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Hovudpersonen

The Good Soldier Švejk

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Institutions

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Mariánská kasárna in Budějovice (Budweis). Until 1 June 1915 it was the home of the Good Soldier Švejk's Infanterieregiment Nr. 91. In 1915 Jaroslav Hašek also served with the regiment in these barracks.

The novel The Good Soldier Švejk refers to a number of institutions and firms, public as well as private. On these pages they were until 15 September 2013 categorised as 'Places'. This only partly makes sense as this type of entity can not always be associated with fixed geographical points, in the way that for instance cities, mountains and rivers can. This new page contains military and civilian institutions (including army units, regiments etc.), organisations, hotels, public houses, newspapers and magazines.

The line between this page and "Places" is blurred, churches do for instance rarely change location, but are still included here. Therefore Prague and Vienna will still be found in the "Places" database, because these have constant coordinates. On the other hand institutions may change location: Odvodní komise and Bendlovka are not unequivocal geographical terms so they will from now on appear on this page.

The names are colour coded according to their role in the plot, illustrated by these examples: U kalicha as a location where the plot takes place, k.u.k. Kriegsministerium mentioned in the narrative, Pražské úřední listy as part of a dialogue, and Stoletá kavárna, mentioned in an anecdote.

Institutions index of institutions, taverns, military units, societies, periodicals ... (286) Show all
I. In the rear
II. At the front
Index Back Forward I. In the rear Hovudpersonen

3. Švejk before the court physicians

C.k. zemský co trestní soudnn flag
Praha II./6, Spalená 2
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trestnisoud.jpg

Kol. 1920 (?) Celkový pohled na dům čp. 6 (trestní soud) na nároží Karlova náměstí a Spálené ulice (vlevo) na Novém Městě.

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Doctors at the prison

Adresář královského hlavního města Prahy a obcí sousedních,1907

C.k. zemský co trestní soud is the institution Švejk was driven to in a police car the morning after the arrest. Here he was interrogated by a good-natured judge who, when he read what Švejk had confessed to, questioned his mental health. He concluded that Švejk had to undergo an investigation by a psychiatric commission, which resulted in him being sent to a lunatic asylum.

Background

C.k. zemský co trestní soud was the criminal court for Prague, a department of C. k. zemský soud (k. k. Landesgericht), the highest judicial instance in the Kingdom of Bohemia. It was located in the enormous judiciary complex between Spálená ulice, Karlovo náměstí and Vodičkova ulice. The court also contained a prison. Today this building houses the City Court of Praha.

Hašek before the court

The author of The Good Soldier Švejk was taken to court here after he at an anarchist meeting on 1 May 1907 allegedly incited violence against the police. For this he was sentenced to a month in prison, his longest conviction ever. The verdict fell on 1 July[b] and he served the prison term from 16 August to 16 September.

In 1906 the criminal court employed three medical doctors[c] and it is quite likely that Hašek was in contact with at least one of them during his month in prison.

The good soldier Švejk in captivity

The country court as criminal court features also in Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí. Švejk's eagerness to serve his emperor is so striking that the authorities perceived it as subversion and took him to court.[1]

"C. k. zemský jakožto trestní soud v Praze, oddělení IV, nařídil zabaviti jmění Josefa Švejka, obuvníka, posledně bytem na Král. Vinohradech, pro zločin zběhnutí k nepříteli, velezrády a zločin proti válečné moci státu podle § 183-194, č. 1334, lit. c, a § 327 vojenského trestního zákona."

Quote(s) from the novel
[I.3] "C. k. zemský jakožto trestní soud v Praze, oddělení IV, nařídil zabaviti jmění Josefa Švejka, obuvníka, posledně bytem na Král. Vinohradech, pro zločin zběhnutí k nepříteli, velezrády a zločin proti válečné moci státu podle § 183-194, č. 1334, lit. c, a § 327 vojenského trestního zákona."
[I.3] Čisté, útulné pokojíky zemského „co trestního soudu“ učinily na Švejka nejpříznivější dojem. Vybílené stěny, černě natřené mříže i tlustý pan Demartini, vrchní dozorce ve vyšetřovací vazbě s fialovými výložky i obrubou na erární čepici. fialová barva je předepsána nejen zde, nýbrž i při náboženských obřadech na Popeleční středu i Veliký pátek.

Also written:Country- as Criminal Court en Landes- als Strafgericht de Landsretten som strafferett no

References
bZe soudní sineČeské slovo2.7.1907
cAdresář královského hlavního města Prahy a obcí sousedníchVojtěch Kraus1907
1Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetíJaroslav Hašek1917
Teissignn flag
Praha II./85, Spálená ul. 5
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teissig.jpg

Teissigova plzeňská restaurace, 1915

© Photogen.cz

teissig.png

Národní listy, 1.1.1896

Teissig was a place where the employees of c.k. zemský co trestní soud went to fetch peppers and Pilsner beer for lunch. Why they went to get peppers is a mystery. Translators Grete Reiner and Cecil Parrott both interpreted it as goulash, probably a bit far-fetched.

Hans-Peter Laqueur has voiced the theory that the author by "paprika" meant "paprikash" which is the Hungarian goulash, a soup which is quite different from Czech "guláš". In that case Reiner and Parrott's translation is more accurate than "peppers".

Background

Teissig was a restaurant located across the street from the massive City Court complex (former c.k. zemský co trestní soud) and owned by Karel Teissig. He had been running the restaurant at least from 1895. Teissig had previously owned U kotvy two houses down the road, a restaurant that still exists (2019). Address books confirm that U Teissigů existed as late as 1940.

Quote(s) from the novel
[I.3] A vyšetřující soudcové, Piláti nové doby, místo aby si čestně myli ruce, posílali si pro papriku a plzeňské pivo k Teissigovi a odevzdávali nové a nové žaloby na státní návladnictví.
Literature
Státní návladnictvínn flag
Praha III./2, Malostranské nám. 25
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Státní návladnictví was where the detainees were led after their stay at c.k. zemský co trestní soud. Here formal prosecution was in store. The institution had also been briefly mentioned in [I.1].

Background

Státní návladnictví is a term that is rarely used in modern Czech, and is now mostly referred to as Státní zastupitelství, a wording that was used even during the life-time of the author (see cut from the 1907 address book). The expression refers to the state prosecutor's office. Their main seat for Bohemia was at Malostranské náměstí in the building of the regional high court, and their Prague office was located in the same building as c.k. zemský co trestní soud. It is surely those premises that the author had in mind.

Quote(s) from the novel
[I.3] A vyšetřující soudcové, Piláti nové doby, místo aby si čestně myli ruce, posílali si pro papriku a plzeňské pivo k Teissigovi a odevzdávali nové a nové žaloby na státní návladnictví.

Also written:State prosecutor's office en Staatsanwaltschaft de Statsadvokatkontoret no

U Bansethůnn flag
Nusle/389, Palackého tř. 18
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U Bansethů, 2011

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Národní listy,27.2.1906

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Národní politika,1.9.1907

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Národní politika,21.3.1908

U Bansethů crops up in one of Švejk's stories. He was on his way back from this pub when he was assaulted by the bridge across Botič. The perpetrators got the wrong man and gave him an extra slap due to the disappointment.

The tavern is mentioned again in [I.13] in the discussion about volcanic eruptions and sunspots. See Martinique.

It also appears in the final chapter of the novel, and now the owner Banseth is mentioned directly.

Background

U Bansethů was the name of two restaurants in Nusle, owned by Alois Banseth. One of them is still operating and it advertises its connection to Švejk; the interior has numerous pictures of Jaroslav Hašek. There is even a Stůl Jaroslava Haška (Jaroslav Hašek's table).

The original restaurant was located a few steps down the street in house No. 321. Banseth started operation in the autumn of 1900 and in March 1908 it was announced that it was sold to František Kocan, former landlord at U Kocanů. Around the same time he bought house No. 389 which still bears his name. The pub already existed under the name U Palackého and Banseth with his wife Anna paid 100,000 crowns for the house.

Which of the two public houses the author had in mind is uncertain, but the address information given above relates to the one that still exists. Mr. Banseth was in 1910 listed as owner of the building that housed his pub. He also lived here.

The original U Bansethů also arranged public meetings on its premises, for instance on 26 February 1906 where anarchists took part, and amongst them Jaroslav Hašek was very likely to be found. On this occasion the anarchist Čeněk Körber (1875-1951) caused such uproar that the meeting was abandoned. The pub was also hosted meetings by Česká strana národně sociální, Sokol, Volná myšlenka and Mladočeši. Particularly the first seemed to have met a lot here, and in Strana mírného pokroku v mezích zákona Jaroslav Hašek describes on of their meetings where he provoked and caused disorder.

Strana mírného pokroku

Po onom velkém morálním vítězství U Banzetů sešly se naše rozptýlené řady až nahoře na Havlíčkově třídě. Kulhal jsem, pod okem jsem měl modřinu a mé tváře, jak praví Goethe, nevěstily nic dobrého. Byly opuchlé!

Quote(s) from the novel
[I.3] Jako jednou v Nuslích, právě u mostu přes Botič, přišel ke mně v noci jeden pán, když jsem se vracel od Banzetů, a praštil mě bejkovcem přes hlavu, a když jsem ležel na zemi, posvítil si na mne a povídá: ,Tohle je mejlka, to není von.’
[I.13] „Ty skvrny na slunci mají vopravdu velkej význam,“ zamíchal se Švejk, „jednou se vobjevila taková skvrna a ještě ten samej den byl jsem bit ,U Banzetů’ v Nuslích.
[IV.3] Vona potom chtěla mít celou soupravu do domácnosti z takovejch nožů a posílala ho vždycky v neděli do Kundratic na vejlet, ale von byl tak skromnej, že nešel nikam než k Banzetovům do Nuslí, kde věděl, že když sedí v kuchyni, že ho dřív Banzet vyhodí, než může na něho někdo sáhnout.“

Sources: Jaroslav Šerák

Also written:U Banzetů Hašek

Literature
Podolský kostelíknn flag
Podolí/91, Přemyšlova ul. -
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Adresář Prahy (1907)

Podolský kostelík is mentioned in the series of stories about various mistakes that Švejk tells his fellow remand prisoners at c.k. zemský co trestní soud. A lathe operator (turner) who lived in Švejk's house locked himself into the chapel by mistake once he was drunk, and because he thought he was at home he slept overnight and the result was that the church had to be re-consecrated. The unfortunate intruder was convicted and died at Věznice Pankrác.

Background

Podolský kostelík is almost certainly the parish church kostel sv. Michala (Church of Saint Michael) in Podolí, south of Vyšehrad.

Jaroslav Šerák

Podolský kostel bude určitě kostel svatého Michala v ulici Pod Vyšehradem, je to farní kostel dodnes. Ostatní jsou jen hřbitovní kaple, nebo postavené později.

Quote(s) from the novel
[I.3] Nebo vám povím příklad, jak se zmejlil u nás v domě jeden soustružník. Votevřel si klíčem podolskej kostelík, poněvadž myslel, že je doma, zul se v sakristii, poněvadž myslel, že je to u nich ta kuchyně, a lehl si na voltář, poněvadž myslel, že je doma v posteli, a dal na sebe nějaký ty dečky se svatými nápisy a pod hlavu evangelium a ještě jiný svěcený knihy, aby měl vysoko pod hlavou.

Sources: Jaroslav Šerák

Literature
Česká radikální stranann flag
Wikipedia czdeen Search
baxa.jpg

Karel Baxa, member of parliament from 1903-1918 and chairman of Státoprávně radikální strana

Česká radikální strana is indirectly referred to in Švejk's story about the Czech radical deputy who by mistake is chased by Rittmeister Rotter's police dogs.

Background

Česká radikální strana was not the name of any particular political party but it is quite obvious that Švejk had either Strana radikálně pokroková or Státoprávně radikální strana in mind. The former party existed from 1897 to 1908 and campaigned for extensive political reforms, whereas the latter was formed in 1899 and their main goal was extended state rights for the Czech lands.

In 1908 he two parties merged and founded Česká strana státoprávně pokroková. From 1914 the party openly campaigned for an independent Czech state and suffered persecution as a result. It can not be ruled out that label "radical" stuck with even the new party and that indeed was them Švejk had in mind.

Quote(s) from the novel
[I.3] Nakonec se ukázalo, že ten člověk byl českej radikální poslanec, kterej si vyjel na vejlet do lánskejch lesů, když už ho parlament vomrzel.
Literature
Parlamentnn flag
Wien I., Franzens-Ring 1
Wikipedia czdeen MapSearch
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Abgeordnetenhaus 1907

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A selection of Czech deputies in Reichsrat in 1914 (Josef Švejk highlighted).

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Interpellation regarding the confiscation of Hašek's book.

Abgeordnetenhaus, 29.11.1911

Parlament is mentioned is Švejk's story about the Czech radical member of parliament who by mistake is chased by Rittmeister Rotter's police dogs.

In [II.2] it is mentioned again because of Major Wenzl's outrageous behaviour in Kutná Hora was reported by some deputy.

Background

Parlament refers to Reichsrat in Vienna. From 1867 until 1918 it was the national assembly of Cisleithanien, i.e. the Austrian part of the Dual Monarchy. The council consisted of a Herrenhaus (House of Lords) and a Abgeordnetenhaus (House of Commons).

The last election to the Abgeordnetenhaus was held in June 1911, and that year the house counted 516 deputies, of which 232 were Germans, 108 Czechs and 83 Poles. The remaining seats were occupied by Ukrainians, Slovenes, Italians, Romanians, Croats, Serbs and a lone Zionist!

Several of the politicians mentioned in The Good Soldier Švejk were deputies at the outbreak of war: Professor Masaryk, Kramář, Klofáč, Jos. M. Kadlčák, and a certain agrarian politician Josef Švejk. A former deputy of interest for readers of The Good Soldier Švejk was Alexander Dworski, see Mr. Grabowski. The parliament was suspended at the outbreak of war in 1914 and was only reconvened in 1917.

Hašek's story in Reichsrat

On 29 November 1911 one of Jaroslav Hašek's stories was the subject of an interpellation in the deputy chamber of Reichsrat[a]. It was one of several tales in Hašek's Dobrý voják Švejk a jiné podivné historky, a book that was published in the autumn of 1911. The k.k. Landesgericht als Preßgericht in Prague on 18 November 1911 decided to confiscate the book because of the story Zpovědní tajemství (The seal of confession)[b] because it was deemed blasphemous. A group of deputies with Fresl at the front protested to the minister of justice. They pointed at that the story had been printed in České slovo already in 1908 without having been censored.

The 18 signatories were: eleven from Česká strana národně sociální (Fresl, Vojna, Formánek, Klofáč, Choc, Stříbrný, Lisy, Konečný, Slavíček, Baxa, Šviha), three Czech independent progressives (Professor Masaryk, Kalina, Prunar), two Czech agrarians (Masata, Bradač) and even two Ukrainians (Breiter, Трильовський (Trylowskyj)). Note that the agrarian Josef Švejk didn't sign it... The complaint seems to have been heeded because in 1912 the book was printed again. The segments that had been censored were marked with a note about the petition but nothing seems to have been removed. The interpellation didn't mentioned Hašek or the book's title by name.

Quote(s) from the novel
[I.3] Nakonec se ukázalo, že ten člověk byl českej radikální poslanec, kterej si vyjel na vejlet do lánskejch lesů, když už ho parlament vomrzel. Proto říkám, že jsou lidi chybující, že se mejlejí, ať je učenej, nebo pitomej, nevzdělanej blbec. Mejlejí se i ministři.“
[II.2] Slovo padlo, a už to bylo v místních novinách a nějaký poslanec interpeloval chování hejtmana Wenzla v hotelu ve vídeňském parlamentě.
Literature
References
aStenographische Protokolle - AbgeordnetenhausPoslanec Fresl...29.11.1911
bKundmachungenWiener Zeitung23.11.1911
Index Back Forward I. In the rear Hovudpersonen

3. Švejk before the court physicians


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