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Who is who

Jan Vaněk was arguably the most obvious of all the prototypes of characters in The Good Soldier Švejk.

The Who's who page on Jaroslav Hašek presents a gallery of people from real life who, to varying degrees, are associated with The Good Soldier Švejk and its creator. Several of the characters in the novel are known to be based on real-life individuals, mostly officers from Infanterieregiment Nr. 91. Some of Hašek's literary figures carry the full names of their models, some are only thinly disguised, and some names diverge from that of their "model", but they can be identified by analysing the circumstances in which they appear.

A handful of "prototypes" are easily recognisable, like Rudolf Lukas and Jan Vaněk; others, like Zdeněk Matěj Kuděj and Emanuél Michálek, are less obvious inspirations. One would also assume that most of these characters borrow traits from more than one person; one such example is Švejk himself.

A far larger number of assumed prototypes are connected to their literary counterparts by little more than the name. Josef Švejk is the prime example here, but Jan Eybl also fits in this category. The list of prototypes only contains those who inspired characters that directly take part in the plot.

Researchers, the so-called Haškologists, are also included on this page, but as of 15 February 2026 the list is restricted to Radko Pytlík and Václav Menger, plus two important but relatively unknown contributors to our knowledge about Hašek and Švejk. In due course, entries on other experts like Zdena Ančík may be added.

Obvious inspiration

Hašek Lacina Schlager Vodička Lukas Adamička Wenzel Bigler Sagner Vaněk Kompit

Some similarity

Strašlipka Michálek Dub Eybl Švejk Kuděj Mašek Čížek

Haškologists

Morávek Hůla Pytlík Menger

Čížek, Ladislav Antonín
*6.5.1883 Vysoká - †? - ?
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Hašek's friend Julča with her guardian.

Ladislav Čížek was a former travelling salesman who worked for Psinec nad Klamovkou during the time Jaroslav Hašek was employed as editor of Svět zvířat above Klamovka. This, coupled with the fact that Hašek used his name in several short stories set in the same surroundings at Klamovka, leaves little doubt that he was the main inspiration for the dog thief Blahník from The Good Soldier Švejk. Čížek plays a major part in the stories Kynologický ústav (Cynological Institute) and Má drahá přítelkyně Julča (My dear friend Julie) and is also mentioned in Strana mírného pokroku v mezích zákona.

When Hašek set up his Kynologický ústav (Cynological Institute) in November 1910, several sources (including the author himself) indicate that he employed Čížek as his assistant. Josef Mach wrote that Čížek was caught stealing dogs and put on trial while he was an agent for Hašek's dog trade. Radko Pytlík adds that this also landed his boss in trouble and contributed to the firm's rapid demise. Hašek and his wife (who on paper owned the enterprise) had to report in court, and as late as 9 March 1912 they were finally informed that the proceedings were cancelled.

Personal

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Pobytové přihlášky pražského policejního ředitelství,1851 - 1914

Police records irrefutably prove the identity of Čížek. He was born Ladislav Antonín Čížek in Vysoká, okres Mělník 6 May 1883, baptised evangelical-reformed (i.e. Protestant), parents Václav and Marie. We also know that from 1908 to 1913 he lived at various addresses in Košíře and Smíchov. In 1911 and 1912 his name even appeared (at least twice) in Prager Tagblatt, where he advertised dogs for sale, fifty per cent cheaper than the competitors.

Kennel assistant

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Prager Tagblatt,12.3.1911

Significant in a Švejk context is his address from 9 May 1908 onwards. It was Smíchov 908 which corresponds to Villa Svět zvířat and the adjoining kennel. The police records state that he lived there until 10 January 1911, marital status single, employed as a servant at Svět zvířat, and was previously a travelling salesman. This firmly links him to Hašek's own "cynological assistant", the servant at Svět zvířat, and also to Blahník from The Good Soldier Švejk.

Kynologický ústav?

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Prager Tagblatt,21.4.1912

On 10 January 1911 Čížek moved to Košíře nr. 10, but only for 17 days! Coincidently this was around the time when we believe that Hašek's dog trading firm went bankrupt, and this address gives us an interesting link to the story Kynologický ústav (Světozor, april 1914)[a]. In this tale about his "dog institute" Hašek advertised for an assistant and had many replies. The person he employed was Ladislav Čížek, living at U Medřičkých, Košíře. In the restaurant/pub section of the 1910 Prague address book is entered Medřický Antonín, Koš. Hlaváčkova ul. 10. As pubs at the time usually were named after their landlords, it is clear that Hašek even revealed where Čížek lived (although he obviously invented many other details). Čížek then moved to Smíchov 1195 which is identical to Karlova tř. 88, the address he used in the first advert in Prager Tagblatt (12 March 1911).

Back above Klamovka

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The 1939 address book

From 23 November 1911 he was back at Psinec nad Klamovkou but from 10 April 1912 he stayed with the Jirásek family in Košíře nr. 413. This is also the address that shows up in the second advert in Prager Tagblatt on 21 April 1912. He changed addresses a few more times until he from 26 November 1913 again was registered at the address of the kennel above Klamovka. It had since the death of Fuchs been occupied by the firm Canisport, owned by František Pober, the son-in-law of the late Fuchs. Here Čížek is entered as an administrator at the enterprise, but from now on we have no information about his whereabouts and activities.

In the 1939 address book he makes an appearance again, as a kennel owner in Horní Černošice. Ironically he is listed next to his former employer Canisport.

Credit: Jaroslav Šerák, Radko Pytlík

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References
aSvět zvířatJaroslav Hašek
© 2008 - 2026 Jomar Hønsi Last updated: 29 July 2026