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:
There was no railway connection between Lwów and Mosty Wielkie in 1915.
Illustrirte Zeitung,10.9.1914
Mosty Wielkie
is mentioned by the author as he explains the situation at the front when the march battalion arrives in Sanok. The narrator states that the railway line from Sanok to Lwów and northwards to Mosty Wielkie was operational.
Note that Cecil Parrott's translation uses Mościska (now Мостиська), which is actually another town, located near the border with Poland..
Background
Mosty Wielkie
is the Polish name of Великі Мости (Velyki Mosty), a town in Galicia, now in the Sokal region of Ukraine. Jaroslav Hašek and his Infanterieregiment Nr. 91 marched past here on 21 July 1915, on the way to the battlefield by Sokal. The town housed a garrison from 1846 to 1918.
In 1915 the mentioned railway line did not exist, so the author probably had another place in mind.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Ačkoliv odtud bylo spojení železniční neporušeno pod Lvov i severně na Veliké Mosty, bylo vlastně záhadou, proč štáb východního úseku udělal tyto disposice, aby „železná brigáda“ se svým štábem soustřeďovala pochodové prapory sto padesát kilometrů v týlu, když šla v té době fronta od Brodů na Bug a podél řeky severně k Sokalu.
Brody
is mentioned by the narrator as he explains the situation at the front when Švejk's march battalion arrives in Sanok. The front stretched from Brody to Bug and along the river northwards to Sokal.
Background
Brody
(ukr. Броди) is a city in Galicia, now in the Lviv oblast of Ukraine. Before World War I it was an important trading city on the border between Russia and Austria-Hungary. In 1914 Jews made up more than 60 per cent of the population.
Russian forces captured the city in late August 1914, and it was recaptured on 2 September 1915[a]. The following year it was taken again during the Brusilov offensive and remained under Russian occupation until 1918.
Literary time shift
The front did not stretch along the line mentioned by the narrator when Švejk was in Sanok (late May 1915); it corresponds more to the situation in early July. According to the novel, Švejk was in Budapest on 23 May 1915 while Hašek's XII. Marschbataillon passed through the city on 2 July. Thus, it seems that Hašek now linked historical events to his own timeline rather than Švejk's.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Ačkoliv odtud bylo spojení železniční neporušeno pod Lvov i severně na Veliké Mosty, bylo vlastně záhadou, proč štáb východního úseku udělal tyto disposice, aby „železná brigáda“ se svým štábem soustřeďovala pochodové prapory sto padesát kilometrů v týlu, když šla v té době fronta od Brodů na Bug a podél řeky severně k Sokalu.
Schlachtfeld von Limanowa, wo die Russen eine empfindliche Niederlage erlitten haben.
Unsere krieger, L.W. Seidel & Sohn,1917
Limanowa
is mentioned by Hauptmann Tayrle when he emphasises to Hauptmann Ságner how hopeless reserve officers generally are. He illustrates his point by mentioning that when they withdrew from Limanova and Kraśnik, the reserve lieutenants lost their heads as soon as they saw a Cossack patrol.
Background
Limanowa
is a town in western Galicia, known for the battle in December 1914 where Austria-Hungary succeeded in repelling a Russian offensive that threatened Kraków. This was the Dual Monarchy's first strategic victory in the war and saved it from immediate collapse.
From Hauptmann Tayrle's statement it is easy to assume that Austria-Hungary lost the battle. However, this is not correct (as mentioned above).
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Když jsme ustupovali od Limanova a od Krasníku, všichni ti ,takélajtnanti’ ztratili hlavu, jakmile uviděli kozáckou patrolu. My, ve štábu, nemáme rádi takových příživníků.
Kraśnik
is a town that in 1914 belonged to Russian Poland. In the context of World War I it is known for the battle that took place from 23 to 26 August 1914, the first major battle in the war that Austria-Hungary won. As a result, the Austrian commander Viktor Dankl was awarded the honorary title DanklGraf von Krasnik. The future famous Finnish commander Carl Gustaf Mannerheim participated on the Russian side.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Když jsme ustupovali od Limanova a od Krasníku, všichni ti ,takélajtnanti’ ztratili hlavu, jakmile uviděli kozáckou patrolu. My, ve štábu, nemáme rádi takových příživníků.
Welfenplatz 1898, the seat of the Hanover garrison.
Hanover
is mentioned because the reserves of a Hanover Division claimed the quarters which the march battalion IR. 91 were supposed to use. Their commander had such an unpleasant look that the commander of the Iron Brigade lost his composure.
Background
Hanover
It is a large city in northern Germany and, in 1914, was the capital of the Prussian province of Hanover. The division mentioned in the novel took its name from the province, not the city.
In the German Empire, there were two so-called Hanover divisions, numbered 19 and 20 respectively. These belonged to Armeekorps X, which was also based in Hanover. Both divisions operated in Galicia during the period of this part of the plot (early July 1915). It is therefore possible that their reserve units passed through Sanok on the way to the front.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Totéž bylo i při frontových úsecích, které byly ještě dále v týlu, jako zde v Sanoku, kam najednou přibyly reservy německé hanoverské divise pod vedením plukovníka s tak ošklivým pohledem, že brigadýr byl uveden do naprostého zmatku.
Platnéřská ulice
is mentioned by Švejk when he talks and forces his way into the brothel in Sanok to pick up Leutnant Dub. Madam is politely reminded, through the anecdote about Vondráček and madam Křovánová, how she might end up if she makes too much noise.
The street appears again in [IV.2] in connection with the anecdote about Růžena Gaudrsová, who had been employed in a vinárna there.
Background
Platnéřská ulice
is a street in Staré město, Prague. It was redeveloped around 1908 and changed character completely.
In 1910 there were two wine taverns in the street: Antonín Kafka's in no. 9 and František Müller's in no. 15.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] „Moc na mě neřvete, milostpaní,“ řekl vlídně Švejk, usmívaje se přitom sladce, „nebo vám dám přes držku. U nás jednou v Platnéřské ulici zmlátili jednu madam tak, že nevěděla o sobě. To tam syn hledal svýho otce, nějakýho Vondráčka, obchod s pneumatikama. Vona se ta madam jmenovala Křovánová, když ji vzkřísili a ptali se jí na záchrannej stanici, jak se jmenuje, řekla, že nějak vod ,Ch’. A jaké je vaše ctěné jméno?“
Morocco
is mentioned by tinsmith Pokorný in the anecdote about the man who answered questions completely off topic. On one occasion, the Sultan of Morocco had been the subject.
Background
Morocco
is a country in North Africa, in 1914 a Spanish and French protectorate, which had previously been governed by the Ottoman Empire. There were repeated conflicts between France and Germany over Morocco, and in 1905 and 1912 treaties were signed that recognised the special position of France and Spain. Many Moroccans served in the French armed forces during World War I. The sultan in question is almost certainly Yusef ben Hassan, who came to power in 1912 after the Treaty of Fez.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Nebo se ho zeptali: ,Jed jste už letos hříbky?’ a von na to vodpověděl: ,Nejed, ale tenhle novej sultán marockej má prej bejt moc hodnej člověk.“
Velké Meziříčí
is a town in the Vysočina region of Czechia. It is located in the Moravian part of the region, east of Jihlava towards Brno.
There is no doubt that Švejk refers to the KaisermanövernImperial manoeuvres there in 1909[a], an event that Svět zvířat mentioned during the period Hašek edited the magazine[a]. Even a photo showing Emperor Franz Joseph I and Emperor Wilhelm II on horseback was printed. The manoeuvres took place from 8 to 11 September 1909.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Švejk táhl se vzadu se štábem kumpanie, se sanitou a nadporučík Lukáš objížděl celou kolonu, přičemž každou chvíli zajel dozadu, aby se přesvědčil u sanity, kde na vozíku pod plachtami vezli poručíka Duba k novým hrdinným činům do neznámé budoucnosti, a přitom aby také si ukrátil cestu rozmluvou se Švejkem, který nesl svůj baťoch a ručnici trpělivě, vyprávěje si s účetním šikovatelem Vaňkem o tom, jak se to před lety pěkně mašírovalo na manévrech u Velkého Meziříčí.
Starý Knín
was where Švejk met Karla Veklová at a dance while he was serving in the army, apparently during an army exercise. Unfortunately, it soon became clear that the lady did not like him very much.
Background
Starý Knín
is a village in the Příbram district south-west of Prague. In 1960, the village was merged with Nový Knín.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Když jsme před lety stáli lágrem v Mníšku, tak jsem chodil tancovat do Starýho Knína, namluvil jsem si tam nějakou Karlu Veklovou, ale moc jsem se jí nelíbil. Jednou večer v neděli jsem ji doprovázel k rybníčku, tam jsme si sedli na hráz a ptal jsem se jí, když zapadalo slunce, jestli mě má taky ráda.
Tyrawa Wołoska is mentioned 12 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.
Tyrawa Wołoska
was the first stop on the march from Sanok. The brigade was meant to stay overnight here but was ordered to march on towards Liskowiec. The stay here was little more than a break, where the soldiers tasted the bad water of the village, into which they had to add citric acid for protection against cholera. Leutnant Dub was now slowly recovering from his ordeal in Sanok.
Background
Tyrawa Wołoska
is a large village in Galicia, 17 km east of Sanok. The village was in 1914 part of Austria-Hungary and mainly inhabited by Ruthenians (Ukrainians). Tyrawa Wołoska has belonged to Poland since 1918.
Already in November 1914 there were reported cases of cholera in the village, so the description in the novel about boarded-up wells is realistic.
This chapter of the novel is, geographically speaking, entirely fictional—none of the march battalions of Infanterieregiment Nr. 91 marched past here, and the author's own XII. Marschbataillon was transported all the way to Sambor by train. Nevertheless, Jaroslav Hašek would have had witnessed cholera outbreaks and precautions elsewhere, and may have "moved" the situation geographically.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Teď že boží spravedlnost potrestala ho teplou smradlavou vodou ze studní v Turowé-Wolské, do které musí všichni sypat kvůli choleře kyselinu citronovou, kterou právě před chvilkou rozdávali, když se po švarmech fasovala voda ze studní.
Kozí plácek
is the unofficial name of a small town square in Staré město, Prague. The streets Kozí ulice, Haštalská ulice, U Obecního dvora, and Vězeňská ulice all meet here.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Ale to byl asi nějakej vomyl. Klempíře Pimpra z Kozího plácku taky vždycky hledali, když šel kupovat plech do města, a našli ho také vždycky v podobnej místnosti, buď u ,Šuhů’, nebo u ,Dvořáků’, jako já vás našel.
Bolzanova ulice
is mentioned in the story Švejk tells Leutnant Dub about the construction foreman from Vršovice who did not want to drink anything containing alcohol.
Background
Bolzanova ulice
is the name of a short street in Prague II. It is located near the main railway station.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Za tuhle dobrou zprávu dal starej Vejvoda celou láhev vermutu na stůl a potom se voba vypravili do Bolzánový ulice, co se tam jde dolů po schodech a co tam mají gramofon.
Malý Polanec
is mentioned when the brigade is ordered to continue onwards from Tyrawa Wołoska towards Malý Polanec and Liskowiec. There is no explicit description of any stay there.
Background
Malý Polanec
seems to have been a place between Tyrawa Wołoska and Liskowiec but it cannot be identified. Jaroslav Šerák suggests that it might be Malopołska by Brelików, which, judging by the author's description of the route, is plausible. That said, it rather looks like the name of a hill rather than a village.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Nadporučík Lukáš zavolal telefonistu Chodounského, účetního šikovatele Vaňka a kurýra kumpanie Švejka a Balouna. Rozkazy byly jednoduché. Všichni nechají výzbroj u sanity, vyrazí ihned na Malý Polanec polní cestou a potom podél potoka dolů jihovýchodním směrem na Liskowiec.
Ropa
is only mentioned as the dogs around Liskowiec start to bark.
Background
Ropa
is a small river which originates in the Beskyds and flows northwards. Ropa is far from Liskowate, so the author is probably confusing it with another place. The source of the name is surely the nearby village of Ropienka and the "potok" (stream) of the same name which flows through the village.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Psi štěkali čím dál tím více, a dokonce i na jihu za řekou Ropou, rozštěkali se i v Krotience a v několika jiných vesnicích, neboť Švejk řval do nočního ticha: „Lehneš - lehneš - lehneš,“ jako kdysi řvával na své psy, když ještě s nimi obchodoval. Psi se rozštěkali ještě víc, takže účetní šikovatel Vaněk řekl Švejkovi: „Neřvete na ně, Švejku, nebo nám rozštěkáte celou Halič.“
Táborsko
is part of Švejk's anecdote about the barking dogs which he tells before they get to Liskowiec.
Background
Táborsko
is the Czech term for the Tábor region in South Bohemia. The region has just over 100,000 inhabitants and encompasses eight towns, with Tábor as the capital. The river Lužnice flows through most of Táborsko.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Všude je vokolí pěkně zalidněný, takže ten psí štěkot šel od vesnice k vesnici, pořád dál a dál, a ti psi v naší vesnici, kde jsme lágrovali, když už umlkli, zas uslyšeli z dálky štěkot, třebas odněkud až od Pelhřimova, tak se dali zas do štěkotu, a za chvíli vám štěkalo Táborsko, Pelhřimovsko, Budějovicko, Humpolecko, Třeboňsko a Jihlavsko.
Pelhřimovsko
is part of Švejk's anecdote about the barking dogs.
Background
Pelhřimovsko
is a loosely defined region in Vysočina, named after Pelhřimov, the largest town.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Všude je vokolí pěkně zalidněný, takže ten psí štěkot šel od vesnice k vesnici, pořád dál a dál, a ti psi v naší vesnici, kde jsme lágrovali, když už umlkli, zas uslyšeli z dálky štěkot, třebas odněkud až od Pelhřimova, tak se dali zas do štěkotu, a za chvíli vám štěkalo Táborsko, Pelhřimovsko, Budějovicko, Humpolecko, Třeboňsko a Jihlavsko.
Humpolecko
is part of Švejk's anecdote about the barking dogs.
Background
Humpolecko
is the area around Humpolec in the Vysočina region. It is not an administrative unit. Humpolec is located only 11 km from Lipnice and is surely a place that Hašek knew well.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Všude je vokolí pěkně zalidněný, takže ten psí štěkot šel od vesnice k vesnici, pořád dál a dál, a ti psi v naší vesnici, kde jsme lágrovali, když už umlkli, zas uslyšeli z dálky štěkot, třebas odněkud až od Pelhřimova, tak se dali zas do štěkotu, a za chvíli vám štěkalo Táborsko, Pelhřimovsko, Budějovicko, Humpolecko, Třeboňsko a Jihlavsko.
Třeboňsko
is part of Švejk's anecdote about the barking dogs. See Táborsko.
Background
Třeboňsko
is the area around Třeboň in South Bohemia. The area is flat and known for its many fish ponds (rybníky).
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Všude je vokolí pěkně zalidněný, takže ten psí štěkot šel od vesnice k vesnici, pořád dál a dál, a ti psi v naší vesnici, kde jsme lágrovali, když už umlkli, zas uslyšeli z dálky štěkot, třebas odněkud až od Pelhřimova, tak se dali zas do štěkotu, a za chvíli vám štěkalo Táborsko, Pelhřimovsko, Budějovicko, Humpolecko, Třeboňsko a Jihlavsko.
Jihlavsko
is part of Švejk's anecdote about the barking dogs.
Background
Jihlavsko
is the area around Jihlava in the Vysočina region. Jihlava was, until 1945, a German-speaking enclave. It is geographically part of Moravia.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Všude je vokolí pěkně zalidněný, takže ten psí štěkot šel od vesnice k vesnici, pořád dál a dál, a ti psi v naší vesnici, kde jsme lágrovali, když už umlkli, zas uslyšeli z dálky štěkot, třebas odněkud až od Pelhřimova, tak se dali zas do štěkotu, a za chvíli vám štěkalo Táborsko, Pelhřimovsko, Budějovicko, Humpolecko, Třeboňsko a Jihlavsko.
Liskowiec is mentioned 10 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.
Liskowiec
was a place the brigade chose for an overnight stay. The process of billeting is described, both regarding accommodation and food. The mayor was not very cooperative at first; Liskowiec was nothing but penury. His attitude changed when Švejk asked him where the nearest tree was. The supply of food was rather meagre: the cow they bought from the Jew Nathan is unforgettably described. Otherwise, it is a tale of lice and Švejk's interminable monologues. The men arrived in the village very late at night, accompanied by barking dogs, and had to leave at half past six the next morning. The staff were billeted in the vicarage and the soldiers in a distillery.
Background
Liskowiec
probably refers to the village Liskowate in Galicia, now just inside Poland on the border with Ukraine. It belongs to Gmina Ustrzyki Dolne. From 1944 to 1951 it was part of the Soviet Union.
Invented march route
The information in The Good Soldier Švejk about the staff being billeted at the Roman Catholic vicarage does not fit with the description of Liskowate in Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich. This encyclopaedia only mentions a Greek Catholic parish; the nearest Roman Catholic parish was Jasień. It is also odd that Hašek describes a route along a stream down to the village, whereas it is located on the watershed. It is, however, possible that Hašek meant Leszczowate, a village in the vicinity.
The geographical aspects of the march from Sanok onwards bear many traces of being constructed, at least in the geographical sense. This is understandable because Hašek's march battalion did not follow this route, being transported to Sambor by train. Few of the mentioned places are found on maps, descriptions of the landscape do not fit, and the mentioned military units were operating elsewhere at the time. In addition, there are timing discrepancies. Antoni Kroh (Polish translator of the novel) notes that Švejk's battalion/brigade must have marched at a speed of more than 20 km per hour!
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Baloun pomalu zapomínal na představu domnělého nebezpečí a v tichu noci, ještě když sestupovali dolů na Liskowiec, dál neustále vykládal s pohnutím Švejkovi, čeho si dřív nevážil a co by teď jed, až by oči plakaly.
Częstochowa
and the Mother of God from there is invoked by the mayor of Liskowiec when he explains how badly off the only cow in the village is.
Background
Częstochowa
is a city in southern Poland, known as a pilgrimage destination due to the Black Madonna, a painting in the monastery of Jasna Góra.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Je to kráva nemocná, tesklivá. Moskali od ní telátko odebrali. Od té doby mléko nedává, ale hospodáři je ji líto zařezat, myslí si, že matka boží čenstochovská opět vše přivede k lepšímu.“
Grabów
is mentioned by the author as a neighbouring village of Liskowiec that has been destroyed. The inhabitants now live in Liskowiec.
Background
Grabów
is the name of many places in Poland but none of them are near Liskowate. It may also have been a village in Ukraine, now called Hrabiv or possibly Hrabovo. Although these exist, none of them are located near Švejk's route to the front.
Grąziowa
A possible explanation is that Grabów is a misspelling of Grąziowa, a village just north of Liskowate. Today there are only a few houses, but in 1915 it had more than 1000 inhabitants.
Grabownica
A perhaps better guess is Grabownica (ukr. Грабівниця) just inside Ukraine, north of Dobromil. This is a place that Hašek is much more likely to have known than Grąziowa, and the fact that it is mentioned in the same sentence as neighbouring Chyrów is a further indication.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Neutrpěla sice požáry, obě válčící strany jako zázrakem nevzaly ji do sféry válečných operací, zato však bylo zde usídleno obyvatelstvo nedalekých zničených vesnic z Chyrówa, z Grabówa a z Holubly.
Possible locations of the unidentified places Liskowiec, Hołubla and Grabów
Hołubla
is mentioned by the author as a neighbouring village of Liskowiec that has been destroyed. The inhabitants now live in Liskowiec.
Background
Hołubla
has not been identified. A place with this name does exist in central Poland but it is out of the question that this is the one the author had in mind. It is more likely to be a place in Ukraine and a possible explanation is Hubice (now Губичі), just north of Dobromil.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Neutrpěla sice požáry, obě válčící strany jako zázrakem nevzaly ji do sféry válečných operací, zato však bylo zde usídleno obyvatelstvo nedalekých zničených vesnic z Chyrówa, z Grabówa a z Holubly.
Lake Baikal
is mentioned in passing through as several bristly cossacks from beyond Baikal had stayed with the stingy catholic priest in Liskowiec.
Background
Lake Baikal
is the largest fresh-water reserve on earth and the deepest lake. Lake Baikal is situated in southern Siberia in Russia, not far from the border with Mongolia.
Jaroslav Hašek knew the area from his time as member of the city soviet in Irkutsk in 1920.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Byl odchován svým otcem ve velké nenávisti proti Rusům, kterouž nenávist však najednou ztratil, když Rusové ustoupili a přišla rakouská vojska, kteráž mu sežrala všechny husy a slepice, které mu Rusové nechali na pokoji, a bydlelo u něho několik ježatých zabajkalských kozáků.
Wołoczyska
is mentioned by the Jew Nathan when he relates about his marvellous cow, for which there is no equal all the way to Wołoczyska.
Background
WołoczyskaVolochysk
is the Polish name of contemporary Волочиськ (Volochysk) in Ukraine. Until 1918, the border between Austria-Hungary and Russia divided the town, with the larger part on the Russian side east of the river Zbruch, whilst the smaller part Podwołoczyska was Austrian.
During the retreat from Tarnopol from 19 July 1917 onwards, Jaroslav Hašek's 1st Czechoslovak Rifle Regiment stayed in Podwołoczyska from 2nd to 6th August. This was the last time the author of The Good Soldier Švejk ever set foot on Austrian territory.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Chtěl za ni horentní sumu, trhal si vousy a přísahal, že takovou krávu nenajdou v celé Haliči, v celém Rakousku a Německu, v celé Evropě a na celém světě, přitom vyl, plakal a dušoval se, že je to nejtlustší kráva, která kdy z poručení Jehovy přišla na svět. Zaklínal se všemi praotci, že na tu krávu se jezdí dívat až od Woločisky, že se o té krávě mluví v celém kraji jako o pohádce, že to ani kráva není, že to je nejšťavnatější buvol.
Credit: Vaněk/Holeček/Medek: Za svobodu, díl II, s.78-82
Královská 18
was the home address of Leutnant Dub. He mentions it because he thinks his final hour has come.
Background
Královská 18
was a street address in Smíchov, now Zborovská 489/52.
The street got its current name from the battle of Zborów in Ukraine (now Zboriv), where on 2 July 1917, the Czechoslovak Brigade for the first time fought the k.u.k. Wehrmacht. See also České legie.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] „Jsem unaven,“ řekl tragickým hlasem, „jsem churav a nemocen, prosím, aby se přede mnou nemluvilo o vylomených zubech. Moje adresa je: Smíchov,Královská 18. Nedočkám-li se jitra, prosím, aby má rodina byla o všem šetrně zpravena a aby nebylo opomenuto poznamenati na mém hrobě, že jsem byl též před válkou c. k. gymnasiálním profesorem.“
Mikulášská třída
was the street where Mr. Kraus, the former boyfriend of the detective's wife Chodounská, came from.
Background
Mikulášská třída
was until 1926 the name of Pařížská ulice in Staré město. Today it is considered the most fashionable street in Prague. The new street appeared as a result of the renovation of Josefov (the Jewish quarter) around the turn of the century and is named after Kostel sv. Mikuláše (at the time Russian Orthodox), which is located at the southern end of Staroměstské náměstí. It was given its name after a decision by the city council on 2 April 1901.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Já bych Ti to ani nepsal, ale Ty víš sama dobře, že jsi se mně svěřila, že já nejsem první, který s Tebou měl vážnou známost, a že Tě přede mnou měl už pan Kraus z Mikulášské třídy.
Sedlčansko
is mentioned in an anecdote Švejk tells Oberleutnant Lukáš in Liskowiec, on the senior lieutenant's initiative this time. It is about the widow of a postmaster from Sedlčansko and relates to talk about field post offices. The obrlajtnant is not impressed by the story.
Background
SedlčanskoSedlčany district
is the area around the town of Sedlčany, about 50 km south of Prague, east of Vltava. It is a rural area without large towns.
The exact meaning of the term Sedlčansko is unclear, but probably refers to hejtmanství Sedlčany.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Já znám zatím jenom moc krátkou historii vo jedný paní poštmistrový ze Sedlčanska, která po smrti svýho muže dostala tu počtu.
Horní Stodůlky
is mentioned in Švejk's story about priest Zamastil from here who had written a book about bedbugs.
Background
Horní StodůlkyUpper Stodůlky
(rather Stodůlky) is a cadastral area and former village on the western outskirts of Prague. Until 1974 it was a separate administrative entity. There is no mention in historical reference works about any distinction between Lower and Upper Stodůlky. The village did, however, have a vicarage, but who the priest was is not known.
Demography
According to the 1910 census, Stodůlky had 1,303 inhabitants, of whom 1,296 (99 per cent) reported using Czech as their everyday language. The judicial district was okresSmíchov, administratively it reported to hejtmanstvíSmíchov.
Per the recruitment districts, infantrymen from Stodůlky were usually assigned to Infanterieregiment Nr. 28 (Prag) or k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 8 (Prag).
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] „To dělají štěnice, pane obrlajtnant. To už je stará pověra, že faráři rodějí štěnice. Nikde nenajdete tolik štěnic jako na farách. Na faře v Horních Stodůlkách farář Zamastil napsal dokonce vo štěnicích celou knížku, voni po něm lezly i při kázání.“
Krościenko
is visited by the brigade early in the morning after they left Liskowiec. There is no description of any stay here.
Background
Krościenko
is a village in Galicia, now just inside Poland on the border with Ukraine. It is located only a few kilometres from Liskowate and is the last railway station on the Polish side of the border.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] V noci bude se vařit guláš. Noclehy pro mužstvo musí být řádné; vyhýbat se zavšiveným chalupám, aby si mužstvo náležitě odpočinulo, poněvadž kumpanie vystupuje z Liskowiec již o půl sedmé hodině ranní přes Kroscienku na Starasol.
Stara Sól
was the destination of the brigade the day Švejk was captured by his own side near Felsztyn.
Background
Stara Sól
is the Polish name of the village Старá Сіль (Stara Sil) in Galicia, now just inside Ukraine on the border with Poland. On a military map from 1910 the village is called Starasól.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] V noci bude se vařit guláš. Noclehy pro mužstvo musí být řádné; vyhýbat se zavšiveným chalupám, aby si mužstvo náležitě odpočinulo, poněvadž kumpanie vystupuje z Liskowiec již o půl sedmé hodině ranní přes Kroscienku na Starasol.
Sambor
was the destination of the brigade the day Švejk got lost. However, there were counter-orders during their march, so Rechnungsfeldwebel Vaněk and Švejk went to look for quarters in Felsztyn instead ...
Background
Sambor
is the Polish name of Самбір (Sambir), a city in Galicia. It is located in present-day Ukraine, near the Polish border. Sambor is located in the Lviv oblast and has around 35,000 inhabitants (2010). The city is connected by railway to Lviv and Khyriv.
Sambor was occupied by the Russian army from 17 September 1914 to 15 May 1915. The front was close to the town also during October and the railway station was one of the buildings that suffered serious damage.
IR91/MB12
Jaroslav Hašek's XII. Marschbataillon arrived here by train on 4 July 1915 (or the next day) after a five day journey from Királyhida. From Sambor they continued on foot the next day and joined the operative part of Infanterieregiment Nr. 91 on 11 July. Several of the models for characters in The Good Soldier Švejk arrived at the front with this march battalion: Franz Wenzel (commander), Rudolf Lukas, Jan Vaněk and Hans Bigler.
Ludwig Ganghofer
In his book "Die Front im Osten", Ludwig Ganghofer briefly describes a meeting with Austrian staff officers in Sambor a few days before Przemyśl fell on 3 June 1915.
Die Front im Osten, Ludwig Ganghofer, 5.6.1915
Die Enttäuschung, mit der wir Sambor einfahren, wird hurtig wieder zu himmelhohem Jauchzen. Im Kreis der österreichischen Stabsoffiziere, die uns mit freundlicher Gastlichkeit aufnehmen, sehen wir die Kriegslage des Abends auf der Karte eingezeichnet. Welch! ein erquickendes Ornament!
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Když vyrazili ráno z Liskowiec na Starasol, Sambor, vezli s sebou v polní kuchyni nešťastnou krávu, která se ještě neuvařila. Bylo usneseno, že ji budou vařit po cestě a sní se, až bude odpočinek na půl cestě z Liskowiec na Starasol.
Credit: Jan Morávek, Jan Vaněk, Bohumil Vlček, VÚA, ÖStA, Jaroslav Šerák, Ludwig Ganghofer
Arabia
normally refers to the Arabian Peninsula, but here it refers to the horse breed.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Taky mu to dlouho nevydrželo, takže musel sáhnout k třetímu budoucímu tchánovi vo kauci. Z tý třetí kauce si koupil koně, arabskýho hřebce, nečistokrevnýho...“
Alps
is the second highest mountain range in Europe after the Caucasus. It extends across parts of France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Slovenia. The highest mountain is Mont Blanc at 4,810 metres.
During World War I there was fighting in the Alps on the Italian front in Tyrol; the area was otherwise spared destruction. A considerable part of the Alps was within the borders of Austria-Hungary.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] ,To je hrozný,’ povídá na to nebožtík pan obrlajtnant Buchánek, ,ty si, chlape mizerná, loudíš vo facku, buď rád, že ti dám jenom vobyčejnou pozemskou facku, kdybych ti dal takovou tu měsíční, tak bys při své lehkosti letěl až někam na Alpy a rozplác by ses vo ně.
Resslova ulice
was the street where an editor dressed in police uniform arrested an innocent elderly couple who were on their way home from a banquet. This is in the anecdote about nadstrážník Hubička.
[III.4] Ten jednou vopil toho pana nadstrážníka Hubičku a proměnili si šaty v kuchyni, takže nadstrážník byl v civilu a z pana redaktora stal se policejní nadstrážník, jenom si ještě zakryl číslo revolveru a vydal se do Prahy na patrolu. V Resslový ulici, za bejvalou Svatováclavskou trestnicí, potkal v nočním tichu staršího pána v cylindru a v kožichu, kterej šel zavěšen se starší paní v kožešinovém plášti.
The German 101. Infanteriedivision in the weeks prior to Hašek's arrival at the front.
Posen
(now Poznań) is mentioned because two Posen regiments are to be billeted in Sambor and Wojalycze. Therefore, the route of Švejk's march battalion had to be redirected towards Felsztyn.
Background
Posen
is the German name of Poznań, one of the oldest and largest cities in Poland. From 1793 to 1918 it was part of Prussia, and hence from 1871 part of Germany. The city and the province had, even during this period, a Polish majority. In the context of the novel, the reference is to two regiments, thus the province of Posen is the subject, not the city itself.
Posen regiments
There were four infantry regiments recruited from the Posen province in the Imperial German Army - numbered 18, 19, 58 and 59. Two of those regiments (18th and 59th) were from 8 May 1915 part of 101. Infanteriedivision, a unit in the German Süd-Armee. The newly formed division was transferred to Stryj and from 20 June 1915 they took part in the offensive from Dniestr to Złota Lipa which they had reached by 5 July. Three weeks later they were fighting by Ostrów further north so they may have crossed path with Jaroslav Hašek's XII. Marschbataillon, a unit that arrived in Sambor on 4 July and had reached the area by Złota Lipa by 11 July.
Whatever regiments Hašek referred to: those from the 101st division could not have been in Sambor when he was there. So either the meeting took place further east or the author had some other German regiments in mind.
Although Hašek probably referred to infantry regiments they may obviously also have been cavalry or artillery units.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Od brigády přicválal na koni kurýr s novým rozkazem pro 11. kumpanii, že maršrúta se mění na Felštýn, Woralyče a Sambor nechat stranou, neboť tam není možno ubytovat kumpanii, poněvadž jsou tam dva poznaňské pluky.
Woralyče
is just about mentioned because two Posen regiments are to be billeted in Sambor and Woralyče. Therefore, the route of the march battalion of IR. 91 had to be redirected towards Felsztyn.
Background
Woralyče
(and Wojalycze) are almost certainly misspellings of Wojutycze.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.3] Od brigády přicválal na koni kurýr s novým rozkazem pro 11. kumpanii, že maršrúta se mění na Felštýn, Woralyče a Sambor nechat stranou, neboť tam není možno ubytovat kumpanii, poněvadž jsou tam dva poznaňské pluky.
Rozdělov
is mentioned in the anecdote about uzenář Křenek.
Background
Rozdělov
was a village by Kladno, now a suburb of the city. In the 1950s, large housing estates were built here and Rozdělov is now dominated by high-rise apartment blocks.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] „Jednou šel uzenář Křenek z Vinohrad podle plánu města Prahy od ,Montágů’ na Malé Straně domů v noci na Vinohrady a dostal se až k ránu do Rozdělova u Kladna, kde ho našli celýho zkřehlýho k ránu v žitě, kam upad únavou.
Karlínský viadukt
is a commonly used name for Negrelliho viaduct, a railway viaduct in Prague. It begins at Masarykovo Station, passes through Karlín, and continues across the Vltava to Holešovice. It is the oldest railway bridge in Prague. Ferdinandova Barracks, where Feldkurat Katz had his office, was situated just east of the viaduct.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] „Poslušně hlásím, pane obrlajtnant, že se vynasnažím. Měl jsem sice vošklivej sen, když jsem si trochu k ránu zdříml. Zdálo se mně vo neckách, který tekly přes celou noc na chodbě v domě, kde jsem bydlel, až vytekly a promočily strop u pana domácího, kterej mně hned ráno dal vejpověď. Von byl už, pane obrlajtnant, takovej případ ve skutečnosti; v Karlíně, za viaduktem...“
Felsztyn, pocztowka, miasto po inwazji rosyjskiej, 1914
Felsztyn is mentioned 15 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.
Felsztyn
witnessed Švejk’s greatest feat in the novel: being captured by his own side after putting on a Russian uniform at a pond near the village.
Background
Felsztyn
is the Polish name of a village in the Lviv oblast in Ukraine, renamed Скелівка (Skelivka) in 1945. The village is situated between Sambir and Khyriv, very close to the border with Poland. Skelivka is the smallest place in the world with a statue of Švejk.
During the Austrian period, the village was part of Galicia, with Polish speakers forming an overwhelming majority. Jews made up more than half the population. The town had a Roman Catholic church, a Greek Catholic church, and a synagogue. It was heavily damaged during fighting in autumn 1914 and remained under Russian control until around 15 May 1915. After World War I, Felsztyn became part of Poland, and from 1939, the Soviet Union.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Zde spal Josef Švejk z Prahy, kompanieordonanc 11. marškumpačky 91. regimentu, který jako kvartýrmachr upadl omylem do rakouského zajetí pod Felštýn.
Chyrów is mentioned 5 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.
Chyrów
was the place where Švejk was first taken after being captured by the Hungarian military police. According to the interrogation report quoted in the novel, this must have happened on 16 June 1915. In Chyrów, he joined a transport of Russian prisoners of war who were repairing the railway line to Przemyśl.
Background
Chyrów
is the Polish name for the town Хирів (Khyriv) in the Lviv oblast in western Ukraine. The town is a railway junction, and even in 2010 there were passenger services to Sanok and Lviv, among others. The town was part of Austria-Hungary until 1918.
Quote(s) from the novel
[III.4] Byli to Maďaři a Švejka přes jeho protesty odtáhli na etapu v Chyrówě, kde ho zařadili do transportu ruských zajatců určených pracovat na opravě železniční trati směrem ku Přemyšlu.
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