočice [a]
• Matka Boží Skočická, Stráž,1.2.1902

	Lány
czdeen SearchMap

Lány 1922

Masaryks letzte Tage, Karel Čapek, 1937

Lány is part of the anecdote about Rittmeister Rotter and his police dogs, which is told by the tramp who accompanied Švejk on parts of his anabasis.

A shorter version of the story has already appeared in [I.3], but there Lány is only indirectly mentioned through Lánské lesy.

Background

Lány is a town in the Kladno district west of Prague. It is best known as the burial place of the first Czechoslovak president, Professor Masaryk.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Tak dal rozkaz, aby četnictvo po celým Kladencku sbíralo houževnatě vandráky a dodávalo je přímo do jeho rukouch. Já tak jednou štrekuju si to vod Lán a míhám se dost hluboko lesem, ale co platný, na tu hájovnu, kam jsem měl zamíříno, už jsem nedošel, už mě měli a vodváděli k panu rytmistrovi.

	Kačák
czde SearchMap

Paměti okresu Unhošťského, František Melichar, 1890

Kačák is mentioned in the anecdote that the tramp at Švarcenberský ovčín tells about Rittmeister Rotter in Kladno and his police dogs.

Background

Kačák is a stream by Beroun, west of Prague, better known as Loděnice. It empties into Berounka. The colloquial name Kačák is derived from the name of the village Kačice[a].

The author knew the area well; he was visiting at the very moment the fatal shots in Sarajevo were fired. On this trip, he was accompanied by Josef Lada.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Vzal jsem to k údolí Kačáku do lesů, do jedný rokle, a za půl hodiny byli už dva ty vlčáci u mne, povalili mne, a zatímco jeden mne držel za krk, ten druhej běžel do Kladna, a za hodinu přišel sám pan rytmistr Rotter ke mně s četníky, zavolal na psa a dal mně pětikorunu a povolení, že můžu po celý dva dny na Kladencku žebrat.

Literature

• O jménech našich řek, Naše řečVladimír Šmilauer,1946 [a]

	Berounsko
SearchMap

Středními Čechami, Vilém Doubrava, 1906

Berounsko is mentioned in the anecdote that the tramp at Švarcenberský ovčín tells about Rittmeister Rotter in Kladno and his police dogs.

Background

Berounsko is the Czech name for the Beroun district west of Prague. See Kačák for more on the background of this anecdote.

Berounsko was probably a term synonymous with okres Beroun, a district of 36,022 inhabitants distributed across 42 local communities (1913)[a].

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Ale kdepak já, běžel jsem, jako když mně hlavu zapálí, na Berounsko a víckrát jsem se na Kladencku neukázal. Tomu se vyhýbali všichni vandráci, poněvadž na všech dělal ten pan rytmistr svý pokusy.

Literature

• Seznam míst v království Českém, C.k. místodržitelství,1913 [a]

	Lipnice
czdeenno SearchMapŠvejkův slovník

Postcard from Z.M. Kuděj to Antonín Švečený, dated 22.6.1922. Signed also by Jaroslav Hašek.

© LA-PNP

Postcard from Jaroslav Hašek to Marie Panušková, 26.9.1922

Ottův slovník naučný,1900

Hašek's grave around 1960. With Richard Hašek (son) and Zdena Ančík (haškologist).

© LA-PNP

Lidové noviny,4.1.1928

Česká koruna, 6.5.2018

Lipnice is mentioned 3 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.

Lipnice is mentioned when the tramp in Švarcenberský ovčín tells the story about the time he was begging in Lipnice and by accident knocked on the door of the police station. Here he received such a whack that he ended up down in Kejžlice.

Background

Lipnice (now Lipnice nad Sázavou) is a small town in Vysočina with a history that goes back to the 14th century. It is situated 620 metres above sea level. The most prominent landmark is Hrad Lipnice (the castle). In 2020, the number of inhabitants was 654, only about half the number that lived here in 1910.

The most dramatic event in the history of Lipnice was the great fire on 19 September 1869. The church, the school, the town hall, the castle, and over 100 houses went up in flames. The damages were estimated at 300,000 guilders[d]. Emperor Franz Joseph I, as a private person, donated 500 to the homeless[e].

Hašek og Lipnice

Lipnice has a special place in Jaroslav Hašek's life and writing because he lived there from 25 August 1921 until he died 16 months later.

Most of The Good Soldier Švejk, probably from [II.2] onwards, was written here, including the lines that this very description refers to. The author had obviously already been inspired by Lipnice, and several anecdotes later in the book bear testimony to this. The neighbouring villages of Kejžlice, Okrouhlice, and Jedouchov are eventually all mentioned, and so is the district town Německý Brod.

Česká koruna

Hašek lived at the inn of Alexandr Invald (U české koruny) until the autumn of 1922, when he moved into house no. 185 around the corner that he had bought in the spring. After a hand injury, he stopped writing himself and dictated to the young Kliment Štěpánek, who was later to provide vital accounts on the last months of Hašek's life and also how he lived and worked[a].

Hašek didn't only work on The Good Soldier Švejk at Lipnice; in between, he had some short stories printed. In 1922, one of them was published in the book Mírová konference a jiné humoresky (The Peace Conference and Other Humorous Stories). The story is called Průvodčí cizinců (Guide for Foreigners), and Hrad Lipnice is the setting[c].

Jaroslav Hašek died from heart failure in the morning of 3 January 1923 but had long been suffering from underlying health problems. He is buried at the old cemetery in Lipnice.

Traditions kept alive

Since the year 2000, U České Koruny, the inn where Hašek lived during his first year at Lipnice, has been owned and managed by his descendants[b]. In the house where he died, there is now a museum dedicated to the author, one of only two Hašek museums in the world (the other one is in Bugulma in Russia). Lipnice also has a bust and a statue of the author. Since 2003, international Hašek conferences have been arranged every five years.

The Jew Herrman

It is very likely that Hašek's stay here inspired him to introduce jew Herrman in the story, albeit as a peripheral figure. Herrman was actually born in Vilémov by Lipnice, and surely some of his relatives lived there when The Good Soldier Švejk was written.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] A zatímco ovčák cedil brambory a nalíval do mísy kyselé ovčí mléko, dělil se dál vandrák se svými vzpomínkami na četnické právo: „V Lipnici bejval jeden strážmistr dole pod hradem. Bydlel přímo na četnické stanici a já, dobrák stará, pořád jsem byl všude v tý domněnce, že četnická stanice musí být přece někde na vystrčeným místě, jako na náměstí nebo podobně, a ne někde v zastrčenej uličce.

Literature

• Lipnice, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 16. Líh – Media,1900
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915
• Penzion a hostinec U České koruny, Hašektour s.r.o [b]
• Jaroslav Hašek na Vysočině, František Drašner,2014
• Toulavé house, Radko Pytlík,1971
• Inspektor dešťoměrného ústavu z Prahy, Humoristické listyJaroslav Hašek,22.6.1922
• Der Marktflecken Lipnitz..., Fremden-Blatt,24.9.1869 [d]
• (Kaiserliche Spenden), Das Vaterland,26.11.1869 [e]
• Mírová konference a jiné humoresky, Jaroslav Hašek,1922 [c]
• Jaroslav Hašek na Lipnici, Lidové novinyKliment Štěpánek,20.12.1927 [a]
• Mé vzpominky na Jaroslava Haška, Lidové novinyKliment Štěpánek,4.1.1928
• O posledních dnech Jaroslava Haška, Lidové novinyKliment Štěpánek,21.2.1928
• Několik vzpomínek na Jaroslava Haška, Rudý večerník,27.12.1928
• Meine Erinnerungen an Jaroslav Hašek, Prager PresseKliment Štěpánek,29.11.1931
• Toulavé house, Radko Pytlík,1971

	Kejžlice
czdeen SearchMap

Ottův slovník naučný,1900

Kejžlice appears when the tramp in Švarcenberský ovčín tells the story about when he was begging in Lipnice and accidentally knocked on the door of the gendarmerie station. He got such a whack that he did not stop until he reached Kejžlice.

Background

Kejžlice (previously also Kyžlice) is a village in the Vysočina region, 4 km from Lipnice in the direction of Humpolec. The number of inhabitants is 416 (2020).

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] A nežli jsem moh něco bleptnout, přiskočil ke mně vachmajstr a dal mně takovou facku v těch dveřích, že jsem po těch dřevěnejch schodech letěl až dolů a nezastavil jsem se až v Kejžlicích. To je četnický právo.“

Literature

• Kyžlice, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 15. Krajčij – Ligustrum,1900
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915
• Jaroslav Hašek na Vysočině, František Drašner,2014

	Vodňany
deWodnian
czdeen SearchMapŠvejkův slovník

Zlatá stezka,2.1929

Ottův slovník naučný,1907

Vodňany is mentioned in passing in the plot as Švejk avoids the town on his wanderings from Švarcenberský ovčín to Putim.

A little earlier, the town is mentioned by the tramp whom Švejk met by Štěkno. He told the soldier that he could sell his uniform to jew Herrman in Vodňany. The old shepherd at Švarcenberský ovčín then relates how his grandfather was badly mauled in Vodňany after having been caught as a deserter.

Vodňany had already been mentioned in an anecdote by Švejk in [I.1]. It was the home town of a pig gelder who was hanged in Písek and uttered the most unkind words about the Emperor when this happened. This is at the end of one of the stories Švejk told detective Bretschneider at U kalicha and must have contributed to his arrest.

In [I.14], the town is mentioned again when Švejk chats to the maid of Oberst Kraus. He tries to gather information about the habits of her master's dog Fox, and asks where she's from.

Background

Vodňany is a town in the Strakonice district in South Bohemia. It is located 28 km northwest of Budějovice. In 2020, the town had 7,028 inhabitants.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.1] Pak si vzala nunváře z Vodňan, a ten ji jednou v noci klepl sekerou a šel se dobrovolně udat. Když ho potom u krajského soudu v Písku věšeli, ukousl knězi nos a řekl že vůbec ničeho nelituje, a také řekl ještě něco hodně ošklivého o císařovi pánovi.“

[I.14.6] „Já jsem teprve nedávno do Prahy přeloženej,“ řekl Švejk, „já nejsem zdejší, já jsem z venkova. Vy taky nejste z Prahy?“ „Já jsem z Vodňan.“ „Tak jsme nedaleko od sebe“ odpověděl Švejk, „já jsem z Protivína.“

[II.2] Potřebuješ kalhoty a kabát. Až budeme mít ten civil, tak kalhoty a kabát prodáme židovi Herrmanovi ve Vodňanech.

[II.2] Ale dopadli ho ve Vodňanech a tak mu rozsekali prdel, že z ní cáry lítaly.

[II.2] Poněvadž napravo, když sestoupil s lesů, bylo vidět nějaké město, zabočil Švejk severněji, pak na jih, kde opět bylo vidět nějaké město. (Byly to Vodňany.) Vyhnul se mu obratně cestou přes luka a ranní slunce uvítalo ho v zasněžených stráních nad Protivínem.

[II.2] V tom předvzpourovém dusnu přijeli rekruti z Vodňan s karafiáty z černého organtýnu.

Literature

• Vodňany, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 26. U – Vusín,1907
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915
• Historie, Město Vodňany

	Protivín
czdeen SearchMapŠvejkův slovník

Zlatá stezka,10.1928

Hašek's mother was born in Protivín

Václav Menger,1946

Ottův slovník naučný,1903

Protivín is mentioned 10 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.

Protivín is mentioned in passing as Švejk avoids the town on his wanderings from Švarcenberský ovčín to Putim. It had already been mentioned in a conversation just before.

The town had already been mentioned in the conversation between Švejk and the housemaid of Oberst Kraus in chapter [I.14].

Background

Protivín is a town in okres Písek with 4,808 inhabitants (2020), situated by the river Blanice. The town is best known for its castle and also has a well-known brewery that at the time of Švejk belonged to the Schwarzenberg estate. See Fürst Schwarzenberg (st.).

Hašek and Protivín

Protivín was surely a place Hašek knew well, as his mother Kateřina (1849-1911) was born in Protivín No. 158[a]. Young Jaroslav visited the area with his mother during the summer holidays of 1897 and probably also before that[b].

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.14.6] „Já jsem teprve nedávno do Prahy přeloženej,“ řekl Švejk, „já nejsem zdejší, já jsem z venkova. Vy taky nejste z Prahy?“ „Já jsem z Vodňan.“ „Tak jsme nedaleko od sebe“ odpověděl Švejk, „já jsem z Protivína.“

[II.2] Z Ražic za Protivínem syn Jarešův, dědeček starýho Jareše, baštýře, dostal za zběhnutí prach a volovo v Písku.

[II.2] Poněvadž napravo, když sestoupil s lesů, bylo vidět nějaké město, zabočil Švejk severněji, pak na jih, kde opět bylo vidět nějaké město. (Byly to Vodňany.) Vyhnul se mu obratně cestou přes luka a ranní slunce uvítalo ho v zasněžených stráních nad Protivínem.

[II.2] A nešťastnou náhodou místo od Protivína na jih na Budějovice Švejkovy kroky zaměřily k severu na Písek.

[II.2] Tak se podívejte, vojáku. Od nás na jih je Protivína. Od Protivína na jih je Hluboká a od ní jižně jsou České Budějovice. Tak vidíte, že jdete ne do Budějovic, ale z Budějovic.“

Credit: Miroslav Vítek

Literature

• Protivín, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 20. Pohora – Q.v.,1903
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915
• Lidský profil Jaroslava Haška, Václav Menger,1946 [a]
• Osudy dobrého člověka Jaroslava Haška, 1897, Jaroslav Šerák [b]
• Ražická mystifikace Jaroslava Haška, Obrys KmenOndřej Kolář,28.6.2002

	Putim
czdeen SearchMapŠvejkova cestaŠvejkův slovník

Putim, 12.7.2020

Švejk, 11.7.2020

Ottův slovník naučný,1903

Putim is mentioned 23 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.

Putim plays an important role in the novel, and Švejk's stay here is among the most famous passages in the novel. Immediately after realising that he has arrived in Putim again (he slept in a haystack nearby earlier during his anabasis), he is taken in by Wachtmeister Flanderka, who immediately starts spinning a theory that Švejk is a Russian spy. He becomes increasingly convinced as the hours pass and the alcohol intake increases.

Švejk spent just one night in Putim, almost exclusively at Gendarmeriestation Putim. The day after his arrival, he was led to Písek in a snowstorm. On the way, his police escort managed to get extremely drunk in a roadside tavern.

Background

Putim is a village just south of Písek with 455 inhabitants (2006). Its major claim to fame outside the area is actually Švejk. A large part of Karel Steklý's Švejk film from 1956 was shot in the village. On 23 August 2014, the first statue of the good soldier on Czech soil was unveiled in Putim.

Fact and fiction

Whereas large parts of The Good Soldier Švejk clearly draw inspiration from Jaroslav Hašek's own experiences, it is difficult to find such connections in Putim or indeed in any part of Švejk's anabasis. The locations in Putim are fictitious; no k.k. Gendarmerie station existed, nor was there any pub called Na Kocourku here. No Wachtmeister Flanderka, Pejzlerka or Wachtmeister Bürger are found in the census from 1900 or 1910[a], nor in the address book from 1915.

This does not, however, rule out that part of the plot from Putim and the anabasis mirrors some real incident. František Skřivánek wrote that Hašek undertook an "excursion" to the area around Zliv, where he met a gendarme whom Hašek distracted by telling him some story, and in the end the two drank together at U ruského cára in České Vrbne. Others claim that Hašek slept over at a sheep farm by Netolice and that he even reached Radomyšl.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] K polednímu uviděl Švejk před sebou nějakou vesnici. Sestupuje s malého návrší, pomyslil si Švejk: „Takhle dál už to nejde, zeptám se, kudy se jde do těch Budějovic.“ A vcházeje do vesnice byl velice překvapen, vida označení vesnice na sloupu u prvního domku: „Obec Putim“. „Pro Krista pána,“ vzdychl Švejk, „tak jsem zas v Putimi, kde jsem spal ve stohu.“ Pak ale už nebyl vůbec ničím překvapen, když za rybníčkem z bíle natřeného domku, na kterém visela slepice (jak někde říkali orlíčku), vystoupil četník, jako pavouk, když hlídá pavučinu. Četník šel přímo k Švejkovi a neřekl nic víc než: „Kampak?“ „Do Budějovic k svýmu regimentu.“ Četník se sarkasticky usmál: „Vy jdete přece od Budějovic. Máte ty vaše Budějovice už za sebou,“ a vtáhl Švejka do četnické stanice. Putimský četnický strážmistr byl znám po celém okolí, že jedná velice taktně a přitom bystře. Nikdy zadrženým nebo zatčeným nenadával, ale podroboval je takovému křížovému výslechu, že by se i nevinný přiznal.

Credit: Miroslav Vítek, Václav Pixa

Literature

• Putim, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 20. Pohora – Q.v.,1903
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915
• Putim - srdéčko Jižních Čech, Václav Pixa
• Odhalení sochy dobrého vojáka Švejka v Putimi, Václav Pixa,23.8.2014
• Sčitání lidu Putim, SOkA Písek,1910 [a]

	Bohemia
czČechydeBöhmenlaBohemianoBöhmen
czdeennnno SearchMap

Erbenova mapa Čech z roku 1883

Bohemia is mentioned by Wachtmeister Flanderka when he shows Švejk a map of Bohemia and explains how completely off track he is. Later, he asks the "Russian spy" in a friendly tone if he likes it here in Bohemia.

Background

Bohemia (Čechy) is a historical region, and the term is still used as a geographical description of the western two thirds of Czechia. During Austria-Hungary, it was also a political and administrative entity. See Kingdom of Bohemia.

The name Bohemia existed already in ancient times as Latin Bohemia, named after the Celtic tribe Boii. Prague was always the most important city in Bohemia. The name has also given rise to the widespread term bohemian.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] „Pak jste si ovšem spletl cestu,“ usměvavě řekl strážmistr, „poněvadž vy jdete od Českých Budějovic. O čemž vás mohu přesvědčit. Nad vámi visí mapa Čech. Tak se podívejte, vojáku. Od nás na jih je Protivín. Od Protivína na jih je Hluboká a od ní jižně jsou České Budějovice. Tak vidíte, že jdete ne do Budějovic, ale z Budějovic.“

[II.2] Zadíval se přitom do dobrácké tváře Švejkovy a zaklepal mu náhle v záchvatu dobromyslnosti na rameno, naklonil se k němu a optal se ho otcovským tónem: „Nu, a jak se vám v Čechách líbí?“

[II.2] „Mně se všude v Čechách líbí,“ odpověděl Švejk, „na svej cestě našel jsem všude velice dobrý lidi.“

[II.2] Tato nová situace umožnila ruským vyzvědačům, při pohyblivosti fronty, vniknutí hlouběji do území našeho mocnářství, zejména do Slezska i Moravy, odkud dle důvěrných zpráv velké množství ruských vyzvědačů odebralo se do Čech.

Literature

• Prag und das Königreich Böhmen, Böhmischen Landesverbande für Hebung des Fremdenverkehrs ...
• Statistická příručka království Českého, Zemská statistická kancelář království Českého,1913

	Silesia
czSlezskodeSchlesienplŚląsk
czdeenno SearchMap

Národnostní složení Rakouského Slezska a přilehlé části Pruského Slezska v roce 1912.

Teschen/Cieszyn/Těšín

Ottův slovník naučný,1905

Silesia is mentioned in a report that Wachtmeister Flanderka receives about how Czech-speaking Russian spies are now flooding into the monarchy. It was sent to all k.k. Gendarmerie stations in Bohemia by Landesgendarmeriekommando Prag.

Background

Silesia is an area which in 1914 was divided between Germany and Austria-Hungary. Today, most of the region is within Poland, with minor parts belonging to Czechia and Germany.

In The Good Soldier Švejk, it is explicitly a question of Austrian Silesia, a duchy and former Czech crownland that came under House of Habsburg rule in 1763. The capital was Troppau (Opava), with other notable cities being Bielitz (Bielsko), Jägerndorf (Krnov), and Teschen (Cieszyn/Český Těšín). Germans were the largest ethnic group, followed by Poles and Czechs. The crown land was geographically split in two, separated by a strip of land near Ostrava.

With regard to military recruitment, Silesia consisted of two districts. Infanterieregiment Nr. 1 recruited from Troppau, whereas Infanterieregiment Nr. 100 recruited from Teschen. Both reported to Korpsbereich Nr. 1 (Krakau).

The former Austrian Silesia today mainly belongs to Czechia, with a smaller part to the east now in Poland.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Tato nová situace umožnila ruským vyzvědačům, při pohyblivosti fronty, vniknutí hlouběji do území našeho mocnářství, zejména do Slezska i Moravy, odkud dle důvěrných zpráv velké množství ruských vyzvědačů odebralo se do Čech.

Literature

• Slezsko Rakouské, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 23. Schlossar – Starowolski,1905
• Österreichisch Schlesien, deutsche-schutzgebiete.de

	Blata
cz SearchMap

Veselí nad Lužnicí, 2011

Ottův slovník naučný,1891

Stráž,27.4.1902

Blata was an area where Wachtmeister Flanderka gave up looking for informers because the people there were particularly stubborn.

Background

Blata (also Blatsko) is a vaguely defined area, a flat stretch of land from Veselí nad Lužnicí and Soběslav, westwards towards Tyn nad Vltavou and Bechyně, south-west towards Hluboká and Netolice, and east towards Třeboň.

The area was previously known for its peasant rebellions, particularly one led by Jakub Kubata in the 16th century. He was eventually executed. The rebellion took place in the so-called Zbudovská blata, the southern area near Hluboká. This is also a part of Blata that Hašek knew well (his father was from Mydlovary), so it is most likely this region the author had in mind when he wrote this passage of The Good Soldier Švejk.

Blata is famed for its distinctive culture, its rich traditions, and not least for its many rybníky (man-made fish ponds). It has never been an official administrative entity and is today described as an "ethnographic sub-region".

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Nejvíce mu dala starostí instrukce, jak získati z místního obyvatelstva placené donášeče a informátory, nakonec, poněvadž uznal za nemožné, aby to mohl být někdo z místa, kde začínají Blata a kde je ten lid taková tvrdá palice, připadl na myšlenku vzít na tu službu obecního pasáka, kterému říkali „Pepku, vyskoč!“ Byl to kretén, který vždy na tuto výzvu vyskočil.

Literature

• Blata, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 4. Bianchi-Giovini - bžunda,1891

	Přerov
czdeen SearchMap

Přerov 1920

Ottův slovník naučný,1903

Přerov is mentioned when it is revealed what was said during the drinking binge at the gendarmerie station in Putin. The Russian commander-in-chief Nicholas Nikolaevich would be in Přerov next week, Wachtmeister Flanderka is reported to have said.

Background

Přerov is a city and an important railway junction in the Olomouc district of Moravia. Today (2018), it has around 45,000 inhabitants.

It was the seat of okres and hejtmanství of the same name. In 1900, the city had around 21,000 inhabitants, of whom the vast majority reported Czech as their everyday language. Even then, Přerov was an industrial city and was established as an important railway junction.

Hašek and Přerov

It cannot be established whether Jaroslav Hašek ever visited the city, but he must at least have travelled through it on his way back from Kraków and Mistek in August 1903. He may also have stopped over on his travels to and from Slovakia in 1900 and 1901. In 1909, his future wife Jarmila Mayerová stayed with her sister here, but there is no record of Hašek himself having visited. Still, he received some letters from Jarmila during her stay in Přerov.

As a curiosity: Infanterieregiment Nr. 91 travelled past Přerov on 17 November 1915[a], on their way from the eastern front in Ukraine to the front against Italy by the river Isonzo. Needless to say, they went without the author of The Good Soldier Švejk, who by then had been a prisoner of war in Russia for almost two months.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Nakláněje se k uchu strážmistra, šeptal: „Že jsme všichni Češi a Rusové jedna slovanská krev, že Nikolaj Nikolajevič bude příští týden v Přerově, že se Rakousko neudrží,

Literature

• Přerov, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 20. Pohora – Q.v.,1903
• Soukromý archiv Jiřího Rosmuse, Jiří Rosmus
• První světová válka v denících feldkuráta P. Jana Evangelisty Eybla, II., ed. Miloš Garkisch,2015 [a]

	Kobylisy
czdeen SearchMap

Ottův slovník naučný,1899

Kobylisy was the place butcher Chaura came from, mentioned in an anecdote.

Background

Kobylisy is an area in the northern part of Prague, which until 1922 was not yet part of the capital. It was here that the operation to assassinate Heydrich in 1942 started. The Kobylisy metro station was opened in 2004.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] „To byl bych si nikdy nemyslil,“ vykládal Švejk, „že taková cesta do Budějovic je spojena s takovejma vobtížema. To mně připadá jako ten případ s řezníkem Chaurou z Kobylis. Ten se jednou v noci dostal na Moráň k Palackýho pomníku a chodil až do rána kolem dokola, poněvadž mu to připadalo, že ta zeď nemá konce.

Literature

• Kobylisy, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 14. Kartel – kraj,1899
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1912
• Dějiny obce Kobylis, Karel Hacker,1935

	Moráň
SearchMap

Moráň was where butcher Chaura, mentioned in a story, walked around the monument of Palacký for an entire night.

Background

Moráň is a small area of Prague between Karolovo náměstí and Vltava. The Palacký monument is located by the river, at Palackého náměstí. It was unveiled on 1 July 1912[a] in a grand ceremony.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] „To byl bych si nikdy nemyslil,“ vykládal Švejk, „že taková cesta do Budějovic je spojena s takovejma vobtížema. To mně připadá jako ten případ s řezníkem Chaurou z Kobylis. Ten se jednou v noci dostal na Moráň k Palackýho pomníku a chodil až do rána kolem dokola, poněvadž mu to připadalo, že ta zeď nemá konce.

Literature

• Slavnost odhalení pomníku Palackého, Národní listy,1.7.1912 [a]

	Písecký okres
enPísek regiondeBezirk Pisek
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Okresní hejtmanství around 1904.

Písecký okres is mentioned by the author when he explains where Infanterieregiment Nr. 11 was recruited from.

Background

Písecký okresPísek region almost certainly refers to hejtmanství Písek, a political district that contained the towns Mirotice, Mirovice, Vodňany, Bavorov and Protivín. Several smaller places known from The Good Soldier Švejk were within the district: Putim, Ražice, Skočice, Krč, Vráž and Čížová. In 1910, the population numbered 79,096, of whom only 289 reported German as their everyday language.

As Hašek correctly pointed out, the district provided soldiers for Infanterieregiment Nr. 11.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] 28. regiment, 11. regiment. V tom posledním vojáci z píseckého kraje a okresu.

[II.2] V příloze předvádí se Josef Švejk, dle dotyčného tvrzení býti pěšákem téhož pluku, zadržený na základě svého vyjádření v Putimi, okres Písek, četnickou stanicí, podezřelý ze zběhnutí.

Literature

• Popis okresního hejtmanství Píseckého, Renner - Paroubek - Wagner,1889

	Písek
czdeen SearchMapŠvejkova cestaŠvejkův slovník

Písek, Otava, 27.8.2009

August Sedláček, 1911

Velké náměstí 1912

Ottův slovník naučný,1902

Písek is mentioned 26 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.

Písek is the centre of the action when the drunk gendarme from Putim appears at Bezirksgendarmeriekommando Pisek with Švejk in handcuffs. This is the end of Švejk's famous anabasis, but he is also cleared of the suspicion of being a Russian spy. The next morning, he is sent to Budějovice to join his regiment.

Písek had by then already been mentioned several times during the interrogation at Gendarmeriestation Putim. Švejk informed Wachtmeister Flanderka that he had taken part in the Kaisermanövern (Imperial manoeuvres) in the area in 1910.

Písek was mentioned already in [I.1], in the anecdote about the pig gelderer from Vodňany.

Background

Písek is a city in South Bohemia with around 30,000 inhabitants. The town was severely affected by the floods in 2002. The oldest bridge in Czechia crosses the river Otava here. Písek is also an important centre for education.

In The Good Soldier Švejk, several institutions and places in the city are mentioned: Krajský soud Písek, Okresní soud Písek, Bezirksgendarmeriekommando Pisek, Písecké nádraží, and also the house regiment Infanterieregiment Nr. 11. Associated with the city is also Rittmeister Rotter, who served here from 1910 until at least 1916.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.1] Pak si vzala nunváře z Vodňan, a ten ji jednou v noci klepl sekerou a šel se dobrovolně udat. Když ho potom u krajského soudu v Písku věšeli, ukousl knězi nos a řekl že vůbec ničeho nelituje, a také řekl ještě něco hodně ošklivého o císařovi pánovi.“

[II.2] A to moh ještě mluvit o štěstí. Z Ražic za Protivínem syn Jarešův, dědeček starýho Jareše, baštýře, dostal za zběhnutí prach a volovo v Písku.

[II.2] Závodčího zmocnila se naprostá deprese, a když po hrozném utrpení pozdě večer dorazili do Písku k četnickému velitelství, na schodech řekl úplně zdrceně závodčí Švejkovi: „Teď to bude hrozné. My od sebe nemůžem.“

Literature

• Písek, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 19. P – Pohoř,1902
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915
• Adresář města Písku a okolí, J. Šefl a J. Dvořáček,1922
• Dějiny královského krajského města Písku nad Otavou, I., August Sedláček,1911
• Dějiny královského krajského města Písku nad Otavou, II., August Sedláček,1912
• Dějiny královského krajského města Písku nad Otavou, III., August Sedláček,1913
• Královské město Písek, Jan Matzner,1898
• Die Stadt Pisek, Prager Tagblatt,20.10.1900
• Domácí odboj v Písku, Otavan,15.9.1934

	Otava
deWottawa
czdeen SearchMap

Otava in Písek, 1909.

Otava is briefly mentioned as Wachtmeister Matějka impatiently waits to get away from Bezirksgendarmeriekommando Pisek for a game of "Schnaps" somewhere down by the Otava.

Background

Otava is a 112 km long river that flows from Šumava through Sušice, Horažďovice, Strakonice, and Písek, and joins the Vltava by Zvíkov.

Otava is also the name of a local hotel and could, in theory, be the place the author had in mind. This assumption is, however, contradicted by the fact that the hotel is located on the other side of the river from the police station (and even uphill), whereas the author explicitly says "down by the Otava". It should also be noted that Hašek usually put the names of specific establishments in quotes, which is not the case here.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Rytmistr studoval „bericht“ četnického strážmistra z Putimě o Švejkovi. Před ním stál jeho četnický strážmistr Matějka a myslel si, aby mu rytmistr vlezl na záda i se všemi berichty, poněvadž dole u Otavy čekají na něho s partií „šnopsa“.

	Budějovice
deBudweis
czdeennnno SearchMapŠvejkova cestaŠvejkův slovník

Světozor,16.11.1906

Budějovice is mentioned 109 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.

Budějovice (also České Budějovice) plays a prominent role in the chapter Švejkova budějovická anabase [II.2] because parts of the plot take place in the city and the rest of the chapter is about Švejk's attempts to get there. Švejk's stay in the city lasted for only three days and he never saw more than the road from the barracks to the station. This is, however, compensated by the author, who lets his alter ego Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek provide a colourful account of life in the garrison.

Infanterieregiment Nr. 91, the unit in which Oberleutnant Lukáš and Švejk served, was located in the city, in Mariánská kasárna. The narrator also lets part of the plot take place during an officer's party in a hotel, making light of the debauchery and moral corruption in the army. This is where staple characters like Oberst Schröder, Major Wenzl, and Hauptmann Ságner enter the plot (they have already been introduced by Marek). Budějovice is the place that is most frequently named in The Good Soldier Švejk and it is also the final geographical reference in the novel.

The city was introduced already in [I.1], in one of the stories Švejk tells detective Bretschneider at U kalicha. Several more anecdotes confirm that Švejk did his military service in Budějovice.

Background

Budějovice (Budweis) was, until 1920, the name of České Budějovice, the largest city in South Bohemia. In 1913, the number of inhabitants was 44,538, of whom roughly 63 per cent reported Czech as their everyday language. Among Czechs, the city was mostly called České Budějovice even under Austrian rule. The city was part of hejtmanství Budějovice and belonged to the okres carrying its name.

In 2019, the city had slightly more than 94,000 inhabitants and is now, as then, the administrative and commercial centre of the region. It is also a popular tourist destination, offering a well-preserved old town. It is situated 381 metres above sea level at the confluence of the rivers Malše and Vltava.

The garrison

City map from 1911 with barracks indicated

When World War I broke out, the city had a notable military presence, reflected in the number of people working for the armed forces. In 1913, they totalled 2,205, making up five per cent of the population. The garrison in Budějovice provided five barracks, where two were used by k.u.k. Heer, one by k.k. Landwehr, one by the field artillery, and one was vacated.

In addition, new barracks were in 1915 built at Čtyři dvory, next to the already existing exercise ground (3 km west of the city centre). k.k. Landwehr was in 1913 moved to a new building in the southern part of the city, their former barracks were during the war turned into a reserve hospital. All the barracks were owned by the city council, who in turn leased them to the armed forces.

The garrison also hosted Platzkommando, a prison, a hospital, and a military court.

91. Ergänzungsbezirk

The city's two Hausregiment were IR. 91 and k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 29. The regiment's numbering reflected their respective Ergänzungsbezirk with the associated Ergänzungsbezirkskommando and Ersatzbataillon[1]. In 1914 Feldkanonenregiment Nr. 24 and parts of Infanterieregiment Nr. 88 (Beroun) were garrisoned in the city (staff and two battalions). The command of 38. Infanteriebrigade was based here but their operative units were garrisoned elsewhere.

Infanterieregiment Nr. 91

The regiment's orchestra before departure to the front, 1.8.1914. The railway station in the background.

Jednadevadesátníci, Jan Ciglbauer, 2018

The theme of these pages is the novel The Good Soldier Švejk so further discussions will reduce the scope to IR. 91 only. It was in this regiment Jaroslav Hašek served in 1915, and by projecting his own experiences into his famous novel, he unwittingly made the regiment the best-known unit in the entire k.u.k. Heer. The author's association with the regiment is also the reason why Budějovice is the geographical entity that is most frequently mentioned in the novel, more than one hundred times!

At the outbreak of war 4th battalion and Ersatzbataillon IR. 91 were housed in Mariánská kasárna. During mobilisation at the end of July 1914, regimental staff, 2nd and 3rd field battalion arrived from Prague but already by 1 August 1914 they had departed for the front by the Drina, together with the 4th battalion[2]. The only part of the regiment that remained in Budějovice was thus the replacement battalion.

News about the transfer of the reserve battalion (EB91). Note that the local press used the term "regiment" also when referring to EB91.

Deutsche Böhmerwaldzeitung,4.6.1915

Throughout The Good Soldier Švejk the term "regiment" is used even when the replacement battalion is obviously meant. This is in spite of the fact that the field regiment (the four field battalions etc.) during the war always were fighting at the front. The first two lines of [II.3] serves as a good example when the author states that "the 91st regiment was transferred to Bruck an der Leitha-Királyhida".

The author's use of the term “regiment” may thus appear misleading, but a person who lived at the time would, from the context, know that the subject was the reserve battalion and not the field regiment. Readers knew that Bruck was nowhere near the front and that the reference could NOT be to the regiment in the field. For the modern reader is easy to conclude that Jaroslav Hašek "was wrong", but he actually adhered to the terminology that was common at the time. In 1915 the newspapers in Budějovice used exactly the same words as the author of The Good Soldier Švejk when they reported that IR. 91 had been transferred to Királyhida.

The reserve battalion

© VHA

Mariánská kasárna (Marienkaserne), the home of IR. 91 until 1 June 1915.

Geschichte des ehemaligen Schützenregimentes Nr. 6, 1932

As mentioned earlier the reserve battalion of IR. 91 (further Ersatzbataillon IR. 91) was permanently garrisoned in Budějovice. After the outbreak of war, it grew rapidly as it was responsible for training the reservists who were drafted in increasing numbers.

Apart from ordinary recruits, the one-year volunteers were also trained here. After a course at the regiment’s reserve officer school, they became junior officers. The school was located at the top floor of Mariánská kasárna and this is also where the aspiring cadets lived.

Military training mostly took place at the exercise grounds west of the city, at Čtyři Dvory (Vierhöf) and the nearby shooting range in Borský les (Haiderwald). It also appears that some units were garrisoned and trained in Suché Vrbny (Dirnfellern), east of the railway station.

Commander of Ersatzbataillon IR. 91 at the outbreak of war was Oberstleutnant Johann Splichal. He was very soon ordered to the front in Serbia and was on 25 August 1914 succeeded by the pensioned Oberst Karl Schlager who also oversaw the transfer to Bruck in June 1915. He was in turn replaced by Major Benedikt Pallweber on 26 July 1915. The last commander of the reserve battalion was Major Gustav Jausen.

From January to March 1915 Hauptmann Josef Adamička was head of the reserve officer's school but we don't know who succeeded him. Commander of I. Ersatzkompanie was from 28 February 1915 Oberleutnant Čeněk Sagner. Schlager himself commanded II. Ersatzkompanie, and Hauptmann Rudolf Skara III. Ersatzkompanie. Who were in charge of the other companies is not known (nor do we know the total number of replacement companies - there were at least 4).

Relocation of replacement battalions

[Free translation] In order to remove those on Landsturm duty [conscripted reservists] who hailed from nationally unreliable areas from the destructive influences of their environment, extensive relocation of replacement units in the hinterland was initiated during the first months of 1915.

Geschichte des ehemaligen Schützenregimentes Nr. 6, 1932

IR. 91 transferred to Bruck (sensored).

Jihočeské listy,2.6.1915

During the late spring of 1915, the garrison in Budějovice witnessed a major upheaval. When the war started the Czechs were less enthusiastic than some other nations in Austria-Hungary but there was little open dissent and mobilisation progressed without any major incidents. This was soon to change and by the end of 1914 it became clear that the war would not end soon. The professional core of the army who were largely loyal to the monarchy had been badly decimated and were replaced by far less enthusiastic reserves. Shortages and price hikes started to take their toll, and discontent surfaced amongst the civilian population. As further reserves were drafted, there were incidents and signs of disloyalty, particular when soldiers left for the front. Armeeoberkommando decided to act by transferring Czech replacement battalions to areas populated by other nationalities. The idea was to prevent “contamination” from disloyal Czech civilians.

The first such transfer took place in January 1915 when the reserve battalion of Prague's house regiment Infanterieregiment Nr. 28 was transferred to Szeged and replaced by Hungarians[3]. During the spring more units from Bohemia followed, including those of k.k. Landwehr. In Budějovice both house regiments were affected. The replacement battalion of k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 29 was on 19 May 1915 swapped with k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 6, an almost completely German regiment from Eger (now Cheb). On 1 June 1915, it was the turn of Ersatzbataillon IR. 91 as they were moved to Királyhida in two separate stages. Eight days later the Hungarian Infanterieregiment Nr. 101 from the recruitment district Békéscsaba replaced them in the by now vacated Mariánská kasárna. As we know the transfer of the replacement battalion to Királyhida has a central part in chapter [II.3] of The Good Soldier Švejk.

The news about the imminent transfer of the Kader was not welcomed by soldiers at the front and according to Inft. Reg. 91 Galizien... the vast majority were disappointed when they were told on 23 May 1915. It would now be much more difficult for the soldiers to visit their loved ones when being away from the front. The only exceptions to the general disappointment were the few of the regiment's soldiers who were from Vienna.

Jaroslav Hašek in Budějovice

Spisovatel-humorista a spolupracovník Světozora Jaroslav Hašek v reservní vojenské nemocnici v Českých Budějovicích.

Světozor,30.4.1915

The story of Jaroslav Hašek and his stay in Budějovice in 1915 is entangled in legends - and no doubt he contributed some of them himself. His main vehicle for mystification was one-year volunteer Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek in The Good Soldier Švejk, but the stories Gott strafe England (1917) and V strategických nesnázích (In strategical difficulties) (1921) have also contributed.

Countless witnesses have over the years added their versions, but most of these accounts were published after 1960 in the local press in České Budějovice. Here the Communist Party newspaper Jihočeská pravda was particularly active. In addition there are some items that were collected by Zdena Ančík but seemingly never published. Some of them have later been drawn upon by biographers like Radko Pytlík.

One particularly useful contribution was published in 1972 in Sborník Památníku národního písemnictví. It was written by Jaroslav Kejla, a former inter-war air force general who served with Hašek in Budějovice in 1915. Although his recollection of detail suffered from the distance in time, his story is unusual inasmuch as he questions the version of history presented by Hašek scholars like Ančík and Radko Pytlík. He openly ridicules the tendency to accept Hašek's own version of events as facts, and makes a most relevant statement: "perhaps he [Hašek] invented a thing or two"?

Verified details

Hašek's partial superarbitration, rubberstamped in Prague 25 May 1915.

© VÚA

Chronischer Gelenksrheumatismus und abgelaufene Herzklappenentzündung. Über dem linken Ventrikel ein erstes Geräusch hörbar. Dyspnoe bei körperlichen Anstrengungen.

Transkripzion: Doris und Gert Kerschbaumer

© VÚA

What all seem to agree on is that Hašek turned up in Budějovice in civilian clothes and in a cylinder hat. He enlisted at the reserve officer’s school of IR. 91 as his status as a one-year volunteer permitted. He was expelled from the school, and he was locked up in the garrison arrest at least once. He was admitted to k.u.k. Reserve-Spital with rheumatism and that he genuinely suffered from it (unlike Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek) and that he was later transferred to a recuperation unit in the southern suburb Linecké předměstí (Linzer Vorstadt). Many claim that Marek's excursions with the Krankenbuch is autobiographical and that Dr. Peterka at the reserve hospital turned a blind eye. Most of the details listed here are mirrored in Marek's conversation with Švejk.

Hašek's army file provide exact dates and also the diagnosis that prompted Dr. Peterka to apply for superarbitration on the patient's behalf. He suffered not only from rheumatism of the joints but also endocarditis and a slight sound was heard above the left heart valve. He became exhausted at the slightest physical effort.

Nor would it come as a surprise that he visited many pubs, particularly those in the vicinity of Mariánská kasárna, in the historical centre and in the Linz suburb.

We also know that Hašek wrote two stories while stationed in Budějovice: Aféra s křečkem (The affair with the hamster) and Aféra s teploměrem (The affair with the thermometer). The first story has nothing to do with his stay in the Czech south, but the thermometer story is set at k.u.k. Reserve-Spital. Unsurprisingly he makes fun of Bohemian Germans and even confirms information from Jihočeské listy that he stayed in room no. 77!

A miniature anabasis?

Often mentioned is an escape Hašek made to the area north of the city, perhaps as far as Protivín. In České Vrbné he was stopped by a gendarme but wriggled himself out of the situation and in the end the two sat down for a beer or two in the local pub U ruského cara. The "excursion" seems to have lasted for a few days and may have provided motifs for Švejkova budějovická anabase. The originator of the story was František Škřivánek, but since then more details have appeared, for instance that Hašek allegedly slept over in a sheep shed by Netolice, another possible connection to the novel.

Škřivánek was the first ever to publish anything about Hašek in Budějovice, and one of the first to publish anything biographical about him after the author's death. His article was published in Jihočeské listy as early as 5 February 1923. It was Škřivánek who had Hašek's stories that were written at k.u.k. Reserve-Spital sent to publisher publisher Vilímek. He also revealed that it was Hašek himself who told him about the excursion north of the city. Importantly the article also contains a poem by Hašek. In 1954 Škřivánek followed up with a longer item in Stráž míru but by now he mixed in the memories of others. This combined with the distance in time obviously detracts from its trustworthiness. Clearly it is the latter version that biographers have leant on because the first is not listed in the official bibliography (Medílek, 1983).

Mystification

Hašek was never stripped of his privileges as a one-year volunteer.

Verlustliste Nr. 566, 4.5.1917

While most of the myths surrounding Hašek in Budějovice are improbable but not directly falsifiable, there are a few that can be dismissed out of hand. Hašek claimed that he "had his one-year volunteer stripes stripped off" at the beginning of the war. This can not have been the case because all military records list him as Landsturmmann mit Einj. Freiw. Abzeichen, later Landsturm Gefreiter. Kejla also noted that the one-year volunteer privilege was earned by his civilian education so could not be removed by the military. The only thing he could be stopped from was to graduate from the reserve officer's school (and this was the case).

Considering the timing of events it is very unlikely that Hašek ever had the change to provoke the soldiers of the Hungarian IR. 101 by singing the Tsar's hymn.

Budweiser Zeitung,11.6.1915

As for the many stories that do NOT originate from Hašek himself some have been confirmed (see discussion above), some are probable, some are possible but hard to believe in. One often referred story is that Hašek one night provoked soldiers from the Hungarian 101st regiment by singing the Russian national anthem in front of their barracks. This story can be dismissed almost out of hand as this regiment only arrived in Budějovice 9 June 1915. This is eight days AFTER Hašek's units left city.

Some of the details from his story Gott strafe England can also be falsified, but these are beyond the scope of this discussion as they concern Josef Adamička,s fate later in the war. The same goes for the story V strategických nesnázích (In strategical difficulties) where he mystifies the reason why he was decorated and promoted.

Time-line

Few of the witness accounts provide exact dates so in order to establish a time-line we are left to rely on his military records, aided by two articles by František Skřivánek (1923 and 1954).

Despite providing a number of references this time-line does not give answers to questions about two key motifs we know from The Good Soldier Švejk, his stay at the reserve officer's school and his disciplinary record. It is also odd that Hašek in his Vormerkblatt was assigned to I. Ersatzkompanie but his health file has him in III. Ersatzkompanie. Perhaps this change reflects his status before and after he attended the school for reserve officers?

Reserve Officer's School

František Šimek with one of the more trustworthy accounts.

Jihočeská pravda, 5.8.1967

Information about Hašek's unsuccessful stay at the reserve officer's school, a theme he in the novel projects onto Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek, is shrouded in uncertainty. We have no start or end dates, but considering his poor physical condition it was probably a short stint, perhaps interrupted by his stay in the hospital (if we accept Marek as a witness this was the case). If so it would be logical to assume that he started soon after enlisting[4] and the fact that he himself and also Franta Hofer mention Josef Adamička who was head of the reserve officer's school until 18 March 1915, seem to confirm this. Hofer revealed that Adamička liked Hašek and invited him to the officer's dining room to provide entertainment. Kejla wrote that he was dismissed for behaviour unworthy of a future k.u.k. officer and not what Marek was expelled for.

Disciplinary record

Jaroslav Kejla on why Hašek was expelled from the reserve officer school.

© LA-PNP

If all legends are to be believed Hašek would have a long disciplinary record but his Vormerkblatt does not show any punishment at all. The regiment could punish a soldier with up to 30 days arrest without involving a military court[5] but even that should in theory show up. Still there is no doubt that he spent time behind bars as confirmed by Kejla. That it has been more than public order offence is however unlikely and it would be in line with his chequered public order record from civilian life in Prague. All we can say is that he could have been handed no more than 30 days at a time, anything more serious would have meant a trial at a military court. In his story Gott strafe England Hašek claims to have received 30 days "mixed" (confined to barracks?), Skřivánek says he was given 30 days Verschärft (increased), and Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek, his literary alter ego, was given 21 days Verschärft. There is contradictory information about the reason for his punishment, but everything points towards some public order incident(s). The least credible version is Hašek's own in Gott strafe England where he claims to have been punished for writing a pretty innocent poem.

Handbuch für Unteroffiziere,1916

Sentences of 30 or even 21 days are difficult to fit into Hašek's time line. From his enlisting to being admitted to hospital there is a span of 18 days, then he was undergoing treatment until 8 April, probably even longer. On 21 April 1915 he signed an agreement with Svátek and was presumably a free man. On 5 May he bid farewell with Skřivánek[6]. Petr Fingal met him "a few days before LIR29 was transferred to Cheb"[7] (i.e. 19 May minus a couple of days). One possibility is obviously that the disciplinary measures started after mid-may and that he (like Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek) was transported to Királyhida in the Arrestantenwaggon and sat out the rest of the time there. Jan Morávek confirms this. In an unpublished article Bohumil Mičan repeatedly mentioned 14 days punishment, a number that is much more likely than 30.

Innumerable pubs

Česká chalupa, one of Hašek's favourites.

© Milan Binder / Jan Schinko

The incessant pub crawls are a recurring theme in the various reminiscences. Within a stone's throw from Mariánská kasárna there were three taverns that are often mentioned: Česká chalupa, U růže and U Mičanů. Radko Pytlík lists a range of others: U Novotných, U slunce (see Budějovický hotel), U města Krumlova, U Žáků, U černého vola, U anglického dvora, U Týfů, and Na posledním groši (and there were surely more). The tally is impressive considering Hašek out of his 3 months and 12 days in Budějovice he spent at least 33 days in hospitals and perhaps as much as a month behind bars or at least confined to barracks. Apart from U růže and an unnamed hotel, two more establishments are mentioned by Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek. The first is the respectable Měšťanská beseda which is the only of the above-mentioned taverns that still operates (2015). The second is the brothel Port Arthur that no one (to my knowledge) has ever claimed that Hašek visited. This notorious establishment was located outside the centre so my guess is that Hašek had heard of it and thus had his literary hero Marek visit it. On the other hand, it was on the way to Suché Vrbny so perhaps that is the connection?

Another cluster of pubs from the southern part of the city are also mentioned. This is no doubt connected to his stay for recuperation in the nearby military hospital.

Fact and fiction

Hašek mystifying his own stay in Budějovice in the story Gott strafe England.

Československý voják,15.10.1917

As usual Hašek presents scholars and amateur enthusiasts alike with headaches when they try to distinguish between myth and reality. In Budějovice this challenge is exacerbated by the fact that none of his friends (biographers) served with him there. Thus almost all the information that is found in secondary literature about Hašek is based on stories and articles that appeared after 1950. With the distance in time they are less reliable and some also suffer from the tendency to accept passages from the novel and other stories by Hašek as facts.

Ančík correctly observes that many anecdotes float around regarding Hašek's stay in Budějovice. On the other hand: the claim that whatever is true from it found its way into Švejk says more about Ančík's naivity than about the veracity of Hašek.

O životě Jaroslava Haška, Zdena Ančík, 1953

In his studies over the years Radko Pytlík has aggregated a wealth of information about Hašek's stay in Budějovice. His findings have been published in several books, with a tendency to become more voluminous each time. Particularly rich in detail is Data, fakty, dokumenty (2013). Unfortunately the information about Hašek's stay in Budějovice is chaotically presented, chronologically suspect, and replete with errors and repetitions. At times fiction from Hašek's own pen is mixed in and presented as facts, for instance details from the stories Gott strafe England and Potíže s literární tvorbou. Much easier to digest are the more condensed accounts found in his earlier books: the excellent Toulavé house (1971), Náš přitel Jaroslav Hašek (1979) and Kniha o Švejkovi (1982).

Apart from Radko Pytlík, biographers and scholars provide little information of substance and most reveal their limited understanding of the organisation of k.u.k. Heer and the various unit's role in the military hierarchy. This applies to Jaroslav Křížek, Cecil Parrott, Gustav Janouch, Emanuel Frynta, and above all Zdena Ančík. Pre-war biographers (apart from Václav Menger) skip the subject entirely. In fairness it should be noted that access to military archives was restricted in Communist Czechoslovakia and the benefit of searchable on-line newspapers archives is a privilege only the modern haškologist can enjoy.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] A opět se dál nadporučík se Švejkem mlčky pozorovali, až konečně řekl nadporučík Lukáš s drsnou ironií: „Pěkně vás vítám, Švejku, do Českých Budějovic. Kdo má být oběšen, ten se neutopí. Už na vás vydali zatykač a zítra jste u regimentsraportu. Já se s vámi již zlobit nebudu. Natrápil jsem se s vámi dost a dost a moje trpělivost praskla. Když si pomyslím, že jsem mohl tak dlouho žít s takovým blbem jako vy...“

Credit: Radko Pytlík, Jan Ciglbauer, Franta Hofer, Bohumil Vlček, Jaroslav Kejla, František Skřivánek, František Šimek, Bohumil Milčan

Literature

• ---

• Gott strafe England, Československý vojákJaroslav Hašek,15.10.1917
• V strategických nesnázích, TribunaJaroslav Hašek,13.2.1921
• Potíže s literární tvorbou, Národní obzorJaroslav Hašek,10.4.1921
• Aféra s teploměrem, Ilustrovaný světJaroslav Hašek,1924

• ---

• Budweis, Franz Landspersky
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915
• Úplný policejní seznam města Českých Budějovic, V Čes. Budějovicích: [s.n.],1923
• Pěší pluk č. 91 České Budějovice, Jihočeské muzeum v Českých Budějovicích
• Drbna historička, Budějcká drbna
• Vojenské posádky v Budějovicích v roce 1906, Jan Ciglbauer
• Kasárny, Encyklopedie Českých Budějovic
• Geschichte des ehemaligen Schützenregimentes Nr. 6 (K.k. Landwehr-Infant-Regiment Eger Nr. 6), Richard Wagner - Karl Kwapil,1932

• ---

• Odchod 91. pěšího pluku z Českých Budejovic, Jihočeské listy,2.6.1915
• Abmarsch der 91er, Budweiser Zeitung,4.6.1915
• Inspizierung, Deutsche Böhmerwaldzeitung,4.6.1915
• Einzug der Infanterie-Regimentes 101 in Budweis, Budweiser Zeitung,11.6.1915
• Raněný český spisovatel v Č. Budějovicích, Jihočeské listy,13.3.1915
• Za Jaroslavem Haškem, Jihočeské listyFrantišek Skřivánek,3.2.1923
• Hašek na ruby, Zemědělské a družstevní listyPetr Fingal,22.1.1932
• Ein Verein der "Freunde des guten Soldat Schweijk", Budweiser Zeitung,9.11.1932
• Pražká silnice č.p. 6, Jihočeské listy,9.1.1937
• Hašek narukuje, Rudé právoAntonín Bouček,23.3.1947
• Jaroslav Hašek v Českých Budějovicích, Stráž míruFrantišek Skřivánek,14.8.1954
• Jaroslav Hašek v Č. Budějovicích, Jihočeská pravdaJaroslav Šťastný,5.5.1963
• Pátrání po stopách Haškovy českobudějovické anabáze, Jihočeská pravdaVladimír Michal,20.10.1963
• Pátá stopa vede do hostince u Míčanů, Jihočeská pravdaVladimír Michal,7.11.1963
• Jak začal bojovat Jaroslav Hašek za císaře Franc Josefa, Jihočeská pravdaFrantišek Šimek,5.8.1967
• O lidech z Haškova Švejka, PrůbojZdeněk Šťastný,20.1.1968
• Pozlátko a pravda, Jihočeská pravdaOtakar Hošek,21.10.1978
• Poslušně hlásím..., Československý vojákIvan Černý,28.11.1989

• ---

• Voják Jaroslav Hašek v Českých Budějovicích, Bohumil Milčan,1955?
• Jak se Jaroslav Hašek učil oficírem, Franta Hofer
• Připomínky k románu "Dobrého vojáka Švejka", Bohumil Vlček,20.3.1956
• Jak to bylo v bitvě u Chorupan kde se dal Jaroslav Hašek zajmout, Jaroslav Kejla,1972

	Budějovické náměstí
deBudweiser Ringplatz
cz SearchMap

Mein Österreich, mein Heimatland, 1915

Budějovické náměstí was the scene of Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek's unfortunate incident when, in a state of inebriation, he knocked the cap off the artillery officer Leutnant Anton, whom he mistook for his friend Einjährigfreiwilliger Materna. Anton stood below the arcades and was apparently waiting for a prostitute.

Later in the chapter, Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek tells how Fähnrich Dauerling took a soldier to battalion report because he didn't greet him on the square.

Background

Budějovické náměstí (Budweiser Ringplatz) refers to the city square in Budějovice. With its 17,768 m², it is one of the largest of its kind in Europe, with a history dating from 1295. It has arcades around the entire square. Since 1991, it has been called Náměstí Přemysla Otakara II., but since 1915 it has changed names several times, all according to the direction of the political winds. During the Nazi occupation, it was given the rather unappealing name of Adolf Hitler Platz.

Originally, the square was simply called Náměstí (Ringplatz), a name it also had during Hašek's stay in the city from February 1915 until the end of May. On 4 June 1915, the city council unanimously decided to rename the square Náměstí Františka Josefa (Franz Josefs-Platz)[a].

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Napohlavkoval omylem jednomu poručíkovi od dělostřelectva v noci na náměstí v podloubí v opilém stavu. Vlastně ani nenapohlavkoval, srazil mu jenom čepici s hlavy. Stalo se to tak, že ten poručík od dělostřelectva stál v noci pod podloubím a patrně čekal na nějakou prostitutku.

[II.2] Tak stoupala moje drzost, že jsem myslel, že mně nikdo nemůže nic udělat, až došlo k osudnému omylu v noci na náměstí pod podloubím, k omylu, který jasně dokázal, že všechny stromy nerostou do nebe, kamaráde.

[II.2] Nyní si představte, příteli, že hned po jeho příchodu sem ten pitomý fähnrich Dauerling hnal před batalionsraport jednoho muže, že prý ho ten zúmyslně nepozdravil, když Dauerling jel přes náměstí ve fiakru v neděli odpůldne s nějakou slečinkou!

[II.2] ,Já si to vyprošuji, himldonrvetr, já si to zakazuji! Víte, pane fähnrich, co je to batalionsraport? Batalionsraport není žádný schweinfest. Jak mohl vás vidět, když jste ujížděl po náměstí? Nevíte, že jste sám učil, že vzdává se čest šaržím, s kterými se setkáváme, a to neznamená, jestli má voják se točit jako vrána, aby našel pana fähnricha projíždějícího se přes náměstí.

[II.2] „Nechte toho,“ řekl poručík Pelikán naoko přísně, „myslím, že víte, že máte jít v devět hodin ležet a netropit hluk. Vaše koncertní číslo je slyšet až na náměstí.“

Literature

• Gemeindeausschußsitzung, Budweiser Zeitung,15.6.1915 [a]
• Náměstí Přemysla Otakara II., Encyklopedie Českých Budějovic
• Budweis, Österreichische Illustrierte Zeitung,11.8.1907

	Malše
deMaltsch
czdeen SearchMap

Soldiers from 6th Landwehr some time after 19 May 1915.

Geschichte des ehemaligen Schützenregimentes Nr. 6,1932

Malše is the river where Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek took baths in the winter to contract rheumatism, hoping it would make him unfit for service.

Background

Malše is a river in Upper Austria (where it's called Maltsch) and the Czech Republic that empties into the Vltava in Budějovice. The river's total length is 96 km.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Když jsem totiž narukoval,“ vypravoval dál, „tak jsem si předně najal pokoj v městě a snažil jsem si zaopatřit rheumatismus. Třikrát za sebou jsem se namazal a pak jsem si lehl za město do příkopu, když pršelo, a zul si boty. Nepomáhalo to. Tak jsem se v zimě v noci koupal v Malši celý týden, a docílil jsem pravý opak.

[II.3] Bude to prostá výměna. Český voják vyspí se s maďarskou dívkou a ubohá česká děvečka přijme k sobě maďarského honvéda, a po staletích bude to zajímavé překvapení pro antropology, proč se objevily vysedlé lícní kosti u lidí na březích Malše.“

Literature

• Čechy (Malše), Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 6. Čechy – Danseur,1893
• Regulace Vltavy a Malše v Českých Budějovicích, Za starou Prahu,28.5.1915

	Niniveh
czNinivedeNinive
czdeenno SearchMap

The fall av Niniveh. John Martin, 1829.

Niniveh is mentioned as Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek tells Švejk about his pride and how this led to his fall and subsequent arrest and expulsion from the officer's school. That's why he was now locked up together with Švejk.

Background

Niniveh was one of the most important cities in the ancient Middle East and was, in several periods, the capital of Assyria. The city was located by the river Tigris, near the present city of Mosul in Irak and is mentioned in the Old Testament. It was destroyed in 612 BC.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Svou zpověď zakončil jednoroční dobrovolník slavnostně: „Došlo i na Karthago, z Ninive udělali zříceniny, milý příteli, ale hlavu vzhůru! Ať si nemyslí, že když mne pošlou na front, že dám jednu ránu. Regimentsraport!

Literature

• Ninive, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 18. Navary – Oživnutí,1902

	Šumava
deBöhmerwald
czdeennnno SearchMap

Světem letem, Enrique Stanko Vráz,1896

"Šumava a Pošumaví", Josef Kafka, 1904

Šumava is mentioned by Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek when he tells his cell mate Švejk that Oberst Schröder had roared at him so he was heard all the way to Šumava.

In [III.2], Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek mentions the region again in connection with telling his companions on the train from Budějovice to Bruck-Királyhida about his experiences as editor of Svět zvířat.

Background

Šumava (Ger. Böhmerwald) is a loosely defined geographical area in the south and western part of Bohemia, bordering Bavaria and Austria. It stretches from Vltava in the east to around Domažlice in the west. The area is mountainous, mainly wooded, thinly populated, and parts of it are protected as a national park. The area was, until 1945, predominantly German speaking.

There are no large conurbations in the area. The major towns are Český Krumlov, Prachatice, Vimperk and Klatovy. Additional places that are mentioned in The Good Soldier Švejk are Sušice and Kašperské Hory. The river Vltava also has its sources in Šumava.

Military recruitment districts

Hašek's and Švejk's regiment, Infanterieregiment Nr. 91, was partly recruited from the eastern part of Šumava, more precisely the two hejtmanství Krumlov and Prachtice. The regiment thus had the nickname Synové Šumavy / Böhmerwalds Söhne. The middle and western part lay within the recruitment districts of Infanterieregiment Nr. 11 and Infanterieregiment Nr. 35.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Obrst Schröder přijel na mne přímo na koni a div mne nepovalil na zem. ,Donnerwetter,’ zařval, až to bylo slyšet jistě na Šumavě, "was machen Sie hier, Sie Zivilist?"

[II.3] Původ k tomu daly mé různé drobné zprávy o včelařství, drůbežnictví, kde jsem rozvinul své nové teorie, které způsobily pravé zděšení, poněvadž po mých jednoduchých radách ranila známého včelaře pana Pazourka mrtvice a vyhynulo včelaření na Šumavě i v Podkrkonoší.

Literature

• Čechy (Šumava), Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 6. Čechy – Danseur,1893
• Šumava a Pošumaví, Josef Kafka,1904
• Vojákům Švejkova pluku říkali Zelení ďáblové. Vzniká o nich kniha, iDNES.czMartin Beneš,11.2.2017

	Engadin
deenno SearchMapŠvejkův slovník

Zdroje hospodářského blahobytu,1906

Engadin was, according to Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek, used as a swearword towards recruits by Korporal Althof through the expression "Engadin goat".

Background

Engadin is a long valley located in the canton of Graubünden in southeast Switzerland. The goat breed in question is generally referred to as Pfauenziege (Pfauen goat) and is now extinct.

The valley is directly mentioned by Jaroslav Hašek in the story "Winter Sports" from 1910[a].

The Good Soldier Švejk in Captivity

The theme around the zoological swearwords that were taken from Sources of Economic Prosperity is also found in Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí, and in quite similar wording. The only major difference is that the verbal abuse took place in Királyhida and not in Budějovice. As in the novel, it was Korporal Althof who used "Engadin goat" as a term of abuse.[1]

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] U 11. kompanie kaprál Althof používá slova: engadinská koza. Svobodník Müller, německý učitel z Kašperských Hor, nazývá nováčky českými smraďochy, šikovatel Sondernummer volskou žábou, yorkshirským kancem a slibuje přitom, že každého rekruta vydělá.

Literature

• Engadin, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 8. Dřevěné stavby – falšování,1894
• Zimní sporty, Beseda liduJaroslav Hašek,8.1.1910 [a]
• Zdroje hospodářského blahobytu, B. Kočí,1906
• Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí, Jaroslav Hašek,1917 [1]

	Yorkshire
czdeenno SearchMapŠvejkův slovník

Svět zvířat,15.5.1910

Yorkshire was used indirectly as a swearword by Feldwebel Sondernummer through the expression Yorkshire boar.

Background

Yorkshire is a former county in the north of England with York as the capital. The name is still widely used to denote the region. The largest cities are Leeds and Sheffield.

The Yorkshire pig (or Middle White) is one of the most widespread pig breeds on the planet. The pig had already appeared in one of Hašek's stories from Strana mírného pokroku v mezích zákona [a]. Moreover, it is beyond doubt that he was familiar with this animal from his time as editor of Svět zvířat (1909-1910). During this period, the breed is mentioned several times and also illustrated[b].

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] U 11. kompanie kaprál Althof používá slova: engadinská koza. Svobodník Müller, německý učitel z Kašperských Hor, nazývá nováčky českými smraďochy, šikovatel Sondernummer volskou žábou, yorkshirským kancem a slibuje přitom, že každého rekruta vydělá.

Literature

• Projevy k založeni strany, Jaroslav Hašek,1912 [a]
• Yorkshirské prase..., Svět zvířat,15.5.1910 [b]

	Kašperské Hory
deBergreichenstein
czdeen SearchMap

Bergreichenstein/Kašperské Hory, 1914

Kašperské Hory is mentioned 9 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.

Kašperské Hory first appears when Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek tells Švejk about Gefreiter Müller and other brutal lower ranks from the German-speaking areas of Bohemia.

In the train transport from Budějovice to Királyhida, there were numerous soldiers from Kašperské Hory who sang all the way to Vienna. It is eventually revealed that many of them served in 12. Kompanie.

In [III.1], the narrator even provides samples of the dialect through the colourful expressions of Offiziersdiener Batzer, who was from this town.

Background

Kašperské Hory (Bergreichenstein) is a small town in Šumava that until 1945 was predominantly German-speaking. Today (2019) it has 1,449 inhabitants. At 758 metres above sea level, it is one of the highest situated towns in Bohemia.

Kaplice, not Kašperské Hory

The loss lists confirm Bergreichenstein's location in Ergänzungsbezirk Nr. 11.

Verlustliste Nr. 451,17.4.1916

Soldiers from Kašperské Hory were recruited from Ergänzungsbezirk Nr. 11 and their unit would thus be Infanterieregiment Nr. 11 from Písek, and not Infanterieregiment Nr. 91 as Jaroslav Hašek leads the reader to believe.

It is therefore tempting to guess that when he wrote about "Germans from Kašperské Hory and Krumlovsko" he actually had Kaplice and Krumlovsko in mind. These were districts where Germans made up the vast majority of the population and they were also part of the recruitment district of IR. 91. Krumlov was at the time 75 per cent German speaking, Kaplice 95 per cent.

The only circumstance where Hašek may have met larger numbers of soldiers from Kašperské Hory is in the gathering area by Sambor after 4 July 1915 and then at the front from 11 July when IR. 11 and IR. 91 were fighting side by side as part of 9. Infanteriedivision.

Wann ich kumm

Österreichische Illustrierte Zeitung,20.6.1915

The verses sung by the soldiers from Kašperské Hory and Krumlovsko on the train from Budějovice are fragments from a German folk song that became popular throughout the nineteenth century. The song is well known not only in German-speaking countries but also internationally. Even Elvis Presley recorded it in 1960 with the title Wooden Heart. As is often the case with folk songs, various lyrics and spellings exist.

Morgenblatt für gebildete Stände,18.5.1827

The melody is believed to be a traditional song from Swabia, but the lyrics were added and published in 1827 by the composer Friedrich Silcher (1789-1860). During the First World War, it was widely used by soldiers departing for service and was also popular as a marching song. The title is officially Muß i denn[a].

The Good Soldier Švejk in Captivity

The theme around the zoological swearwords that were taken from Sources of economic prosperity is also found in Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí, and in quite similar wordings. The people who use the expletives are the same, and, as in The Good Soldier Švejk, Gefreiter Müller is a teacher from Kašperské Hory.[1]

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] U 11. kompanie kaprál Althof používá slova: engadinská koza. Svobodník Müller, německý učitel z Kašperských Hor, nazývá nováčky českými smraďochy, šikovatel Sondernummer volskou žábou, yorkshirským kancem a slibuje přitom, že každého rekruta vydělá.

[II.3] Teprve řev z vagonů vzadu přerušil vypravování Švejkovo. 12. kumpanie, kde byli samí Němci od Krumlovska a Kašperských Hor, hulákala: Wann ich kumm, wann ich kumm, wann ich wieda, wieda kumm.

[II.3] Jestli ozýval se ještě neustále z vagonů řev skopčáků od Kašperských Hor: Wann ich kumm, wann ich kumm, wann ich wieda, wieda kumm.

[II.3] Bylo vidět, jak horáci od Kašperských Hor cpou se perníkem, přičemž je neopouštěl výraz beznadějnosti.

Literature

• Muß i denn, Wikipedia,2023 [a]
• Chytilův úplný adresář Království českého, Alois Chytil,1915
• Stručná historie Kašperských Hor, ŠumavaNet.CZ
• Verlustliste Nr. 451, Kriegsministerium,17.4.1916
• Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí, Jaroslav Hašek,1917 [1]

	Africa
czAfrika
czdeennnno SearchMap

Prager Tagblatt,22.9.1914

Africa is mentioned by Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek when he describes the lower rank officers at the garrison in Budějovice; these dance in circles round the recruits and scream at them like savages from Africa.

Background

Africa is one of the five continents, the second largest after Asia. In 1914, it was still colonised by European powers (apart from Ethiopia). World War I affected Africa as Germany lost her colonies on the continent. The other warring parties who had colonies there were Great Britain, France, Portugal, Belgium and Italy.

Troops from Africa participated in the British and French armies during the war. The best known and most numerous were the "Tirailleurs sénégalais" in the French army.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Všichni vojenští představení snaží se tak vštípit lásku k vlasti zvláštními pomůckami, jako je řev a tanec kolem rekrutů, válečný ryk, připomínající divochy v Africe připravující se ke stažení nevinné antilopy nebo k pečení kýty z misionáře, připraveného ke snědění. Němců se to ovšem netýká.

	The North Pole
HašekSeverní točnaczSeverní pól
czdeennnno Search

Svět zvířat,15.9.1909

The North Pole is mentioned by Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek when he describes how Fähnrich Dauerling received such a blow to his head as a child that it resembled the impact of a comet at the North Pole. His astonishing lack of intelligence was attributed to this.

Background

The North Pole (geographical) is defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets the Earth's surface.

In the Animal World

Hašek covered the race to the North Pole between Peary and Cook in 1909, at the time when he was editor of Svět zvířat. He wrote a humorous story about the events [a], and a long and serious article appeared in the next issue. It contains pictures of the two competitors, and this unsigned article is believed to have been written by Hašek [b].

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Zanedlouho po narození upadla s ním chůva a malý Konrád Dauerling uhodil se do hlavičky, takže ještě dnes je vidět na jeho hlavě takovou zploštěnost, jako kdyby kometa narazila na severní točnu.

Literature

• Objevení severní točny, Svět zvířatJaroslav Hašek,15.9.1909 [a]
• Vítězný boj o severní točnu, Svět zvířat,1.10.1909 [b]

	Hainburg
czdeen SearchMapŠvejkův slovník

Kadettenschule; Schloßberg. 1906.

Ottův slovník naučný,1896

Hainburg is mentioned as Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek tells Švejk about the foolish Fähnrich Dauerling who was educated at the town's cadet school.

Background

Hainburg is a town in Austria by the Danube, just before the river flows into Slovakia. From 1869 onwards, a cadet school was located in the castle. See Hainburger Kadettenschule.

In 1890, the town had more than 5,000 inhabitants, many of whom worked at the tobacco factory. With 1,500 employees, it was the largest of its kind in Cisleithania. Hainburg was part of Bezirk Bruck.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Mladý Dauerling po hrozném zápase s čtyřmi třídami nižší reálky, které vystudoval soukromě, přičemž předčasně zešedivěl a zblbl jeho domácí učitel a druhý chtěl skočit v zoufalství se svatoštěpánské věže ve Vídni, přišel do hainburské kadetní školy.

[II.2] Když vypukla válka a všecky mladičké kadetíky udělali fähnrichy, dostal se do archu hainburských povýšenců i Konrád Dauerling a tak se dostal k 91. regimentu.“

Literature

• Hainburg, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 10. Gens – Hedwigia,1896
• Schematismus für das k.u.k. Heer (s. 1088), K.k. Hof und Staatsdruckerei,1914

	Kutná Hora
deKuttenberg
czdeennnno SearchMap

Kutná Hora. Pohled od, Vlašského Dvora, 1910

Kutná Hora, 1906

Ottův slovník naučný,1900

Kutná Hora was the scene of the episode between Major Wenzl and Kadettstellvertreter Zítko and also the problems Wenzl encountered after having called a waiter a "Czech swine" at a local hotel.

Background

Kutná Hora is a city in the central part of Czechia, about 100 km east of Prague. It became rich through silver mining in the Middle Ages, and the many historical buildings bear witness to its wealthy past. Kutná Hora is on UNESCO's World Heritage list.

Hašek in Kutná Hora

In early summer 1914, Jaroslav Hašek visited the city together with Zdeněk Matěj Kuděj. The latter later wrote that he "lost" Hašek there.

The Good Soldier Švejk in Captivity

Kutná Hora is also mentioned in Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí and the description is similar to Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek's account in The Good Soldier Švejk. Here the name of the hotel is mentioned. See Kutnohorský hotel.[1]

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Když před lety sloužil jako hejtman v Kutné Hoře, vynadal jednou v opilosti v jednom hotelu vrchnímu, že je česká pakáž. Upozorňuji přitom, že ve společnosti mluvil major Wenzl výhradně česky, stejně jako ve své domácnosti, a že jeho synové studují česky.

[II.2] Měl z toho Wenzl velké nepříjemnosti, poněvadž to bylo právě v době povolení parlamentem vojenské předlohy, a teď jim do toho vleze takový ožralý hejtman Wenzl z Kutné Hory.

[II.2] Co je hejtman Wenzl proti velebné přírodě? to znali po celé Kutné Hoře.

Literature

• Kutná Hora, Ottův slovník naučnýDíl 15. Krajčij – Ligustrum,1900
• Historie města, Město Kutná Hora
• Hotel Černý kůň, Národní památkový ústav
• Úplný adresář král. svob. hor. města Hory Kutné, Josef Vlach,1898
• Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí, Jaroslav Hašek,1917 [1]

	Vávrova ulice
ReinerWawragassedeVavragasse/Vavraße
SearchMap

The lower part of Rumunská ulice, corner of Lublaňská (until 1926 Puchmajerova).

"Kronika královské Prahy a obcí sousedních", František Ruth, 1904

Vávrova ulice is mentioned in the story Švejk tells Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek about a certain carpenter Mlíčko from this street who was wounded very early in the war.

Background

Vávrova ulice (also Vávrova třída) was the name of a street in Prague II and Vinohrady. It was named after Čeněk Vávra, who was mayor of Vinohrady from 1868 to 1873. The street was named Vávrova ulice from 1884 to 1926, when it was renamed Rumunská ulice, a name it has kept since[a].

The street stretches from Sokolská in Prague II up towards Náměstí Míru in Vinohrady and is 180 metres long. It was on the corner of this street and Tylovo náměstí that drogerie Průša was located.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] „O velkej stříbrnej medalii za udatnost, kterou dostal jeden truhlář z Vávrovy ulice na Král. Vinohradech, nějakej Mlíčko, poněvadž byl první, kterému u jeho regimentu utrh na začátku války granát nohu.

Literature

• Rumunská (Vinohrady), Encyklopedie Prahy 2 [a]
• Nápověda a vysvětlivky, Jaroslav Šerák
• Stehlíkův historický a orientační průvodce..., František Stehlík,1929

	Božetěchova ulice
SearchMap

Orientační plán král. hl. města Prahy a obcí sousedních, 1909-1914

Božetěchova ulice is mentioned in a story Švejk tells Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek in the prison in Budějovice about an irate father who displayed the medal of his fallen son on the toilet wall. However, a policeman with whom he shared the toilet denounced him, so he landed in trouble with the authorities. Švejk incorrectly claims that the street is located in Vyšehrad.

Background

Božetěchova ulice is a short street in Nusle, situated on the hill towards Vyšehrad.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] V Božetěchově ulici na Vyšehradě jeden rozzuřenej otec, který myslel, že si z něho úřady dělají legraci, pověsil tu medalii na záchod a jeden policajt, který s ním měl na pavlači ten záchod společnej, udal ho pro velezrádu, a tak si to ten chudák odskákal.“

Literature

• Stehlíkův historický a orientační průvodce..., František Stehlík,1929

	Belgium
czBelgiedeBelgienfrBelgiquenlBelgië
czdeenfrnlnnno SearchMap

Belgium in 1914

Belgium is mentioned in the incoherent discourse by Hauptmann Spíro at the hotel in Budějovice. Belgians as a group had already been mentioned by hop trader Wendler in connection with Klosterhoek [I.14]. Among places in Belgium, Waterloo is mentioned at the very start of the novel. Anloy appears in Kadett Biegler's lecture for Hauptmann Ságner about his favourite reading. See professor Udo Kraft.

Background

Belgium entered the war on 4 August 1914 when the neutral country was invaded by Germany, who attempted to circumvent the French border fortifications. The German attack influenced Britain's decision to enter the war. The country offered strong resistance, and it was only in October that Antwerp fell. Almost the entire area remained occupied for the rest of the war, and Belgium suffered severe human and material losses. As a result of the peace treaty, the region of Malmedy-Eupen was ceded by Germany. The civilian population was subjected to widespread atrocities in 1914, often justified as actions against franc-tireurs (paramilitaries)[a].

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] „Uvažte prosím dobře. Máme ve zbrani rakouské zeměbranecké hulány, rakouské zeměbrance, bosenské myslivce, rakouské myslivce, rakouské pěšáky, uherské pěšáky, tyrolské císařské střelce, bosenské pěšáky, uherské pěší honvédy, uherské husary, zeměbranecké husary, jízdní myslivce, dragouny, hulány, dělostřelce, trén, sapéry, sanitu, námořníky. Rozumíte? A Belgie? První a druhá výzva vojska tvoří operační armádu, třetí výzva obstarává službu v zádech armády...“

Literature

• Violence against Enemy Civilians, The International Encyclopedia of the First World War.Alan Kramer,24.1.2017 [a]

	Tyrol
czTyrolskodeTirolitTirolo
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Das interessante Blatt,30.12.1915

Tyrol is mentioned in Hauptmann Spíro's incoherent discourse. He refers to the province indirectly through Tiroler Kaiserschützen (Tyrolean Imperial Riflemen).

Background

Tyrol was, in 1914, an Austrian region, larger than the present-day Austrian Tirol, as it also included the current Italian provinces of Alto Adige (South Tyrol) and Trentino. Sections of the front between Italy and Austria ran through Tyrol from the outbreak of war on 23 May 1915 until the armistice in 1918.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] „Uvažte prosím dobře. Máme ve zbrani rakouské zeměbranecké hulány, rakouské zeměbrance, bosenské myslivce, rakouské myslivce, rakouské pěšáky, uherské pěšáky, tyrolské císařské střelce, bosenské pěšáky, uherské pěší honvédy, uherské husary, zeměbranecké husary, jízdní myslivce, dragouny, hulány, dělostřelce, trén, sapéry, sanitu, námořníky. Rozumíte? A Belgie? První a druhá výzva vojska tvoří operační armádu, třetí výzva obstarává službu v zádech armády...“

	America
czAmerikadeAmerikanoAmerika
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Expedition force in World War I

The Democratic Banner,6.4.1917

America was discussed among the officers at Budějovický hotel. The discussion concerned whether or not America was going to join the war, so it is clear that the subject is the political entity, the United States, not America in a geographical sense.

Background

America no doubt refers to the United States as a political entity. The country was neutral until 6 April 1917, when, provoked by German submarine warfare and the prospect of an Allied defeat, it declared war on Germany.

Important involvement

The economic (and later military) might of the United States had a decisive influence on the outcome of the war. After the war, American influence played a significant part in shaping the new Europe. President Woodrow Wilson was an advocate of national self-determination for the smaller nations, which especially benefited Czechoslovakia and the other successor states of Austria-Hungary (Austria-Hungary).

War against Austria-Hungary

The declaration of war on Austria-Hungary followed only on 7 December. In the Senate, 74 voted in favour of the declaration and none against. In the House of Representatives, 365 were in favour, and only one objected.

Direct fighting between American and Austro-Hungarian troops occurred at the Piave in October 1918, but these engagements would have been few as the American expeditionary force consisted only of Infantry Regiment 332, and some aeroplanes and medical units. The latter did, however, gain some fame: among them served Ernest Hemingway. His stay on the Piave resulted in the novel A Farewell to Arms.

A little-known but well-documented battle between units from U.S. Army and the k.u.k. Wehrmacht took place on the Western Front in the autumn of 1918. In July 1918, Austria-Hungary put four divisions and some artillery at the disposal of the German Army. In September, American forces led by Pershing won a decisive victory near Verdun against forces that included 35. Infanteriedivision. At the beginning of October, 1. Infanteriedivision faced American troops north of Verdun. It suffered heavy losses and was also exposed to gas attacks. Among these troops was Feldjägerbataillon Nr. 17, a unit with a high number of Czech soldiers from southern Moravia.

Hašek printed in the United States

Národní noviny (Baltimore),3.5.1902

This Chicago newspaper was the first to print Švejk outside Czechoslovakia.

Duch času,14.10.1923

Czech-language newspapers in the United States published stories by Jaroslav Hašek on several occasions during his lifetime. From 1911 to 1917, some of them appeared in Slavie, a weekly published in Racine, Wisconsin, later in Chicago. One of them is called Dobrý voják Švejk and was published on 12 September 1911[d]. It is an uncensored version of the story Dobrý voják Švejk učí se zacházet se střelnou bavlnou that was first printed by Dobrá kopa on 21 July 1911. Preceding these stories was Smrt Horala, which appeared in Národní noviny in Baltimore as early as 3 May 1902[a]. To our knowledge, this was the first time ever a story by Hašek was published outside the Czech lands.

The novel The Good Soldier Švejk was published in the United States already during Hašek's lifetime. It was printed as a serial in Duch času, the Sunday issue of Svornost (Chicago). It has not been established exactly when the series started, but we know that the issue from 9 September 1923[b] is from the first chapter of Part Three, thus covering the departure from Királyhida. Below the title of the series is written that it is published in agreement with the author, and this is confirmed by Kliment Stěpánek, to whom Hašek in 1922 dictated the final parts of the novel. The editor that Hašek was in contact with was August Geringer[c]. He even sent the Sunday issues back to Hašek, and this was highly appreciated by the author.

Among Czech-American newspapers that published Hašek's stories, we are aware of Minnesotské noviny (St. Paul), Svět (Cleveland), Denní hlasatel (Chicago), and Dennice novověku (Cleveland).

Kuděj

Jaroslav Hašek never visited the United States but may have had considerable second-hand knowledge of the country from his close friend Zdeněk Matěj Kuděj, who spent three years there from 1906 to 1909 and travelled widely. He also knew others who spent periods of their lives in America, among them Josef Mach.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Od druhého konce stolu bylo slyšet čísi vážný hlas: „Amerika se do války pouštět nemůže. Američani a Angličani jsou na nůž. Amerika není na válku připravena.“

Literature

• Österreich-Ungarns Truppen an der Westfront (Erster Weltkrieg), Wikipedia.de
• 332nd Infantry Regiment (United States), Wikipedia.com
• Die Österreicher an der Westfront, Michael Prisille - Oliver Scheer

• ---

• Smrt Horala, Národní novinyJaroslav Hašek,3.5.1902 [a]
• Mezi tuláky, Dennice novověkuJaroslav Hašek,18.5.1905
• Celedín Matěj, New Yorské ListyJaroslav Hašek,23.4.1908
• Dobrý voják Švejka, SlavieJaroslav Hašek,12.9.1911 [d]
• Vláda je vinna, Minnesotské novinyJaroslav Hašek,3.10.1912
• Strach před vojnou, Minnesotské novinyJaroslav Hašek,28.8.1913
• Indiánská povídka, Minnesotské novinyJaroslav Hašek,9.10.1913
• Český spisovatel píše ze zajetí, Slavie,19.9.1916
• Cikánská historie I, SvětJaroslav Hašek,30.7.1918
• Cikánská historie II, SvětJaroslav Hašek,31.7.1918
• Záhady vesmíru, SvětJaroslav Hašek,3.8.1922
• Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka, Duch času,9.9.1923 [b]
• Jaroslav Hašek na Lipnici, Lidové novinyKliment Štěpánek,20.12.1927 [c]

	Šabac
deSchabatzsrШабац
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Šabac was evacuated for strategic reasons

Hlas lidu, 14.9.1914

Ratni album 1914-1918.Andra Popović,1926

Šabac enters the story when Oberst Schröder, the morning after the meeting at Budějovický hotel, reads about the bad news from the front: that the army has retreated to already prepared positions.

The city is mentioned again in [II.4], where Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek refuses to clean the latrines, despite threats from Oberst Schröder. He reminded the obstinate Marek that below Šabac they had shot a one-year volunteer who had hesitated to stab a woman and a boy.

Background

Šabac (Шабац) is a town by the river Sava in Serbia, and was almost constantly on the front line during the autumn of 1914. It was one of the first targets for the Austro-Hungarian invasion, and when the invaders reached the town on 14 August, they ravaged and looted it, and murdered inhabitants in droves[a]. Eventually, only half of the population survived the war.

Due to the many battles and widespread destruction, Šabac was also called the Serbian Verdun. The city changed hands several times that autumn, but by the end of 1914 it was again under Serbian control. In October 1915, it was invaded again and remained occupied for the rest of the war.

Excuses

That Oberst Schröder read news along the lines of "the army pulled back to already prepared positions" is easy to imagine. Examples of such phrases to explain defeats at the front were numerous in official communiqués and elsewhere. Among others, Hlas lidu reported in September 1914 that "Šabac had been abandoned for strategic reasons"[c].

IR. 91

On 8 November 1914, Infanterieregiment Nr. 91 marched through the city, on their way to the front by the river Kolubara, slightly to the east[b].

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] Plukovník Schröder v mrzuté náladě odešel domů, a když se ráno probudil, měl ještě horší náladu, poněvadž v novinách, které četl v posteli, několikrát našel větu ve zprávách z bojiště, že vojska byla odvedena na předem již připravené posice. Byly to slavné dny rakouské armády, podobající se jako vejce vejci dnům u Šabace.

[II.4] Ty dva, kteří byli pověšeni, zdráhali se propíchnout ženu a chlapce jednoho čužáka pod Šabacem a jednoročák od 9. kumpačky byl zastřelen, poněvadž nechtěl jít kupředu a vymlouval se, že má oteklé nohy a že je platfus. Tak budete pucovat hajzl, nebo nebudete?’

Literature

• Das Lächeln der Henker, Der SpiegelAnton Holzer,5.10.2008 [a]
• Serbien muss sterbien, Die PresseRobert Gokl,30.3.2014
• The war crimes of the Habsburg army. Between soldateska and court martial., The World of the HabsburgsJakob Zenzmaier,2014
• Ratni album 1914-1918, Andra Popović,1926 The War Album 1914-1918

---

• Šabac!, Joseph Schön,1928-29
• Blutkarte des IR. 91, Böhmerwalds Söhne im Felde,1924-1928 [b]
• Z bojiště rakousko-srbsko-černohorského, Hlas lidu,14.9.1914 [c]
• Die allgemeine Offensive in Serbien und die Kämpfe des Infanterieregimentes Nr. 91 an der Kolubara, Böhmerwalds Söhne im FeldeRudolf Kießwetter,1924-1928

	Andalusia
czAndalusiedeAndalusienesAndalucía
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Andalusia is mentioned by the author when he describes how Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek and Švejk tease the prison guard as if he were an Andalusian bull in Seville.

Background

Andalusia is an autonomous region of Spain. It is the most populous and the second largest, in terms of land area, of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain. Its capital and largest city is Seville. The region is known for its bullfighting.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] A zatímco oba tak dráždili profouse, jako v Seville andaluského býka dráždí červeným šátkem, nadporučík Lukáš s úzkostí očekával, kdy se objeví Švejk, aby hlásil, že nastupuje opět službu.

	Seville
czSevilla
czdeenesnn SearchMap

Světem letem, Enrique Stanko Vráz,1896

Seville is mentioned by the author when he describes how Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek and Švejk tease the prison guard as if he were an Andalusian bull in Seville.

Background

Seville is the capital of the Spanish region of Andalusia, and is known, among other things, as the centre of bullfighting.

Quote(s) from the novel

[II.2] A zatímco oba tak dráždili profouse, jako v Seville andaluského býka dráždí červeným šátkem, nadporučík Lukáš s úzkostí očekával, kdy se objeví Švejk, aby hlásil, že nastupuje opět službu.