The Good Soldier Švejk

Imperial manoeuvres

Svět zvířat,1.10.1909

Kaisermanövern were annual large-scale military exercises usually attended by the emperor, often alongside other members of the upper echelons of society. Foreign heads of state were sometimes invited too. The manoeuvres involved several branches of the armed forces and took place almost invariably in September. They generally lasted four days.

The Good Soldier Švejk mentions at least three manoeuvres, and Švejk takes part in all of them. They are, in order of appearance: Písek in 1910, Veszprém (undated) and Velké Meziříčí (undated).

The author also refers to a large exercise near Sopron in 1908, but the historical circumstances suggest that this was the same event as the one at Veszprém. The Velké Meziříčí manoeuvres took place in 1909 and were even reported in Svět zvířat.

Despite what Švejk told Wachtmeister Flanderka, no imperial exercises were held at Písek in 1910. That year, the Imperial Manoeuvres were scheduled for Upper Hungary (Slovakia), but were cancelled because of a regional outbreak of equine disease. South Bohemia hosted Kaisermanövern twice, partly in the Písek region: in 1905 and 1913.

In 1910, however, South Bohemia hosted the manoeuvres of 8. Korps, centred on Týn nad Vltavou, with activities also taking place around Písek. The 4th battalion of Infanterieregiment Nr. 91 took part in these exercises, so Švejk could theoretically have been involved.

Švejk participated in other manoeuvres too, including one near Mníšek, Hořovice and Drahenice (undated).

Kaisermanövern 1905-1913

Literature

• Letošní velké císařské manévry, Svět zvířat,1.10.1909
• Ein Zwischenfall, Illustrirtes Wiener Extrablatt,6.9.1905