Švejk's journey is mapped on an Austria-Hungary map from 1914, showing the military districts of the
k.u.k. Heer. The entire plot of The Good Soldier Švejk is set within the territory of the former Dual Monarchy.
The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk (commonly known as The Good Soldier Švejk) by Jaroslav Hašek is rich in geographical
references, whether through the plot itself, in dialogues, or in the author's narrative voice. Hašek was unusually
well-travelled and had a photographic memory for geographical (and other) details. Geography mattered to him: eight
of the 27 chapter headings in the novel contain geographical names.
This website will, in due course, provide a complete overview of the novel's geographical references, from Prague in
the introduction to Klimontów in the unfinished Part Four. It includes continents, states (including defunct ones),
cities, market squares, city gates, regions, districts, towns, villages, mountains, mountain passes, oceans, lakes,
rivers, caves, channels, islands, streets, parks, and bridges.
The list is sorted according to the order in which the names appear in the novel. The chapter headings are taken from
Zenny Sadlon's recent translation (1999–2026); in most cases, these differ from Cecil Parrott's translation from 1973.
The Czech quotations are taken from the online version of The Good Soldier Švejk provided by Jaroslav Šerák and link to the relevant chapter. The
toolbar provides direct links to Wikipedia, Google Maps, Google Search, svejkmuseum.cz, and the novel online.
The names are colour-coded according to their role in the novel, as illustrated by the following examples:
Gödöllő
is mentioned by Hauptmann Ságner just after the train arrives in Budapest. The company was supposed to get 15 decagrams of Emmental cheese per soldier there. The company must have travelled past Gödöllő on the way to the front, but there is no further mention of it.
Background
Gödöllő
is a town north of Budapest which in the times of the Dual Monarchy was a summer residence of the Hungarian king (Emperor Franz Joseph I). It was even more frequently visited by Queen Sisi and was a popular place among the upper layers of society.
Jaroslav Hašek and his 12th march battalion no doubt passed through on the way to the front, most likely on 1 July 1915 (they left Bruck the previous evening).
In a short story
Gödöllő is mentioned as early as 1904 in one of Hašek's short stories, and the author may well have visited the town already then. The neighbouring town of Hatvan is mentioned in the same story. Na svazích Hegyalye (Illustrovaný svět, 3 June 1914).
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] „Pane majore,“ otázal se hejtman Ságner velitele vojenského nádraží, „dle rozkazů pluku, dle maršrúty jedeme do Gödölö. Mužstvo má zde dostat 15 deka ementálského sýra. Na poslední zastávce mělo mužstvo dostat 15 deka uherského salámu. Ale nedostalo ničeho.“
Beroun
is an industrial town 30 km south-west of Prague, situated by the river Berounka.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Já jsem čet několikrát v novinách, že se celá rodina votrávila játrovou paštikou. Jednou na Zderaze,jednou v Berouně, jednou v Táboře, jednou v Mladé Boleslavi, jednou v Příbrami. Všichni tej votravě podlehli. Játrová paštika, to je nejhorší prevít...“
Mladá Boleslav
is a city in Central Bohemia, on the left bank of the Jizera river about 60 km north-east of Prague. It is best known for the Škoda car factory.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Já jsem čet několikrát v novinách, že se celá rodina votrávila játrovou paštikou. Jednou na Zderaze,jednou v Berouně, jednou v Táboře, jednou v Mladé Boleslavi, jednou v Příbrami. Všichni tej votravě podlehli. Játrová paštika, to je nejhorší prevít...“
Příbram
is a city in the western part of Bohemia. It has around 35,500 inhabitants and is situated about 60 km south-west of Prague.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Já jsem čet několikrát v novinách, že se celá rodina votrávila játrovou paštikou. Jednou na Zderaze, jednou v Berouně, jednou v Táboře, jednou v Mladé Boleslavi, jednou v Příbrami. Všichni tej votravě podlehli. Játrová paštika, to je nejhorší prevít...“
Canisiusgasse
is referred to by the author as the street where the Commission for War Graves was located.
Background
Canisiusgasse
is a street in Vienna. Komitee für die Kriegsgräber-fürsorge in Österreich was located at Canisiusgasse no. 10, not at number 4 as the author claims.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Místo patnácti dekagramů ementálského sýra, který měl zde být rozdán, dostal každý po škatulce zápalek a jednu pohlednici, kterou vydalo komité pro válečné hroby v Rakousku (Vídeň XIX/4, Canisiusgasse).
Siedliska
and the local war graves were depicted on the postcard from the War Grave Commission in Canisiusgasse.
Background
Siedliska
is a village in Western Galicia, south of Tarnów. In November 1915 it was decided to build a memorial complex of war graves here. It currently consists of 378 cemeteries with a total of 60,000 graves. sculptor Scholz was project architect and technical supervisor for many of the war cemeteries. The memorial was often photographed, paintings were made and sculptures were created.
Note that the author here surely used printed material from the War Grave Commission as a source. He has ignored the fact that this war grave complex at Siedliska did not yet exist when this episode in the novel took place (end of May 1915).
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Místo patnácti dekagramů ementálského sýra měl každý v ruce západohaličský hřbitov vojínů v Sedlisku s pomníkem nešťastných landveráků, zhotovených ulejvákem-sochařem, jednoročním dobrovolníkem šikovatelem Scholzem.
Vicenza
is one of the battlegrounds mentioned in the telegram from the brigade as the news of Italy's declaration of war breaks.
Background
Vicenza
is a city in the Veneto province of Italy, situated between Verona and Venice. The battle referred to took place on 10 June 1848 during the First Italian War of Independence. The Austrian army was commanded by Marschall Radetzky. Other battles from this war that are mentioned in The Good Soldier Švejk took place at Santa Lucia, Novara and Custozza.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] V to důvěřujeme pevně, že s pomocí boží brzy nadejde den, kdy roviny italské opět uvidí vítěze od Santa Lucia, Vicenzy, Novary, Custozzy. Chceme zvítězit, musíme zvítězit, a jistě zvítězíme!
Novara
is one of the battlegrounds mentioned in the telegram from the brigade as the news of Italy's declaration of war breaks.
Background
Novara
is a city in Piedmont, situated 50 km west of Milan. The battle referred to took place on 23 March 1849 during the First Italian War of Independence. Other battles in this war (mentioned in Švejk) took place at Santa Lucia, Vicenza, and Custozza. The Austrian army was commanded by Marschall Radetzky and their victory led to Sardinia seeking peace.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] V to důvěřujeme pevně, že s pomocí boží brzy nadejde den, kdy roviny italské opět uvidí vítěze od Santa Lucia, Vicenzy, Novary, Custozzy. Chceme zvítězit, musíme zvítězit, a jistě zvítězíme!
Venice
had been honoured by a visit from cook Jurajda, who could inform his fellow soldiers that everything was "porco" in Italy, even the pope and Maria.
Background
Venice
is a city in the north-eastern part of Italy which until 1797 was the capital of the Venetian Republic. After the Napoleonic wars it was ruled by Austria until it was ceded to Italy in 1866.
Turista Aratáš
Venice is also the theme in the story Turista Aratáš that Hašek had published in Venkov in 1911, on his 28th birthday[a]. In the story, many of the city's buildings and landmarks are mentioned, among them Fondaco dei Turchi, Palazzo Pesaro, Palazzo Grimani, Palazzo Contarini delle Figure, Canal Grande, Ponte di Rialto, Palazzo Manin, Bacino Orseola.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] „Cožpak Italie, to je pěkná země,“ prohodil kuchař Jurajda, „já sem byl jednou v Benátkách a vím, že Talián nazve každého prasetem. Když se rozčílí, je u něho každej porco maladetto. I papež je u něho porco, i ,madonna mia e porco’, ,papa e porco’.“
Krameriova ulice
is mentioned in Švejk's urine analysis story. The pub where the story begins was in this street.
Background
Krameriova ulice
was the name of a street in Vinohrady, named after the author and publisher Václav Kramerius. The current name of this street is Americká in the lower part and Kopernikova in the upper.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] „Vono se řekne,“ usmál se Švejk, „pomstít se. Někdo myslí, že se pomstí, a nakonec to vodnese ten, koho si jako takovej člověk vybral za nástroj svý pomsty. Když jsem bydlel před lety na Vinohradech, tak tam bydlel v přízemí domovník a u toho na bytě byl jeden takovej malej ouředníček z ňáký banky, a ten chodil do jednoho výčepu v Krameriově ulici a pohádal se tam jednou s jedním pánem, kerej měl takovej ňákej ústav na Vinohradech pro analysu moče.
Čelakovského ulice
is mentioned in Švejk's urine analysis story. The ill-tempered custodian Korporal Málek chases the urine-analysis man through this street and on down Havlíčkova třída, but in the end was arrested.
Background
Čelakovského ulice
was the name of what is now Ulice Jana Masaryka in Vinohrady. According to a police report that Břetislav Hůla discovered, Jaroslav Hašek lived at no. 29. The report is dated 20 June 1904. The official population register (konskripce) gives more information about the address of his mother: on 19 August 1901 she is registered with domicile Weinberge 281, i.e. Čelakovského No. 24. Jaroslav is noted on the same sheet, and this was their official address until 8 March 1906.
The theme of urine analysis is a re-use from the story Analysa moče (The Urine Analysis) that was printed in Kopřivy4 July 1912. The story has much in common with the anecdote in the novel, but here the main character is some Mašek. The author fell out with him when they both worked as apprentices at drogerie Průša, located in the same area. In the story Hašek even provides the address Čelakovského 24. Thus the address from the police report is definitely wrong - the error may originate from the police themselves or it could have crept in during transcription.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Když ho vytáh z almary, popad bejkovec a už ho hnal dolů v kaťatech Čelakovskýho ulicí, a ten ječel, jako když šlápneš psovi na vocas, a na Havlíčkově třídě skočil do elektriky, a domovníka chyt strážník, sepral se s ním, a poněvadž byl domovník v kaťatech a všechno mu lezlo ven, tak ho kvůli takovýmu pohoršení hodili do košatinky a vodvezli na policii, a von ještě z košatinky řval jako tur: ,Vy pacholci, já vám ukážu mně analysovat moč.’
House of Habsburg
has, incredibly enough, not been mentioned directly until now, but finally the name of the ruling house enters the story through the author's introduction of Leutnant Dub. The latter is a teacher of Czech in civilian life and is very loyal to the Imperial house. He frequently gave his pupils assignments on the Habsburgs.
Background
House of Habsburg
was a dynasty named after House of Habsburg, a place in the Aargau canton of Switzerland. This royal house was to rule large parts of Europe from the 15th century until 1918. At one time or another the Habsburgs ruled today's Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, Hungary, parts of the Balkans, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Ukraine and Germany.
Over the years they expanded their possessions both by warfare and royal alliances and marriages. Bohemia came under House of Habsburg rule in 1526 as the Czechs elected Ferdinand of Habsburg as their king. Hungary became part of the Habsburg dominions the same year.
Austria-Hungary was their last possession, World War I meant the final nail in the coffin of the Habsburgs as a royal house.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] „Je pravdou,“ pokračoval již mírnějším tónem, „že se ve většině případech i ve školních úlohách zapomínalo na náš bývalý poměr s Italií, na ony veliké dny slavných vítězných armád i v roce tisíc osm set čtyřicet osm, i v roce tisíc osm set šedesát šest, o kterých se mluví ve dnešních příkazech po brigádě. Já jsem však ale vykonal vždy svou povinnost a ještě před ukončením školního roku, takřka na samém začátku války, dal jsem svým žákům slohový úkol: ,Unsere Helden in Italien von Vicenza bis zur Custozza, oder...’“ A blbeček poručík Dub slavnostně dodal: „...Blut und Leben für Habsburg! Für ein Österreich, ganz, einig, groß!“...
Literature
Die Welt der Habsburger, Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsgesellschaft m.b.H.,2008-2026
Most císaře Františka Josefa I.
is mentioned in the description of Leutnant Dub, who had punished a pupil who had written in an assignment that the Emperor's greatest achievement was to build this bridge in Prague. It has already been mentioned by Švejk, who used the popular name Eliščin most.
Background
Most císaře Františka Josefa I.Emperor Franz Joseph's Bridge
was the name of a bridge in Prague that was demolished in 1947. The current Štefánikův most was built on the same site.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] e vyšších třídách byla ta themata ovšem spletenější, jako kupříkladu úloha pro septimány: „Císař František Josef I., podporovatel věd a umění“, kteráž práce vynesla jednomu septimánovi vyloučení ze všech středních škol říše rakousko-uherské, poněvadž napsal, že nejkrásnějším činem tohoto mocnáře bylo založení mostu císaře Františka Josefa I. v Praze.
Tripoli
is mentioned by Leutnant Dub when he pontificates to the officers about the background for Italy declaring war on its formal ally Austria-Hungary. He also touches on the war between Turkey and Italy over Tripoli.
Background
Tripoli
is a city in North Africa, now the capital of Libya. It was under Ottoman rule until 1912. Italian supremacy was established that year after a year of conflict.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] „Celkem vzato mě naprosto nepřekvapilo vystoupení Italie. Čekal jsem to již před třemi měsíci. Je jisté, že Italie značně zpyšněla poslední dobou následkem vítězné války s Tureckem o Tripolis. Kromě toho příliš spoléhá se na své loďstvo i na náladu obyvatelstva v našich přímořských zemích a v jižním Tyrolsku.
South Tyrol
is mentioned by Leutnant Dub when he lectured the officers about the background to Italy declaring war on Austria-Hungary.
Background
South Tyrol
was part of Austria until 1919, when it was ceded to Italy as part of the peace settlement. The province still has a German-speaking majority.
Militarily, the area was very important for Austria-Hungary because Italy laid claim to it. The enormous system of fortresses around Trento was the pivot of the defence, but garrisons were also stationed elsewhere. Prague's Infanterieregiment Nr. 28 was at times garrisoned here, and several of Hašek's friends served with the regiment in this location.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] „Celkem vzato mě naprosto nepřekvapilo vystoupení Italie. Čekal jsem to již před třemi měsíci. Je jisté, že Italie značně zpyšněla poslední dobou následkem vítězné války s Tureckem o Tripolis. Kromě toho příliš spoléhá se na své loďstvo i na náladu obyvatelstva v našich přímořských zemích a v jižním Tyrolsku.
Szatmár
is a historical Hungarian county. After the Treaty of Trianon (1920), most of the area was ceded to Romania, including the city the county is named after, contemporary Satu Mare.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Kromě toho přinesly ustarané, utahané dámy veliký balík vytištěných dvou modliteb sepsaných budapešťským arcibiskupem Gézou ze Szatmár-Budafalu. Byly německo-maďarské a obsahovaly nejstrašnější prokletí všech nepřátel. Psány byly tyto modlitbičky tak vášnivě, že tam jenom na konci scházelo řízné maďarské „Baszom a Krisztusmárját!“
Budafalu
is a Hungarian name for the village Budeşti in Maramureş County in north-western Romania. It was also referred to as Budfalu or Budfalva. Budfalu is the name used on the Austro-Hungarian Military Survey map from 1910.
Budfalu is also mentioned in one of Hašek's short stories and the additional information he provides leaves no doubt that this is the place in question[a]. The author probably visited Budfalu on one of his many wanderings. The area was ceded to Romania in 1921.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Kromě toho přinesly ustarané, utahané dámy veliký balík vytištěných dvou modliteb sepsaných budapešťským arcibiskupem Gézou ze Szatmár-Budafalu. Byly německo-maďarské a obsahovaly nejstrašnější prokletí všech nepřátel. Psány byly tyto modlitbičky tak vášnivě, že tam jenom na konci scházelo řízné maďarské „Baszom a Krisztusmárját!“
Újpest
is mentioned when the author tells how a group of Bosnians have been stranded for a few days and have had to beg for food in Újpest. The military railway station where the plot takes place may have been nearby Rákosrendező.
Background
Újpest
is a suburb of Budapest, the name means "New Pest". It is situated north of the centre, on the east bank of the Danube. In 1915, it was still a separate town.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Bosňáci již dva dni nefasovali mináž a chodili žebrat chleba po Nové Pešti. Také nebylo nic jiného slyšet nežli rozčilený hovor ztracených Bosňáků, živě gestikulujících, kteří vyráželi neustále ze sebe: „Jeben ti boga - jeben ti dušu, jeben ti majku.“
Prešov
is mentioned by Rechnungsfeldwebel Bautanzel when he relates his experiences at the front in the Carpathians.
Background
Prešov
is a city in the Šariš region in eastern Slovakia, then ruled from Hungary. Today, with 100,000 inhabitants, it is the third largest city in the country.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Panečku, než jsme přijeli tenkrát do Prešova, tak jsme měli haldy všeho, na co si člověk pomyslil. Měl jsem schováno deset tisíc memfisek, dvě kola ementálského sýra, tři sta konserv, a potom, když už se šlo na Bardějov do zákopů, Rusové od Mušiny odřízli spojení na Prešov, potom se dělaly obchůdky.
Bardejov
is mentioned by Rechnungsfeldwebel Bautanzel when he relates his experiences at the front in the Carpathians.
Background
Bardejov
is a city in eastern Slovakia, north of Prešov, near the Polish border. Like the rest of Slovakia, it was until 1918 ruled by Hungary. It was thus named Bártfa and this is the name that most often appears in historical documents and newspapers.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Panečku, než jsme přijeli tenkrát do Prešova, tak jsme měli haldy všeho, na co si člověk pomyslil. Měl jsem schováno deset tisíc memfisek, dvě kola ementálského sýra, tři sta konserv, a potom, když už se šlo na Bardějov do zákopů, Rusové od Mušiny odřízli spojení na Prešov, potom se dělaly obchůdky.
Muszyna
is a small town in the Carpathians, situated in Poland just west of Bardejov. The town was strategically important because of the railway line over the mountains.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Panečku, než jsme přijeli tenkrát do Prešova, tak jsme měli haldy všeho, na co si člověk pomyslil. Měl jsem schováno deset tisíc memfisek, dvě kola ementálského sýra, tři sta konserv, a potom, když už se šlo na Bardějov do zákopů, Rusové od Mušiny odřízli spojení na Prešov, potom se dělaly obchůdky.
Radvaň
almost certainly refers to Radvaň nad Laborcom, a village between Humenné and Medzilaborce by the Laborec river. Until 1964, the place comprised two separate villages that repeatedly changed names over the years.
At the time The Good Soldier Švejk was written, they were part of Czechoslovakia and the Slovak names Vyšná Radvaň and Nižná Radvaň (Upper Radvaň and Lower Radvaň) were used. In 1915, they still bore the official Hungarian names of Izbugyaradvány and Laborcradvány[a]. On the 3rd Military Survey Map (1887), the names are Zbudski Radvan and Horbok Radvan[b].
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Za tu celou dobu, co jsme stáli pod Bardějovem, jsem si při nákupu dobytka neušetřil víc než něco málo přes dvanáct set korun, a to jsme ještě většinou namísto peněz dávali poukázky se štemplem bataliónu, zejména poslední dobou, když jsme věděli, že Rusové na východ od nás jsou v Radvani a na západ v Podolíně.
Podolínec
is mentioned by Rechnungsfeldwebel Bautanzel when he relates his experiences at the front in the Carpathians. The Russians had reached it and were now threatening Bardejov from the west.
Background
Podolínec
is a town in Slovakia, on the southern side of the Carpathians near the border with Poland.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Za tu celou dobu, co jsme stáli pod Bardějovem, jsem si při nákupu dobytka neušetřil víc než něco málo přes dvanáct set korun, a to jsme ještě většinou namísto peněz dávali poukázky se štemplem batalionu, zejména poslední dobou, když jsme věděli, že Rusové na východ od nás jsou v Radvani a na západ v Podolíně.
Hatvan
is mentioned as the railway line there was blocked by a train carrying wounded. This delayed the departure from Budapest by four hours. The battalion is promised bread there because the previous transport did not get any. The company must have travelled past Hatvan on the way to the front, but there is no further mention of it. Hatvan also appears in the header of [III.3].
Background
Hatvan
is a town and railway junction north-east of Budapest, on the line to Miskolc.
Jaroslav Hašek and his XII. Marschbataillon no doubt passed through on the way to the front, most likely on 1 July 1915 (they left Bruck the previous evening).
Hatvan is already mentioned in 1904 in one of Hašek's short stories, and the author may well have visited the town even then. The neighbouring town of Gödöllő is mentioned in the same story[a].
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Potom přišla zpráva, že se pojede ještě až za čtyři hodiny. Trať nahoře na Hatvan že je zastavena vlaky s raněnými. Také se rozšiřovalo po nádraží, že u Jágru srazil se jeden sanitní vlak s nemocnými a raněnými s vlakem vezoucím dělostřelectvo. Z Pešti že tam jedou pomocné vlaky.
In the original edition of The Good Soldier Švejk (1922), the place is called Sabotiště. The "correction" was introduced in the early 1950s, so translations based on later editions use Subotiště.
Subotiště
is mentioned by the latrine general in Budapest when he tells the officers about the logistical muddle in delivering goulash and potatoes to soldiers in Bosnia.
Background
Subotiště
cannot be identified with certainty, as there is no railway station with this name in southern Bosnia.
The general is therefore probably referring to Subotica (Hun. Szabadka) on the South Hungarian Railway. The city is an important railway junction, being on the line between Budapest and Belgrade, and many troop transport trains passed through early in the war.
Since 1918, Subotica has been part of Yugoslavia or other South Slav states. There is still a large Hungarian-speaking population (2022).
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Při revisi stanice Sabotišti na jižní dráze bosenské zjistil jsem, že šest ešalonů nedostalo večeři, poněvadž o ni zapomněli velitelé ešalonů žádat. Šestkrát se na stanici vařil guláš s brambory, a nikdo o něj nežádal.
Watian
is mentioned at the station in Budapest when the "latrine-general" goes to the station command to investigate why the soldiers have not been given goulash. The answer is that the march battalion will at least be given bread at the station in Watian.
Background
Watian
is not the name of any Hungarian town and has almost certainly appeared as the result of an error during dictation, transcription or typesetting. It seems inconceivable that Hašek (who knew some Hungarian) would use a name that looks anything but Hungarian. Judging by the topographical context of this part of the novel, it is surely Hatvan that is meant, an assumption shared by the Hungarian translation of The Good Soldier Švejk.
To make the matter entirely clear: a few paragraphs further down the "latrine-general" says that two days ago the soldiers of a military transport that rolled through Hatvan did not get bread "but you will get it issued there".
Still, there has been at least one attempt to locate "Watian". Břetislav Hůla claimed that it was a station between Győr and Budapest but such a place did not exist nor does it fit with the plot. Waitzen, the German name for the town of Vác in northern Hungary, is possible in a purely syntactic sense but again it does not fit the itinerary of Švejk's march battalion.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Na velitelství se objevilo, že opravdu o guláši se nic neví. Měl se pravda zde vařit dnes pro všechny ešalony, které projedou, ale pak přišel rozkaz odečíst ve vnitřním účtování zásobování vojsk po 72 hal. za každého vojáka, takže každá část projíždějící má k dobru 72 hal. za muže, kteréž obdrží od svého intendantstva k výplatě k nejbližšímu rozdávání žoldu. Pokud se týká chleba, obdrží mužstvo ve Watianě na stanici po půl vece.
[III.2] „Mohu vám dát praktický příklad,“ řekl s velikou rozkoší, že na něco znamenitého přišel. „Před dvěma dny ešalony projíždějící stanicí Hatvan nedostaly chleba, a vy ho tam zítra budete fasovat. Pojďme nyní do nádražní restaurace.“
Rákospalota
is mentioned as Švejk knew the way from the station all the way to there.
Background
Rákospalota
is a district of Budapest, located east of Újpest.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] „Poslušně hlásím, pane obrlajtnant, že už se vypravil,“ rozjasněně hlásil Baloun. „Řekl, že pan obrlajtnant bude spokojen a že panu obrlajtnantovi budou všichni závidět. Šel někam z nádraží a říkal, že to tady zná až za Rákošpalotu. Kdyby snad vlak bez něho odjel, že se přidá k automobilové koloně a dohoní nás na nejbližší stanici automobilem.
In the original edition of The Good Soldier Švejk (1922) the place is called Ašov. The correction was introduced in the early 1950s so translations based on later editions use Aszód.
Aszód
is mentioned when, after another delay, it is announced that the battalion is moving on to Gödöllő-Ašov at two o'clock in the afternoon. The company must have travelled past Ašov on the way to the front, but it is not mentioned again.
Background
Aszód
is a town north-east of Budapest, on the railway line between Gödöllő and Hatvan.
Hašek corrected
Note that in editions of The Good Soldier Švejk published after World War II the name has indeed been changed to Aszód.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Přinesli zprávu z kanceláře velitelství, že se pojede až odpůldne ve dvě hodiny na Gödöllö-Ašov a že se fasuje pro důstojníky na nádražích po dvou litrech červeného vína a láhev koňaku. Říkalo se, že je to nějaká ztracená zásilka pro Červený kříž.
Gumpoldskirchen
is mentioned when a shipment of cognac and Gumpoldskirchen wine appears. The shipment was intended for the Red Cross but had gone astray, now benefiting the officers, particularly Hauptmann Ságner.
Background
Gumpoldskirchen
is a wine-producing town in the district of Mödling in Lower Austria, south of Vienna.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Říkalo se, že je to nějaká ztracená zásilka pro Červený kříž. Ať se to mělo jak chce, spadlo to přímo s nebe a ve štábním vagoně bylo veselo. Koňak měl tři hvězdičky a víno bylo známky Gumpoldskirchen.
Isatarcsa
is the scene of Švejk's alleged hen theft. This, like many of our hero's little mishaps, happens when he wishes to please his obrlajtnant. He is arrested by some Honved soldiers and taken back to the railway station, causing Oberleutnant Lukáš further trouble. Švejk describes the village as having thirteen streets.
At the end of the chapter, the train disappears behind Isatarcsa as Feldwebel Nasáklo is left at the station (in Budapest) bargaining with a prostitute.
Background
Isatarcsa
almost certainly refers to Kistarcsa, a small town outside Budapest. This fits well with the description of the rest of the stay in Budapest. The Hungarian translator makes the same assumption and has "corrected" the text accordingly.
A map from 1910 confirms that there was a railway line and a station here[a], and it is very likely that the transport with Hašek's XII. Marschbataillon passed through on 1 July 1915.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Nezbývalo již nic jiného než koupit slepici. Šel jsem tedy za nádražím do Išatarči. Je to vlastně vesnice, jako by to nebylo žádný město, ačkoliv je tam napsáno v první ulici Išatarča vároš. Projdu jednu ulici se zahrádkami, druhou, třetí, čtvrtou, pátou, šestou, sedmou, osmou, devátou, desátou, jedenáctou, až v třinácté ulici na samém konci, kde za jedním domkem už začínaly trávníky, páslo se a procházelo stádo slepic.
Transylvania
is mentioned by Švejk; from the hen he stole in Isatarcsa, such good chicken soup will be made that it can be smelt all the way to Transylvania.
Background
Transylvania
is an area of Romania that, until 1920, belonged to Hungary. At the time, the area was ethnically more mixed than today; large groups spoke Hungarian and German. The area covers most of Romania west of the Carpathians.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Tak vidíte, pane obrlajtnant, že se dá všechno urovnat,“ řekl Švejk k nadporučíkovi Lukášovi, „nejlepší je, když se všechno obejde bez skandálu, bez velkých ceremonií. Nyní s Balounem vám uvaříme takovou slepičí polévku, že ji bude cítit až do Sedmihradska.“
In the original edition of The Good Soldier Švejk (1922), the place is called Filipa. The "correction" was introduced in the early 1950s, so translations based on later editions use Filippi.
Philippi
is invoked by Leutnant Dub as a threat against Švejk: "We will meet somewhere by Philippi". Švejk interprets this as a place where homosexuals meet and has thus classified Dub as such.
Background
Philippi
was a city of ancient Greece. The quote Leutnant Dub uses is probably from "Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, alluding to Caesar's killer, Brutus, who was among the losers at the battle of Philippi in 42 BC.
Plutarch famously reported that Brutus experienced a vision of a ghost a few months before the battle. One night he saw a huge and shadowy form appearing in front of him; when he calmly asked, "What and whence art thou?" it answered "Thy evil spirit, Brutus: I shall see thee at Philippi." He again met the ghost the night before the battle.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] „Pro nás, poslušně hlásím, pane lajtnant. Podívejte se, co má sádla.“ Poručík Dub odcházel bruče: „U Filipy se sejdeme.“ „Cože ti říkal?“ obrátil se k Švejkovi Jurajda. „Ale dali jsme si schůzku někde u Filipy. Voni tihle vznešení páni bejvají obyčejně buseranti.“
Prague II
is mentioned in Švejk's story about two abandoned women who raped a 100-year-old man by Roztoky.
A great number of the places mentioned in the novel are located within the district, amongst them U kalicha. The plot of the first seven chapters of the book almost exclusively takes place here.
Until 1922 Prague II was much smaller than today, and was identical to Nové město. It was in this district Jaroslav Hašek was born, grew up, went to school and completed his higher education. As an adult, he lived here for long periods until the end of 1914.
Demography
According to the 1910 census, Prague II had 81,760 inhabitants, of whom 71,761 (87 per cent) reported using Czech as their everyday language.
Per the recruitment districts, infantrymen from Prague II were usually assigned to Infanterieregiment Nr. 28 (Prag) or k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 8 (Prag).
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] “Vona je to holt vášeň, ale nejhorší je to, když to přijde na ženský. V Praze II byly před léty dvě vopuštěný paničky, rozvedený, poněvadž to byly coury, nějaká Mourková a Šousková, a ty jednou, když kvetly třešně v aleji u Roztok, chytly tam večer starýho impotentního stoletýho flašinetáře a vodtáhly si ho do roztockýho háje a tam ho znásilnily. Co ty s ním dělaly!
Roztoky
is mentioned in Švejk's story about two disreputable women, Mourková and Šousková, who raped a 100-year-old man here.
Background
Roztoky
is a small town by the Vltava just north of Prague.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] “Vona je to holt vášeň, ale nejhorší je to, když to přijde na ženský. V Praze II byly před léty dvě vopuštěný paničky, rozvedený, poněvadž to byly coury, nějaká Mourková a Šousková, a ty jednou, když kvetly třešně v aleji u Roztok, chytly tam večer starýho impotentního stoletýho flašinetáře a vodtáhly si ho do roztockýho háje a tam ho znásilnily. Co ty s ním dělaly!
Pečky
is central in the anecdote Švejk tells in Budapest about train number 4268 which was left standing at track 16 here. This long story completely crushed the brutal Feldwebel Nasáklo.
Background
Pečky
is a small town in the Kolín district east of Prague. It is situated on the railway line between Praha and Brno. The town has a railway station, but it is questionable whether it had 16 tracks, as it is a very small town and not a railway junction.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Švejk si mezitím prohlížel číslo na ručnici a ozval se: „4268! Takový číslo měla jedna lokomotiva v Pečkách na dráze na šestnácté koleji. Měli ji odtáhnout do depot v Lysý nad Labem, ku správě, ale vono to tak lehce nešlo, poněvadž, pane šikovateli, ten strojvůdce, který ji tam měl odtáhnout, měl velmi špatnou paměť na čísla.
Lysá nad Labem
is part of Švejk's anecdote about train number 4268 which was going to the depot here. See Pečky.
Background
Lysá nad Labem
is a town by the Labe (Elbe) north-east of Prague.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Švejk si mezitím prohlížel číslo na ručnici a ozval se: „4268! Takový číslo měla jedna lokomotiva v Pečkách na dráze na šestnácté koleji. Měli ji odtáhnout do depot v Lysý nad Labem, ku správě, ale vono to tak lehce nešlo, poněvadž, pane šikovateli, ten strojvůdce, který ji tam měl odtáhnout, měl velmi špatnou paměť na čísla.
Klokoty
is mentioned by Offiziersdiener Baloun, who went there on a pilgrimage to beg the Lord to relieve him of his voracity.
Background
Klokoty
is a pilgrimage site a short walk west of Tábor. Klokoty is now part of the city.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] Baloun zaúpěl, že už ztratil důvěru v pána boha, poněvadž už kolikrát se modlil, aby mu dal tolik síly a nějak mu ten jeho žaludek sescvrknul. „To se nedatuje vod týhle vojny,“ zabědoval, „to už je stará nemoc, tahle moje žravost. Kvůli ní chodila žena s dětma na pouť do Klokot.“ „To znám,“ poznamenal Švejk, „to je u Tábora a mají tam bohatou panenku Marii s falešnejma briliantama, a chtěl ji vokrást jeden kostelník vodněkud ze Slovenska. Moc nábožnej člověk.
Madrid
is mentioned by Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek when referring to the commander of the Madrid fortress who devoured his servant during the Napoleonic Wars. This story has similarities with information the author gave in Part One; see Fernando and Toledo.
Background
Madrid
is the capital of Spain and the country's largest city with 3.2 million inhabitants (2010). It is the third largest city in the EU. From 1808 to 1813, Madrid was occupied by French troops and Napoléon's brother, Joseph, was installed as King of Spain. The Madrid uprising on 2 May 1808 is the best-known event from this period, and the date is a national holiday.
The information given by Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek is dubious. Madrid did not experience any lengthy siege during the Napoleonic Wars, nor did Toledo. The most likely historical event referred to is one of the two sieges of Zaragoza.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.2] „My vás proto neodsuzujeme,“ řekl jednoroční dobrovolník, „naopak je vidět, že z vás bude dobrý voják. Když Francouzi za napoleonských válek obléhali Madrid, tu španělský velitel Madridu, než by vydal pevnost z hladu, snědl svého adjutanta bez soli.“
deenhunn
SearchMapŠvejkova cesta
