The Good Soldier Švejk

	Temple of Artemis
Wikipedia czdeenno MapSearch

Výbor ze spisů Xenofontových, Vilém Steinmann,1880

Temple of Artemis is mentioned indirectly in the author's description of Herostratus, "he who set fire to the temple of the goddess in Ephesus".

Background

Temple of Artemis was a temple in Ephesus, regarded as one of the seven wonders of the world. It was raised in the honour of the goddess Artemis. The temple burnt down in 356 BC (Herostatos), but was rebuilt after. Today there are only ruins left.

Quote(s) from the novel

[Úvod] On nezapálil chrám bohyně v Efesu, jako to udělal ten hlupák Herostrates, aby se dostal do novin a školních čítanek.

Also written:Artemidin chrámczTempel der Artemisde

	Drogerie Průša
Královské Vinohrady/699, Tylovo nám. 19
MapSearch

Národní listy,24.6.1903

Narodní politika,6.5.1910

Drogerie Průša was the chemist's store where the first sluha u Průši Ferdinand was an assistant. He drank a bottle of hair oil by mistake.

Background

Drogerie Průša was a chemist's store at Tylovo náměstí right on the lower corner with Vávrova třída at Vinohrady. Jaroslav Hašek worked as an apprentice here some time between March 1898 and September 1899.

Over the years several newspaper adverts testify to the existence of the chemist's, confirmed by address book entries. In 1906 discrete newspaper adverts for remedies against "men's problems" appeared, but they also advertised remedies against bed-bugs. In August 1915 an advert appeared in Prager Tagblatt where large amounts of furniture was for sale, indicating that the shop was about to close down. The owner was drogista Průša (František).

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.1] Jednoho, ten je sluhou u drogisty Průši a vypil mu tam jednou omylem láhev nějakého mazání na vlasy, a potom znám ještě Ferdinanda Kokošku, co sbírá ty psí hovínka. Vobou není žádná škoda.“

Sources: Jaroslav Šerák, Radko Pytlík

Literature

• Z droguerieNárodní listyJaroslav Hašek24.3.1904
• Ferdinand Kokoška & spol.Jaroslav Šerák
• RoboragenNárodní politika21.4.1906
• Průšův prašek zelenýNárodní politika7.5.1908
• Verkaufe billigPrager Tagblatt18.8.1915

	K.u.k. Heer
Wien I., Stubenring 1
Wikipedia czdeen MapSearch

Schematismus für das k.u.k. Heer (s. 0)1914

Uniforms of the Austro-Hungarian armed forces.

Český svět,31.7.1914

Example of a casualty list

K.u.k. Kriegsministerium,11.7.1916

K.u.k. Heer is first mentioned (as "the army") in an anecdote Švejk tells from his time doing compulsory military service. This is in the conversation with Mrs. Müllerová at the very start of The Good Soldier Švejk. After this the army is mentioned innumerable times, and is the most important backdrop for the novel where Švejk is a soldier) from the middle of Part One. The army is also the principal target of Hašek's satire.

Background

K.u.k. Heer (also called k.u.k. Armee or Gemeinsame Armee) was the largest and most important body in k.u.k. Wehrmacht. Together with the k.k. Landwehr (Austrian national guard) and the Honvéd (Hungarian national guard) it made up the Landstreitkräfte (terrestrial forces). These and the k.u.k. Kriegsmarine (navy) made up the total armed forces of the Dual Monarchy.

The common army consisted of infantry, cavalry, artillery, supply-troops and technical troops. The period of service was until 1912 three years, then two. During the war, losses were replaced by so-called march battalions, one of which Švejk was later to be assigned to. The common army existed from 1867 to 1918 and suffered disastrous losses in World War I, the only full-scale war it ever participated in. At various time it fought on four fronts; Serbia, Galicia, Romania and Tyrol and after the heavy losses in 1914 it became increasingly dependant on German support.

The army command was from 1913 located in the building of the k.u.k. Kriegsministerium at Stubenring 1, Vienna. At the time when Švejk did his military service they were surely still at the old premises in Am Hof 2. This building was demolished in 1912.

Oberbefehl formally lay with the monarch who communicated with the army through Militärkanzlei Seiner Majestät des Kaisers und Königs. Kriegsministerium was responsible for the day to day operation of the army. From 1914 to 1917 Archduke Friedrich was general inspector of the army but he delegated the operative responsibility to field marshal Feldmarschall Conrad.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.1] Jó, paní Müllerová, dnes se dějou věci. To je zas ztráta pro Rakousko. Když jsem byl na vojně, tak tam jeden infanterista zastřelil hejtmana. Naládoval flintu a šel do kanceláře.

Also written:Austro-Hungarian ArmyenRakousko-uherská armádaczAusterrike-Ungarns Hærno

Literature

• Schematismus für das k.u.k. Heer (s. 50)K.k. Hof und Staatsdruckerei1914
• Veltzés Internationaler Armee-AlmanachAlois Veltzé - A. Neumann1914
• The First World War and the end of the Dual MonarchyManfried Rauchensteiner2014
• 1914 - 2014, 100 Jahre erster WeltkriegÖsterreichisches Staatsarchiv
• Handbuch für den Infanteristen des k.u.k. Heeres, sowie der k. k. LandwehrRudolf Mattanić1914
• Zákon brannýEd. Grégr1869
• Branná moc v míru i ve válceAugustin Kroužilka1914
• Österreich-Ungarns bewaffnete Macht 1900 - 1914Michael M. Lorenz
• Die Österreichisch-Ungarische Armee 1914 - 1918Karl Pollak
• Zentralleitung und MilitärbehördenSeidels Armeeschema 1914
• Die Gesamtverluste ...Österreich-Ungarns letzter Krieg 1914 - 1918
• Unteilbar und UntrennbarEmil Woinovich1917

	U kalicha
Praha II./1732, Na Bojišti 14
MapSearch Švejkova cesta Švejkův slovník

České slovo,11.11.1923

Národní politika,2.8.1899

Mládenec,7.11.1913

Národní politika,17.11.1917

Národní politika,14.11.1923

Chytilův adresář hl. města Prahy,1924

U kalicha is mentioned 17 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.

U kalicha is the tavern where Švejk and pubkeeper Palivec were arrested by detective Bretschneider at the very start of the novel. This probably happened on 29 June 1914 as the news about the murders in Sarajevo appeared in the newspapers on that day (Mrs. Müllerová had just read about it).

The plot returns to U kalicha in [I.6] when Švejk is released from his ordeal, again meets detective Bretschneider, and convinces the detective to buy dogs from him. His last visit is in [I.10,4] after he has started his career as officer's servant with Feldkurat Katz. Mrs. Palivcová refuses to serve him as she thinks he is a deserter.

U kalicha is also mentioned in [II.4] in the classic scene from Bruck when Švejk and Sappeur Vodička promise to meet there after the war, at six in the evening - one of the most famous quotes from the entire novel. Here Švejk reveals that U kalicha served beer from Velké Popovice.

Background

U kalicha is the name of a restaurant in Na Bojišti street in Nové město, and also the name of the building where the restaurant is located. Today it is, thanks to The Good Soldier Švejk, a major tourist attraction, but in 1914 it was an ordinary pub with one tap-room. Proofs of the tavern's existence appear already in 1896 when Vilém Šubert is listed as landlord at Na Bojišti 8. In 1899 adverts reveal that it already then was known as U kalicha and that it was located in Na Bojišti 1732/8, in the same building as today. That year the owner was trying to sell new bicycles, presumably as a side business. The building has existed since 1890 or slightly earlier. In 1907 the property was advertised for sale and the advert even mentioned the pub.

In the 1910 address book it is listed at Na Bojišti 1732/14. The landlord is now Vilém Juris, who in 1907 is registered as landlord of a pub in Smíchov. Police records reveal that he lived at Na Bojišti 1732 from 18 July 1908, was born in 10 June 1871 and married to Blahoslava. In 1913 he placed adverts specifically aimed at students and he used the name U zlatého kalichu. Juris marketed his establishment "as a well known meeting spot for students, with concerts every day and open until the morning". In 1917 some Vaneček had taken over the license. In April 1923 adverts reveal that the pub had been renamed Café Evropa and offered French cuisine, and the 1924 address book lists the owner as Josef Kyral. Adverts from November 1923 show signs that U kalicha had started to exploit its connection to The Good Soldier Švejk.

Hašek and U kalicha, an unclear connection

© VÚA

A blip from Elsbeth Wessel

It remains unclear why Jaroslav Hašek gave U kalicha such a prominent role in the novel as none of his biographers or friends mentions it as a place he frequented. Nor do we have been able to confirm that they actually served beer from Velké Popovice but as this was the largest producer in all of Bohemia there is every reason to believe that Švejk is right.

One possible connection is one Josef Švejk (1892-1965) who from 1912 onwards lived two houses down the street. This is a person the author may have known about, particularly since both were volunteers in České legie from 1916. In this context it is worth mentioning that there is no mention of U kalicha in the 1911 and 1917 versions of The Good Soldier Švejk so the author's knowledge of this person may indeed have inspired Hašek to introduce U kalicha in the novel. The soldier's first name Josef is also introduced for the first time in the novel from 1921.

We also know that Jaroslav Hašek associated with students from the technical college so he may have been drawn to U kalicha by them. That he knew the environs of U kalicha is also clear. Two houses down, in number 463/10, a brothel was registered on Antonín Nosek (1912). This could explain why Švejk told Sappeur Vodička that "they have girls there".

The well known Norwegian germanist Elsbeth Wessel contributes a most peculiar item. In an otherwise insightful chapter on Hašek she informs that "that the author slowly drank himself to death at U kalicha". Who the source of this nonsense is we don't know, but this should be regarded as a blip as the rest of her contribution is of high quality.

Legends forming

Prager Presse,5.12.1929

Over the years a number of legends have been spun around U kalicha and Jaroslav Hašek’s novel. An early example is Maxmilian Huppert[a] who claimed that a certain František Švejca (born 1875) was a regular there, traded in stolen dogs, and adds a number of details that bear the hallmarks of trying to adapt reality to fit the novel. Hupperts crown witness is a former landlord at U kalicha, Ferdinand Juris. He claims to have known this "Švejk". More tangible is the information that U kalicha no longer operated and that the premises now were used for storing flour.

In 1968 a related story appeared in the weekly magazine Květy (12 September 1968, signed J.R Veselý). It contained sensational claims that a Josef Švejk was in fact a friend of Jaroslav Hašek and that they met on several occasions before, during and after the war. Much of the story has been verified, but the details that attempt to connect this Švejk to Hašek appears to be invented. See Josef Švejk for details.

A web of hearsay

In his book Die Abenteuer des gar nicht so braven Humoristen Jaroslav Hašek (1989) Jan Berwid-Buquoy threw in several new but rather "colourful" items. It is claimed that a Marie Müllerova was a brothel madam in the same building, that František Strašlipka, the alleged model for Švejk, was a regular there and was even her lover, that Palivec was a waiter there, that the landlord was a certain foul-mouthed Václav Šmíd. The author has since re-spun and expanded the story a few times, through another book (2011) and an article in Reflex (2012). He even changed the name of the landlord and other details, but the essence of the information has not been possible to confirm. Later it was claimed that Anastasie Herzog bought the building in 1907. Police records show that the businessman Benno Herzog actually lived in the building in 1912, but the only Anastasie Herzog showing up in police records was his daughter, born in 1907! The 1906 address books lists the owner of the building U kalicha as Karel Císař.

In the end these stories appear to be based on hearsay. A more serious concern is that most it appears on the restaurant's own website (even in English and Russian), so the myths get propagated world-wide. Here even more "facts" are thrown in the pot: U kalicha is supposed to have become popular after the translation of The Good Soldier Švejk into German (1926) and particularly during the thirties when German journalists and men of letter came to visit Egon Erwin Kisch. In that case they would have been disappointed because the restaurant closed down some time between 1924 and 1929[a] (it is not present in the 1936 address book).

A tourist attraction

The original tap-room at No. 14 (2011)

Around 1955 U kalicha was expanded (probably re-opened), and deliberately turned into a tourist attraction. From then on the restaurant occupies both No 14. and No 12. It lives well on the connection with The Good Soldier Švejk, with prices above average and frequent tour groups visiting. Still U kalicha is worth a visit as it is decorated with memorabilia related to Švejk and the times of World War I. To avoid the crowds it is advisable to visit around lunchtime or early afternoon. The food is Czech, the menu comes in 27 languages!

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.1] Já teď jdu do hospody „U kalicha“, a kdyby sem někdo přišel pro toho ratlíka, na kterýho jsem vzal zálohu, tak mu řeknou, že ho mám ve svém psinci na venkově, že jsem mu nedávno kupíroval uši a že se teď nesmí převážet, dokud se mu uši nezahojí, aby mu nenastydly. Klíč dají k domovnici.“

[I.1] V hospodě U kalicha seděl jen jeden host. Byl to civilní strážník Bretschneider, stojící ve službách státní policie. Hostinský Palivec myl tácky a Bretschneider se marně snažil navázat s ním vážný rozhovor.

[I.1] A Švejk opustil hospodu U kalicha v průvodu civilního strážníka...

[I.1] Když vcházeli do vrat policejního ředitelství, řekl Švejk: "Tak nám to pěkně uteklo. Chodíte často ke Kalichu?" A zatímco vedli Švejka do přijímací kanceláře, u Kalicha předával pan Palivec hospodu své plačící ženě, těše ji svým zvláštním způsobem: "Neplač, neřvi, co mně mohou udělat kvůli posranýmu obrazu císaře pána?"

[I.1] Jestli situace vyvinula se později jinak, než jak on vykládal u Kalicha, musíme mít na zřeteli, že neměl průpravného diplomatického vzdělání.

[I.5] Nedávno u Kalicha nevyvedl jeden host nic jinýho, než že sám sobě rozbil sklenicí hlavu.

[I.6] Jeho uvažováni, má-li se stavit napřed ještě u Kalichu, skončilo tím, že otevřel ty dveře, odkud vyšel před časem v průvodu detektiva Bretschneidra.

[I.10.4] Pak se šel Švejk podívat ke Kalichu. Když ho paní Palivcová uviděla, prohlásila, že mu nenaleje, že asi utekl.

[I.16] Ceremoniář dr. Guth mluví jinak než hostinský Palivec u Kalicha a tento román není pomůckou k salónnímu ušlechtění a naučnou knihou, jakých výrazů je možno ve společnosti užívat. Jest to historický obraz určité doby.

[II.3] Jeden medik, který chodíval ke Kalichu, nám jednou vykládal, že to ale není tak jednoduchý.

[II.4] Když se Švejk s Vodičkou loučil, poněvadž každého odváděli k jejich části, řekl Švejk: "Až bude po tý vojně, tak mé přijel navštívit. Najdeš mé každej večer od šesti hodin u Kalicha na Bojišti."

[II.4] Potom se vzdálili a bylo slyšet zas za hodnou chvíli za rohem z druhé řady baráků hlas Vodičky: "Švejku, Švejku, jaký mají pivo u Kalicha?" A jako ozvěna ozvala se Švejkova odpověď: "Velkopopovický."

Also written:At the ChaliceenZum Kelchde

Literature

• Šubert VilémAdresář královského hlavního města Prahy a obcí sousedních1896
• Vilém JurisAHMP
• Pobytové přihlášky pražského policejního ředitelstvíNAČR1851 - 1914
• PokojNárodní politika12.11.1890
• LeštitelkaNárodní politika6.9.1892
• KoloNárodní politika7.5.1899
• Prodá se důmNárodní politika13.7.1907
• Kavárna U zlatého kalichuMládenec7.11.1913
• Zřisení kapely z vojenských invalidůNárodní politika8.10.1917
• Chytilův adresář hl. města PrahyAlois Chytil1924
• Románové restaurační a jiné zábavní podnikyJaroslav Šerák2009 - 2021
• Osudy záhadného hostince U kalicha aneb Jak to vlastně bylo doopravdy?Jan Berwid-Buquoy2.5.2012
• Povídání o Frantovi StrašlipkoviJaroslav Šerák
• Between legends and realityHostinec "U Kalicha"
• Mezi legendou a skutečnostíHostinec "U Kalicha"

	Staatspolizei
Praha I./313, Bartolomějská 4
MapSearch

© LA-PNP

Hašek's encounter with state police after having registered as a Russian trader at U Valšů, 24 November 1914.

© LA-PNP

Čechoslovan,21.8.1916

Staatspolizei is mentioned when it is revealed that detective Bretschneider is in the service of the state police.

Background

Staatspolizei (officially k.k. Staatspolizei) was the domestic civilian intelligence service of Cisleitanien, which main task was surveillance of potential enemies of the state. In the context of The Good Soldier Švejk we understand the Prag branch. The department was created in 1893 after civilian unrest and the unit reported directly to the "Statthalter" (Governor). In Prague their servicemen and agents were operating from the premises of c.k. policejní ředitelství. In their service were amongst others two young lawyers, Mr. Slavíček and Mr. Klíma. Head of the unit was Viktor Chum.

U Valšů

Jaroslav Hašek had intimate knowledge of the state police, originating from his period as an anarchist activist (from 1904). His most celebrated encounter with them was after his famous hoax at U Valšů on 24 November 1914 where he registered as a Russian trader, ostensibly to test the vigilance of the Austrian security service. He was let off with only 5 days in jail which he served immediately.

During the war

During the war the eyes of the state police again fell on Jaroslav Hašek. It happened after the author on 17 June 1916 published a story in Čechoslovan where he lets a tomcat soil pictures of the emperor. This led to charges of high treason and an arrest order was issued. Several of the other stories he wrote also aroused interest at home. They were translated to German for the benefit of the investigators and led to a lively exchange between the police headquarters in Prague and Vienna.

Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.1] V hospodě „U kalicha“ seděl jen jeden host. Byl to civilní strážník Bretschneider, stojící ve službách státní policie. Hostinský Palivec myl tácky a Bretschneider se marně snažil navázat s ním vážný rozhovor.

Literature

• Pražské policejní ředitelství, jeho Státní(politická) policie a její informátoři …Acta Oeconomica Pragensia, roč. 15, č. 7, 2007Zdeněk Kárník
• Za pana DrašneraJaroslav Šerák
• Viktor ChumJaroslav Šerák2018 - 2023

• ---

• Povídka o obrazu císaře Františka Josefa I.ČechoslovanJaroslav Hašek17.7.1916
• Po stopách státní policie v PrazeČechoslovanJaroslav Hašek21.8.1916
• Bašta germanisaceČechoslovan3.12.1917

	Vinárna Sarajevo
MapSearch

Vinárna Sarajevo was a wine tavern in Nusle where, according to pubkeeper Palivec, there was fighting every day.

Background

Vinárna Sarajevo has yet to be identified. According to Milan Hodík pubkeeper Palivec may have referred to a small pub known as Bosna in Michle[a].

Milan Hodík

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.1] „Ty nám to pěkně v tom Sarajevu vyvedli,“ se slabou nadějí ozval se Bretschneider. „V jakým Sarajevu?“ otázal se Palivec, „v tej nuselskej vinárně? Tam se perou každej den, to vědí, Nusle.“

	Mladočeši
Praha II./1987, Ferdinandova tř. 20
Wikipedia czdeen MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Karel Kramář, party chairman for many years.

Český svět,20.7.1917

Mladočeši is mentioned indirectly when pubkeeper Palivec tells detective Bretschneider that he serves whoever pays up, and that he didn't care at all if it was a Muslim, anarchist, Turk or a Young Czech who killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

Background

Mladočeši (the Young Czechs Party) - officially Národní strana svobodomyslná (the National Liberal Party), was a Czech political party that existed from 1874 to 1918. The party reached its zenith after 1890. Due to their for the time radical demands on universal suffrage and greater autonomy for the Czech lands of Austria-Hungary, they received considerable support in their homeland but faced correspondingly greater opposition from Vienna.

Thereafter the Social Democrats and the Agrarian Party made inroads into their electoral base, and the party lost much of its influence. The leading politician in the history of the party was Kramář. The party's official newspaper was Národní listy, to which Jaroslav Hašek contributed many short stories. At the 1911 election to Reichsrat they achieved 9.8 per cent of the votes in Bohemia and had 14 representatives.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.1] „Host jako host,“ řekl Palivec, „třebas Turek. Pro nás živnostníky neplatí žádná politika. Zaplať si pivo a seď v hospodě a žvaň si, co chceš. To je moje zásada. Jestli to tomu našemu Ferdinandovi udělal Srb nebo Turek, katolík nebo mohamedán, anarchista nebo mladočech, mně je to všechno jedno.“

Also written:Young Czech PartyenJungtschechendeUngtsjekkaraneno

Literature

• Národní strana svobodomyslnáLeccos.com

	Věznice Pankrác
Nusle/88, Palackého tř. -
Wikipedia czdeen MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Bohemia,7.10.1913

Věznice Pankrác is implicitly mentioned by pubkeeper Palivec when he explains that talking politics might mean ending up in Pankrác.

The prison is also referred to in [I.3] where the unfortunate lathe operator who broke into Podolský kostelík was incarcerated and later died.

Background

Věznice Pankrác (c. k. trestnice pro mužké v Praze) was at the time a large jail for men, and "pankrác" is almost synonymous with prison in Czech slang. The prison is named after the Pankrác district where it is located. Construction started in 1885 and was completed in 1889.

It was at the time a modern prison with good conditions for the inmates. In Austrian times it mostly housed dangerous male criminals but also saw the odd political prisoner.

The prison later became the scene of executions and 1580 persons were killed; 1087 of them during the Nazi occupation. During Communist rule from 1948 another few hundred were executed.

Egon Erwin Kisch

The Raging Reporter has contributed his part to the fame of the prison. Denied permission to enter, he still climbed the walls, and reported from the cemetery of the inmates. Their graves were not marked! This is all revealed in the story Im Friedhof der Pankratzer Sträflinge (On the cemetery of the Pankrác inmates), first printed in Bohemia before the war [a], in 1931 appearing in the book Prager Pivatal with the title changed.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.1] „Já se do takových věcí nepletu, s tím ať mi každej políbí prdel,“ odpověděl slušně pan Palivec, zapaluje si dýmku, „dneska se do toho míchat, to by mohlo každému člověku zlomit vaz. Já jsem živnostník, když někdo přijde a dá si pivo, tak mu ho natočím. Ale nějaký Sarajevo, politika nebo nebožtík arcivévoda, to pro nás nic není, z toho nic nekouká než Pankrác.“

[I.3] Potom ten soustružník zemřel na Pankráci.

Also written:Pankrác PrisonenPankratz GefängnisdePankrác fengselno

Literature

• The inside story of the history of Prague’s Pankrác prisonRadio PrahaChris Johnstone2010
• Zu Besuch bei toten SträflingenDer SpiegelEgon Erwin Kisch2010

	Krajský soud Písek
Písek/121, Velké nám. 17
Wikipedia cz MapSearch

Velké náměstí in Písek (1917). The large building to the left housed the regional court.

© Písecký deník

Královské město Písek, Jan Matzner, 1898

Krajský soud Písek is where the pig gelder from Vodňany was sentenced and executed, all whilst uttering the worst imaginable things about the emperor. At least this is what Švejk tells detective Bretschneider at U kalicha.

Background

Krajský soud Písek was an institution that was part of the judiciary of Austria, and also remained functional in Czechoslovakia until 1945. It resided in a large building at southern part of Velké náměstí, down towards Otava and adjacent to the smaller Okresní soud Písek. The court president in 1915 was František Soukup. At the site is today (2021) located the latter, i.e. the district court, is but the building is newer.

Hilsner

The court in Písek hosted the 2nd trail of the infamous Hilsner affair (or Polna affair) where the young Jew Leopold Hilsner was accused of ritual murder. His death-sentence was confirmed in Písek on 14 November 1900 but was converted to life imprisonment by Emperor Franz Joseph I. and in 1918 he was set free during a general amnesty[a]. Future president Professor Masaryk put his academic career at stake during his defence of Hilsner, and an article he wrote in on the case was confiscated[b]. The verdict at Písek was quashed as late as 1998.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.1] Když ho potom u krajského soudu v Písku věšeli, ukousl knězi nos a řekl že vůbec ničeho nelituje, a také řekl ještě něco hodně ošklivého o císařovi pánovi.“

Also written:Písek Regional CourtenKreisgericht PísekdeKretsretten Písekno

Literature

• Hilsner byl odsouzen k smrti u píseckého soudu. Ve vězení strávil 18 let.Písecký deníkLibuše Kolářová2.11.2016

	C.k. policejní ředitelství
Praha I./313, Ferdinandová třída 15
MapSearch Švejkova cesta Švejkův slovník

Světozor,13.9.1928

Like the author in the novel Břetislav Hůla (1950) mixes up the 3rd department with the State Police

Politický kalendář občanský...,1911

C.k. policejní ředitelství was where was Švejk was led by detective Bretschneider after his arrest at U kalicha. He was accused of high treason, insulting His Majesty, and even sedition - accusations he agreed to without flinching. He stayed at police HQ through the whole of [I.2], a chapter which took place in the course of just one evening/night. In the morning he was taken to c.k. zemský co trestní soud in a police car which left through the main gate, i.e. in ul. Karoliny Světlé 2.

The gate of the building and three places inside are mentioned: the reception, the cells on the first floor and the interrogation room in the 3rd department, up the stairs from the cells but unclear on which floor. Švejk rarely complained, but here he shows his dissatisfaction with the long way from the cell to the interrogators room.

In [I.6] Švejk pays police HQ another visit after he was arrested because of his strikingly enthusiastic reaction to the declaration of war. Her the author delivers his personal opinion of the institution "where the spirit of foreign authority wafted through the building".

Background

C.k. policejní ředitelství (C.k. policejní ředitelství v Praze) was the police HQ in Prague and it's official address in 1914 was Ferdinandova třída 15. The entrance was around the corner in ul. Karoliny Světlé 2. It was (and is) a huge complex, located between Ferdinandova, Karoliny Světlé and Bartolomejská. It is still (2018) the HQ of the Prague's police.

The Police HQ was organised in five departments where the State Police (Staatspolizei), department III (public order), and department IV (safety) are the ones that are relevant in the context of The Good Soldier Švejk. Department III is directly mentioned in the novel, although the author most probably has the State Police Department in mind. In 1913 the following of our acquaintances from the novel were employed: Mr. Slavíček and Mr. Klíma (State Police) and Polizeikommissar Drašner (department IV). Head of the 1st Department was Rudolf Demartini, a person who may have inspired Mr. Demartini, the fat gentleman at c.k. zemský co trestní soud.

The head of c.k. policejní ředitelství carried the title "Police Director" (from 1912 "Police President") and the position was in the period 1902 to 1915 held by Court Councillor Karel Křikava, uncle of the writer Louis Křikava. He frequented the same environs as Hašek and is mentioned several times in Strana mírného pokroku v mezích zákona. Head of the State Police Department was Viktor Chum.

Karel Křikava (1860 - 1935) made a rapid career in the police but was pensioned in 1915 for political reasons. He was not informed about the arrest of Kramář and as a result of the conflict that followed he was pensioned due to "health problems". After the war he was reactivated and was given the task of organising the police in Slovakia.

A Russian trader

In November 1915 Jaroslav Hašek acquired first hand knowledge of c.k. policejní ředitelství. As a premeditated provocation he registered at U Valšů as a Russian trader and the State Police soon arrived and arrested the "foreigner".

The good soldier Švejk in captivity

In the second version of The Good Soldier Švejk (Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí), written by Jaroslav Hašek in 1917, police HQ is described in greater detail, particularly the department of Staatspolizei. Bartolomějská ulice is mentioned explicitly and so are the police commissioners Mr. Klíma and Mr. Slavíček and the author correctly notes that both worked for the state police. The description is more elaborate than in the novel and Chum is referred to as head of the "triumvirate".[1]

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.2] Sarajevský atentát naplnil policejní ředitelství četnými oběťmi. Vodili to jednoho po druhém a starý inspektor v přijímací kanceláři říkal svým dobráckým hlasem: „Von se vám ten Ferdinand nevyplatí!“ Když Švejka zavřeli v jedné z četných komor prvého patra, Švejk našel tam společnost šesti lidí.

[I.6] Budovou policejního ředitelství vanul duch cizí authority, která zjišťovala, jak dalece je obyvatelstvo nadšeno pro válku. Kromě několika výjimek, lidí, kteří nezapřeli, že jsou synové národa, který má vykrvácet za zájmy jemu úplně cizí, policejní ředitelství představovalo nejkrásnější skupiny byrokratických dravců, kteří měli smysl jedině pro žalář a šibenici, aby uhájili existenci zakroucených paragrafů.

[I.10.1] I on, Švejk, byl tenkrát v tom houfu, poněvadž při své smůle řekl komisaři Drašnerovi, když ho vyzval, aby se legitimoval: „Mají na to povolení od policejního ředitelství?“

[II.3] Jako jsem znal jednoho uhlíře, kerej byl se mnou zavřenej na začátku války na policejním ředitelství v Praze, nějakej František Škvor, pro velezrádu, a později snad taky vodpravenej kvůli nějakej pragmatickej sankci.

Also written:Police HeadquartersenPolizeidirektiondePolitihovudkvarteretno

Literature

• C.k. policejní ředitelství v PrazePolitický kalendář občanský a adresář zemí koruny České na rok 1913
• Český antimilitarismEmil Špatný1922
• Rücktritt des Polizeipräsidenten KřikavaPrager Tagblatt27.7.1915
• Právo liduZměny na pražském policejním ředitelstvi7.8.1915
• Bašta germanisaceČechoslovan3.12.1917
• Der erste Polizeipräsident von Prag gestorbenNeues Wiener Journal24.9.1935
• Pražské policejní ředitelství, jeho Státní(politická) policie a její informátoři …Acta Oeconomica Pragensia, roč. 15, č. 7, 2007Zdeněk Kárník

	U Brejšky
Praha II./107, Spálená ul. 47
MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Zlatá Praha,15.5.1884

Breaking ice by U Brejšky. Jaroslav Hašek third from the left. Zdeněk Matěj Kuděj is in the middle. The tall man on the left is landlord Karel Brejška.

Světozor, 6.2.1914

Právo lidu,19.1.1914

Karel Brejška,1912.

© Národní archiv - Archiv České strany národně sociální

Národní listy,17.5.1923

Egon Erwin Kisch

Prager Tagblatt,6.12.1925

Ladislav Hájek, 1925

U Brejšky was where detective Brixi arrested an unusually fat owner of a paper shop who had bought beer for two Serbian students. The generous man was one of Švejk's inmates in the cell at c.k. policejní ředitelství. The pub is mentioned several times, and in the final chapter it crops up in an anecdote Švejk tells Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek. In this anecdote it is named U Brejsků, a minor change from singular to plural.

Background

U Brejšky was a restaurant in Spalená ulice in Praha II. that in it's original form existed from 1884 until around 1920. It was known as a meeting place for journalists; Egon Erwin Kisch and others wrote about the phenomenon "news exchange" in Prager Tagblatt in 1925. Both Czech and German newspapermen frequented the place. Immediately after opening the restaurant had installed a telephone station (No. 180), a rare sight in 1884.

The restaurant served beer from Plzeň and was also known for its good food. Not only was it popular amongst journalists: visitors from the province also enjoyed it here. On the first floor it offered meeting rooms and accommodation. U Brejšky (aka. U Brejšků or Brejškova restaurace) was altogether one of the most best known and popular taverns in all of Prague, as indicated by the endless amount of newspaper clips. The restaurant was named after the original owner, Karel Brejška.

Jaroslav Hašek and Brejška

The author The Good Soldier Švejk frequented it regularly and he mentions the restaurant not only in the novel, but also in several of his short stories. Amongst them is Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí (1917) but here it occurs only briefly. On the other hand U Brejšky is the main focus of a story he wrote in 1912 about a meeting with the enormous black American Zipps. The landlord himself appears in the story and is described in positive terms.

U Brejšky is known from a photo where Jaroslav Hašek and Zdeněk Matěj Kuděj break ice on the street outside. A note in Právo lidu 19 January 1914 indicates that the picture was taken on 17 January 1914 and that it was published with a text on 6 February in Světozor. Both texts refer to a strike amongst typographers. In his memoirs Hájek wrote about Karel Brejška, that the landlord liked Hašek and readily helped him when he was in trouble. Hájek incorrectly dates the picture to the winter of 1912, an error that later propagated into other literature about Hašek. Kuděj confirmed the information about the typographer's strike, that Brejška took pity on the two unemployed literates, and put them to work on writing menu's and breaking ice.

Karel Brejška

The owner of the restaurant was Karel Brejška (6 June 1856 - 15 May 1923), the big man seen to the left on the mentioned photo from Světozor. He bought the building Zlatá váha in Spalená ulice 117/47 for 60,000 guilders early in 1884. Prager Tagblatt reported that the restaurant operated from 19 January that year. Police records reveal that Brejška moved here in 1884, was married and had children. He was also a dedicated sportsman, above all in cycling, and readily took on duties. He edited the guest house owner's magazine Hostimil and hosted their editorial offices at U Brejšky. Karel Brejška was a popular figure and when he died after long illness in 1923, Eduard Bass, a friend of Jaroslav Hašek, wrote a long obituary in Lidové noviny[a]. They were not the only newspaper that fondly remembered him. Brejška sold the restaurant three years before he died.

Modern times

In 1939 was still listed in the address book but whether or not there has been continuous operation is not known. In any case it still exists in a modern variation (2016) with the name Haškova restaurace U Brejsků. It is decorated with photos from the era (many of them feature Hašek) and makes the most of its connection with him. Their web page say little about the historical lines. Instead it focuses on Hašek and the fact that the sports club Slavia was formed here on 31 May 1895. The current restaurant is located in the basement.

The good soldier Švejk in captivity

The pub is also mentioned in Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí. In the first chapter it is revealed that the court medics at c.k. zemský co trestní soud fetched breakfast here when they discussed Švejk's case and his striking eagerness to serve his emperor.[1]

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.2] Výjimku dělal neobyčejně tlustý pán s brýlemi, s uplakanýma očima, který byl zatčen doma ve svém bytě, poněvadž dva dny před atentátem v Sarajevu platil „U Brejšky“ za dva srbské studenty, techniky, útratu a detektivem Brixim byl spatřen v jejich společnosti opilý v „Montmartru“ v Řetězové ulici, kde, jak již v protokole potvrdil svým podpisem, též za ně platil.

Sources: Ladislav Hájek, Egon Erwin Kisch

Also written:Die ZecheReiner

Literature

• Jak jsem přemohl černošského obra Zippse ze Severní AmerikyDobrá kopaJaroslav Hašek3.5.1912
• Soupis pražských domovských příslušníků 1830-1910 (1920)Popisní úřád král. hlav. města Prahy
• Mitteilungen aus dem PublikumPrager Tagblatt19.1.1884
• Směna držebnostiNárodní listy16.2.1884
• Brejškův hostinec v PrazeZlatá Praha15.5.1884
• Brejškova restauraceKalendář humoristických listů1886
• .. vyš. hpospodárské ústav ..
• Brejška okradenČech26.7.1913
• Následek sporu typografů se zaměstnavateliSvětozor6.2.1914
• HádankaKopřivy22.10.1914
• Restaurateur Brejška gestorbenPrager Tagblatt17.5.1923
• Karel Brejška zemřelNárodní listy17.5.1923
• Die Börse der NachrichtenPrager Tagblatt6.12.1925
• Z historieHaškova restaurace U Brejšků
• Románové restaurační a jiné zábavní podnikyJaroslav Šerák2009 - 2021

	Montmartre
Praha I./224, Řetězová ul. 7
Wikipedia cz MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Venkov,2.9.1911

Montmartre is mentioned because the paper-shop owner who was Švejk's cell companion at c.k. policejní ředitelství had been observed drunk here together with the two Serbian students he had paid for earlier in the day, at U Brejšky.

Background

Montmartre was a café in the very centre of Prague which recently (as of 2010) was re-opened after a break of 70 years. The name is obviously taken from the famous Paris district of Montmartre. The café is decorated with period photos where Jaroslav Hašek plays a prominent role. The 1989 Sametová revoluce put a stop to official plans to turn Montmartre into a museum dedicated to Jaroslav Hašek.

Montmartre was opened in 1911 by the well-known actor and artist Josef Waltner. It was a night café and entertainment establishment, also known as Cabaret Montmartre. From the beginning it became a popular meeting place amongst artists, intellectuals and the bohemian set. Apart from Jaroslav Hašek it was also frequented by the likes of Zdeněk Matěj Kuděj, Max Brod, Egon Erwin Kisch, Franz Werfel and Franz Kafka. Hašek wrote four short stories where was Montmartre involved, and Kisch also immortalised the café through his writing[a].

Egon Erwin Kisch

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.2] Výjimku dělal neobyčejně tlustý pán s brýlemi, s uplakanýma očima, který byl zatčen doma ve svém bytě, poněvadž dva dny před atentátem v Sarajevu platil „U Brejšky“ za dva srbské studenty, techniky, útratu a detektivem Brixim byl spatřen v jejich společnosti opilý v „Montmartru“ v Řetězové ulici, kde, jak již v protokole potvrdil svým podpisem, též za ně platil.

Sources: Egon Erwin Kisch

Literature

• Románové restaurační a jiné zábavní podnikyJaroslav Šerák2009 - 2021
• MontmartreJaroslav Šerák22.10.2023
• Černohorský jonák v úzkýchKopřivyJaroslav Hašek1.8.1912
• Sen Josefa Waltnera, odvážného majitele kavárny MontmartreKavárna MontmartreJaroslav Hašek1915
• Můj zlatý dědečekRočenka MontmartreJar. Hašek1912
• Má tragedie montmartskáKavárna MontmartreJaroslav Hašek1914
• Der Letzte vom Prager MontmartrePrager PresseMaxm. Huppert14.8.1928

	Spolek Dobromil
Podolí/55, Kublov
MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Garden restaurant in Hodkovičky, a possible location for Dobromil's celebration.

Address book from 1910

Spolek Dobromil was a charity in Hodkovičky who held a celebration on the day of the murders in Sarajevo. The police arrived and asked them to stop, but the chairman retorted that hey had to finish playing "Hej, Slované" (well known pan-slavic hymn) first. This led him straight to the cell at c.k. policejní ředitelství.

Background

Spolek Dobromil is an association which so far has not been fully identified. It is still very likely that they existed and may well have congregated in the centre of Hodkovičky. In 1910 such a society existed in nearby Podolí and Dvorce, so it is quite likely that these are the people Jaroslav Hašek refers to.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.2] Třetí spiklenec byl předseda dobročinného spolku „Dobromil“ v Hodkovičkách. V den, kdy byl spáchán atentát, pořádal „Dobromil“ zahradní slavnost spojenou s koncertem. Četnický strážmistr přišel, aby požádal účastníky, by se rozešli, že má Rakousko smutek, načež předseda „Dobromilu“ řekl dobrácky: „Počkají chvilku, než dohrajou ,Hej, Slované’.“

Sources: Milan Hodík

	Národní politika
Praha II./835, Václavské nám. 21
Wikipedia czde MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Národní politika,29.6.1914

Národní politika,15.11.1915

Národní politika is first mentioned during the interrogation at c.k. policejní ředitelství when Švejk reveals that he reads the afternoon issue to look for dog adverts. He also uses the term "čubička" (the little bitch), which provokes the interrogator with the animal traits to shout: Out!.

Národní politika is mentioned again both in [I.6], [I.13] and in [II.2].

Background

Národní politika was a conservative daily that was published in Prague from 1883 to 1945. The editorial offices were located at Václavské náměstí. The paper printed at least six of Jaroslav Hašek's stories and it was one of the first papers to report both his capture in 1915 and his return to Prague (1920). In other stories he makes fun of the newspaper.

According to Franta Sauer it was the author's preferred newspaper, and at first sight it appears that he inserted snippets from it into The Good Soldier Švejk. The conversation between Oberleutnant Lukáš and hop trader Wendler in [I.14] reveals word for word quotes from the paper and the evening issue from 4 April 1915 is a prime example. That said, Kronika světové války is an even more obvious source for these fragments.

The good soldier Švejk in captivity

In Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí is actually Národní politika the first institution that is mentioned. Here and in other official publications an arrest order from c.k. zemský co trestní soud regarding Švejk was printed.[1]

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.2] „S kýmpak se stýkáte?“ „Se svou posluhovačko, vašnosti.“ „A v místních politických kruzích nemáte nikoho známého?“ „To mám, vašnosti, kupuji si odpoledníčka „Národní politiky“, ,čubičky’.“ „Ven!“ zařval na Švejka pán se zvířecím vzezřením.

[I.6] posledně od toho pana řídícího z Brna ta záloha šedesát korun na angorskou kočku, kterou jste inseroval v Národní politice a místo toho jste mu poslal v bedničce od datlí to slepé štěňátko foxteriéra.

[I.13] Když tenkrát ta sopka Mont Pelé zničila celý ostrov Martinique, jeden profesor psal v Národní politice, že už dávno upozorňoval čtenáře na velkou skvrnu na slunci. A vona, ta Národní politika, včas nedošla na ten vostrov, a tak si to tam, na tom vostrově, vodskákali."

[II.2] I u nás jsou nadšenci. Četli v ,Národní politice’ o tom obrlajtnantovi Bergrovi od dělostřelectva, který si vylezl na vysokou jedli a zřídil si tam na větví beobachtungspunkt?

Also written:National PoliticsenNationalpolitikdeNasjonal Politikkno

Literature

• Vánoce Národní politikyPrávo liduJaroslav Hašek29.12.1907
• PísemnictvíNárodní politika4.4.1915
• Malý oznamovatel Národní politikyČeské slovoJaroslav Hašek8.2.1921

	Museum
Praha II./1700, Václavské nám. 74
Wikipedia czdeensv MapSearch

Světem letem, Enrique Stanko Vráz,1896

Museum is mentioned in an anecdote by Švejk about quartering av prisoners in the bad old days. This is supposed to have happened on a hill somewhere by the museum. The museum itself is later mentioned explicitly in an anecdote on the way to Budapest.

Background

Museum which is talked about is certainly the main building of Museum království Českého, now Národní muzeum in Prague. It is located at the southern end of Václavské náměstí. The building was erected between 1885 and 1891.

The good soldier Švejk in captivity

Museum is mentioned also in Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí when is pushed to the draft board in a wheelchair.[1]

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.2] Takovejch případů bylo víc a ještě potom člověka čtvrtili nebo narazili na kůl někde u Musea

Literature

• Dějiny hlavní budovy Národního muzeaNárdoní muzeum

	C.k. zemský co trestní soud
Praha II./6, Spalená 2
MapSearch Švejkova cesta Švejkův slovník

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

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 Prague.

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]

Quote(s) from the novel

[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 CourtenLandes- als StrafgerichtdeLandsretten som strafferettno

	Teissig
Praha II./85, Spálená ul. 5
MapSearch Švejkova cesta Švejkův slovník

Teissigova plzeňská restaurace,1915

© Photogen.cz

Národní listy,1.1.1896

Teissig was a restaurant 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 that is quite different from Czech "guláš". In that case, Reiner and Parrott's interpretation 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 since 1895. Teissig had previously managed U kotvy, two houses down the road. This restaurant that still exists (2019). Address books confirm that U Teissigů was operating 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

• Románové restaurační a jiné zábavní podnikyJaroslav Šerák2009 - 2021
• AnzeigePrager Tagblatt3.6.1896
• BesitzwechselPrager Tagblatt3.6.1899
• Českoslovanská záložna v Praze-II.Čech25.2.1910

	Státní návladnictví
Praha III./2, Malostranské nám. 25
MapSearch Švejkův slovník

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 officeenStaatsanwaltschaftdeStatsadvokatkontoretno

	U Bansethů
Nusle/389, Palackého tř. 18
MapSearch Švejkova cesta Švejkův slovník

U Bansethů, 2011

Národní listy,27.2.1906

Národní politika,1.9.1907

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

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 BanzetůHašek

Literature

• Románové restaurační a jiné zábavní podnikyJaroslav Šerák2009 - 2021
• Strana roste, ale je bitaJaroslav Hašek
• V zajetí KartagiňanúJaroslav Hašek
• Pobytové přihlášky pražského policejního ředitelstvíNAČR1851 - 1914
• Adresář královského hlavního města Prahy a obcí sousedních (1910)Obec Pražská

---

• BesitzwechselPrager Tagblatt10.7.1900
• Hostinský věstníkNárodní listy2.11.1900
• ZábavyNárodní listy2.5.1901
• Rozpuštěná schůzeNárodní listy27.2.1906
• Změny držebnostiNárodní politika21.3.1908
• K jubileu "Národních Listů"Národní listy21.12.1929

	Podolský kostelík
Podolí/91, Přemyšlova ul. -
MapSearch Švejkův slovník

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

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

• Kostel sv. Michaela Archanděla v PodolíPraga Magica
• Římskokatolická farnost u kostela sv.Michaela Archanděla v Praze 4 – Podolí.Farnost u kostela sv.Michaela

	Česká radikální strana
Wikipedia czdeen Search

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

• Radikálně pokroková stranacojeco
• Státoprávně radikální stranacojeco
• Česká strana státoprávně pokrokovácojeco
• Karel BaxaWikipedie (cz)

	Parlament
Wien I., Franzens-Ring 1
Wikipedia czdeen MapSearch

Abgeordnetenhaus 1907

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

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 Cisleithania, 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.“

[I.8] Voba byli svázaní do kozelce a regimentsarzt je kopal do břicha, že jsou prej simulanti. Pak když ty voba vojáci umřeli, přišlo to do parlamentu a bylo to v novinách.

[II.2] Slovo padlo, a už to bylo v místních novinách a nějaký poslanec interpeloval chování hejtmana Wenzla v hotelu ve vídeňském parlamentě.

Literature

• Stenographische Protokolle des Abgeordnetenhauses des Reichsrates 1861-1918Parlamentsbibliothek
• ParlamentRepublik Österreich
• ReichsratÖsterreich Lexikon
• Parlaments-GebäudeGeneralstadtplan Wien 1912

	Blázinec
Praha II./468, Ul. Karlova 15
MapSearch Švejkova cesta Švejkův slovník

Blázinec is referred to when Švejk is led to a psychiatric institution after a commission of psychiatrists conclude that he is a "malingerer with a feeble mind". He might have spent several weeks here as he was only released on 29 July 1914, the day Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.

Background

Blázinec was some mental hospital in Prague which is not explicitly located. Still, we can by near certainty conclude that the author had Kateřinky in mind. This is an institution where he himself spent a few weeks in February 1911.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.4] Když později Švejk líčil život v blázinci, činil tak způsobem neobyčejného chvalořečení: „Vopravdu nevím, proč se ti blázni zlobějí, když je tam drží. Člověk tam může lézt nahej po podlaze, vejt jako šakal, zuřit a kousat. Jestli by to člověk udělal někde na promenádě, tak by se lidi divili, ale tam to patří k něčemu prachvobyčejnýmu. Je tam taková svoboda, vo kterej se ani socialistům nikdy nezdálo.

Also written:The madhouseenDas IrrenhausdeGalehusetno

	Ottův slovník naučný
Praha II./553, Karlovo nám. 35
Wikipedia czdeen MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Ottův slovník naučný, 5. díl, 1892

Orientační plán král. hl. města Prahy a obcí sousedních,1910-1914

Ottův slovník naučný was mentioned in connection with the patient at blázinec who claimed to be the 16th volume of this encyclopedia.

Background

Ottův slovník naučný is an encyclopaedia by the publisher Otto that is regarded an outstanding work of reference also in an international context. A total of 28 volumes were released between 1888 and 1909 with additional supplements appearing thereafter. Otto's Encyclopaedia was at the time one of the largest in the world. The editorial offices were at Karlovo náměstí, in the building next to the publishing house of Otto.

Emil Artur Longen (1928) claims that Jaroslav Hašek made active use of the encyclopaedia when he wrote The Good Soldier Švejk. He may well have a point as the long tirade Rekrut Pech used is almost a direct quote from the encyclopaedia.

The reference to kartonážní šička (cardboard stapler) can not be found in volume 16 (Lih-Media) and Antonín Měšťan also points out that there is no such entry in the encyclopaedia at all. If it had been a real entry it would have been found in volume 14. This volume does however have a reference to kartonáž that simply points to the entry cartonage in volume 5.

Antonín Měšťan

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.4] Nejzuřivější byl jeden pán, kerej se vydával za 16. díl Ottova slovníku naučného a každého prosil, aby ho otevřel a našel heslo ,Kartonážní šička’, jinak že je ztracenej.

Sources: Antonín Měšťan, Emil Artur Longen

Also written:Otto's encyclopaediaenOttos KonversationslexicondeOttos konversasjonsleksikonno

Literature

• Ottův slovník naučnýJan Otto
• Ottův slovník naučnýWikisource
• 945. schůzka: Dle Ottova slovníku naučného...Český rozhlas - Josef Veselý
• Ottův slovník naučnýMarek Šimoňák
• Ottův slovník naučný. Šestnácký díl. Lih-MediaJ. Otto
• Realien und Pseudorealien in Hašeks "Švejk"Antonín Měšťan1983

	Královy lázně
Praha I./195, Ul. Karoliny Světlé 43
MapSearch

Orientační plán král. hl. města Prahy a obcí sousedních, 1910-1914

Břetislav Hůla

Baedeker

Královy lázně is indirectly mentioned by Švejk when he in blázinec is asked if he enjoys likes getting a bath. "It is better than at the baths by Charles Bridge", is the answer.

Background

Královy lázně was a public bath at the end of Karlův most and is listed on the address Karoliny Světlé 43, indicated on the map. This is confirmed by Baedeker Österreich 1913 that refers to them as Königsbad.

Some baths north of the bridge are also shown, called Gemeindebad (Municipal Bath). This was more likely an open-air bath and to judge by the description in the novel, Švejk is almost certainly talking about the more luxurious indoor Royal Baths.

Břetislav Hůla refers to the bath as Karlovy lázně (Charles' Bath) and this corresponds to the entry in the address book of 1936. It is not known when exactly the renaming took place.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.4] V koupelně ho potopili do vany s teplou vodou a pak ho vytáhli a postavili pod studenou sprchu. To s ním opakovali třikrát a pak se ho optali, jak se mu to líbí. Švejk řekl, že je to lepší než v těch lázních u Karlova mostu a že se velmi rád koupe.

Sources: Archiv Hlavního Města Prahy (Sbírka map a plánů)

Also written:Royal BathenKönigsbadde

Literature

• Adresář královského hlavního města Prahy a obcí sousedníchObec Pražská1910
• Adresář hlavního města PrahyStátní tiskárna1936
• Královy lážněNárodní politika3.10.1888

	Regimentskanzlei Budweis
Karlín/20, Palackého třída 10
Wikipedia de MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Regimentskanzlei Budweis is mentioned by Švejk when he tells the medical commission at blázinec that he has been released from the army due to feeblemindedness. He adds that this can be confirmed at the Ergänzungskommando in Karlín or the regimental office in Budějovice.

Background

Regimentskanzlei Budweis (main regimental staff office) was in 1914 stationed in Karlín and not in Budějovice as Švejk claims. When the war started, several regimental functions were indeed located in Ferdinandova kasárna in Karlín: 2. field battalion, regimental staff and IR. 91 regimental command itself. This inconsistency is probably due to a mix-up with the Ergänzungsbezirkskommando which together with the 4th battalion and Ersatzbataillon IR. 91 were indeed stationed in Budějovice.

We should also take into account that the barracks in Karlín were converted to a Red Cross reserve hospital soon after the outbreak of war and that the administrative functions of the regiment would now have been moved, some of them no doubt to Budějovice, and others to the front. See Ergänzungskommando.

The good soldier Švejk in captivity

In Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí the regiment's office and the barracks where it was located the starting point of the plot. Švejk resisted attempt to dismiss him from the army, he wanted to serve his emperor. It is also informed that the barracks were built by emperor Josef II.[1]

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.4] „Já, pánové,“ hájil se Švejk, „nejsem žádný simulant, já jsem opravdovej blbec, můžete se zpravit v kanceláři jednadevadesátýho pluku v Českých Budějovicích nebo na doplňovacím velitelství v Karlíně.“

Also written:Regimental officeenPlukové kancelářczRegimentskontoretno

Literature

• Vojenské posádky v Budějovicích v roce 1906Jan Ciglbauer
• Besuch in der FerdinandskaserneBohemia13.9.1914

	Ergänzungskommando
Budějovice, Pekárenská ulice
Wikipedia de MapSearch Švejkův slovník

IR91, Seidels kleines Armeeschema August 1914

91. Ergänzungsbezirk

Ergänzungskommando is mentioned by Švejk when he tells the medical commission at blázinec that he has been released from the army due to feeble-mindedness. He adds that this can be confirmed at the reserve command in Karlín or Regimentskanzlei Budweis in Budějovice.

Background

Ergänzungskommando by near certainty refers to Ergänzungsbezirkskommando Budweis. It was located in Backhaus in Budějovice (Pekárenská ulice) and not in Karlín as Švejk tells the doctors. At the outbreak of war, several other regimental functions resided Ferdinandova kasárna in Karlín: III. Feldbataillon, regimental staff and IR. 91 Regimentskommando itself. We may therefore be witnessing a straight mix-up between Regimentskanzlei Budweis and Ergänzungsbezirkskommando. Both are mentioned in the same sentence, so Švejk appears to have swapped the respective locations.

The district reserve command Budweis (until 1912 Nr. 91 Budweis) was resposible for draft and call-up of reserves in Ergänzungsbezirk Budweis, see map. The recruitment district covered five hejtmanství: Budějovice, Týn nad Vltavou, Kaplice, Krumlov and Prachatice. The army units that the district provided recruits for were IR. 91 and 14. Dragonerregiment.

Commander in 1914 was colonel Johann Splichal but he was sent to the front soon after hostilities began, and it is not clear who replaced him. Splichal was also head of Ersatzbataillon IR. 91, and in this role, he was replaced by Karl Schlager. It may also be that the latter also succeeded him as head of the district reserve command. Usually, these two positions were held by the same officer. That would however not have been the case after 1 June 1915 when the replacement battalion was transferred to Királyhida, whereas the recruitment command for obvious reasons remained in its home district.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.4] „Já, pánové,“ hájil se Švejk, „nejsem žádný simulant, já jsem opravdovej blbec, můžete se zpravit v kanceláři jednadevadesátýho pluku v Českých Budějovicích nebo na doplňovacím velitelství v Karlíně.“

[II.2] Že jsem mohl být felddienstunfähig. Taková ohromná protekce! Mohl jsem se válet někde v kanceláři na doplňovacím velitelství, ale má neopatrnost mně podrazila nohy.“

Also written:Replenishment commandenDoplňovací velitelstvíczRekrutteringskommandono

Literature

• Vojenské posádky v Budějovicích v roce 1906Jan Ciglbauer

	Policejní komisařství Salmova ulice
Praha II./507, Salmovská ul. 20
MapSearch Švejkova cesta Švejkův slovník

Politický kalendář, 1910

Plan von Prag und Umgebung, 1910

Zum Wortschatz des tschechischen Rotwelsch, Eugen Rippl, 1926

Ve dvou se to lépe táhne, I., Z.M. Kuděj

Denní raport - c.k. okresního policejního komisařství III.z. 31./12. 1908

Československá republika, 26.6.1926

Policejní komisařství Salmova ulice is the scene of a full chapter in the novel. Švejk is taken straight here after refusing the leave blázinec without lunch. His first encounter is with the brutal police inspector Inspektor Braun but then the plot revolves mostly around a conversation with his fellow inmate, a very solid citizen who for the moment has slid off the path of virtue. Švejk does his utmost to convince him that his situation is hopeless.

The stay here was only one afternoon, and Švejk taken to the first floor for interrogation, this time by a fat and friendly police officer. Under escort he is led from the guard house (see Strážnice) on the ground floor onwards to c.k. policejní ředitelství. It was on the way he read the emperor's declaration of war.

Background

Policejní komisařství Salmova ulice was the police station of the 3rd police district (Hořejší Nové Město - Upper New Town) in Prague, called "Salmovka" in common speech. It was located on the corner of Ječná ulice and Salmovská ulice. The police station was operating until 29 June 1926 when it was moved to Krakovská ulice where it is still located. The building was subsequently demolished and in 1928 the current edifice was erected on the site.

The station was often called "Salmovka" in day-to-day speech, a term used by e.g. Zdeněk Matěj Kuděj in one of his books about Jaroslav Hašek (Ve dvou se to lépe táhne, 1924). The term is also listed in a German-language dictionary of Czech slang (Eugen Rippl, 1926).

Chief inspector in 1906 and until 1910 was Karel Fahoun, and he was succeeded by Antonín Sklenička. No evidence has been found, in address books or elsewhere, that any Inspektor Braun ever served here.

Hašek at Salmovská

This is a police station that Jaroslav Hašek knew well, because it within this police district he was born and grew up. Also in his adult life he for the most part lived within its jurisdiction. He was christened in Kostel sv. Štefána in the immediate vicinity and on several occasions he lived only a few steps away. It has also been claimed that the author was a personal friend of police chief Karel Fahoun and his family but Břetislav Hůla refutes this claim after consulting Fahoun's son.

Police records from 1902 to 1912 reveal that Jaroslav Hašek was brought to the station several times. Most of the cases refer to breaches of public order and small-scale vandalism, induced by drinking. On New Years eve 1908 he and the Croat student Rudolf Giunio were arrested and locked up here after a pub brawl. Hašek was handed five days in prison for his efforts. See Bendlovka for more information about this incident.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.5] Švejk prohlásil, že když někoho vyhazují s blázince, že ho nesmějí vyhodit bez oběda. Výtržnosti učinil konec vrátným přivolaný policejní strážník, který Švejka předvedl na policejní komisařství; do Salmovy ulice.

[I.5] „Víte co, Švejku,“ řekl vlídně pan komisař, „nač se zde, na Salmovce, máme s vámi zlobit? Nebude lepší, když vás pošleme na policejní ředitelství?“

Sources: Hůla, Sergey Soloukh, Jaroslav Šerák

Also written:District police station No. 3enPolizeikommisariat Nr. IIIdeBydelspolitistasjon Nr. 3no

Literature

• Československý kompasPraha - hlavní město republiky Československé1923
• Politický kalendář ..., 1906Policejní komisařství
• Politický kalendář ..., 1917C.k. policejní komisařství
• Sebevražda plynem v novostavběNárodní listy18.6.1928

	Emauzský klášter
Praha II./320, na Slovanech 1
Wikipedia czdeen MapSearch Švejkův slovník

The monastery at the turn of the century

Address book 1907

Emauzský klášter is the place where a monk is supposed to have hung himself in a crucifix according to Švejk. This is a story he tells his unfortunate cell-mate at Salmova ulice police station, when the latter wants to hang himself.

The monastery is mentioned again in [I.9] as the place where Feldkurat Katz was baptised. The priest who christened him was páter Albán, see páter Albán.

In [I.13] the monastery is mentioned for the third time, now by Švejk who tells Feldkurat Katz about a gardening assistant who worked there.

Background

Emauzský klášter is a Benedictine monastery in Prague, located south of Karlovo náměstí. It was founded by emperor Charles IV in 1347. The abovementioned páter Albán served as abbot here from 1908 until 1918 and during the war a part of the monastery was converted to a hospital for soldiers.

After the proclamation of Czechoslovak independence on 28 October 1918 the abbot and the German monks left the country after they were subjected to harassment from crowds and militia groups. This was caused by accusations in the press, one of them being that they spied for Germany.

The monastery was badly damaged during an allied bomb raid in 1945, and was reconstructed in a somewhat different style after the war. It was confiscated by both the Nazis (1941) and the communists (1950) but was in 1990 returned to the Benedictine order.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.5] Ledaže byste se pověsil vkleče u pryčny, jako to udělal ten mnich v klášteře v Emauzích, co se oběsil na krucifixu kvůli jedný mladý židovce.

[I.9] Křtili ho slavnostně v Emauzích. Sám páter Albán ho na máčel do křtitelnice.

[I.13] "Tak si koupíme katechismus, pane feldkurát, tam to bude," řekl Švejk, "to je jako průvodčí cizinců pro duchovní pastýře. V Emauzích pracoval v klášteře jeden zahradnickej pomocník, ...

Also written:Emmaus MonasteryenEmmausklosterdeCloître d'EmmaüsfrEmmausklosteretno

Literature

• Pohled do vojenské nemocnice v pražském klášteře emauzskémČeský svět2.10.1914
• Historie Emauzského opatstvíEmauzké opatství
• Klášter EmauzyRadio PrahaZdeňka Kuchyňová

	Bendlovka
Praha II./1867, Fügnerovo nám. 2
MapSearch Švejkova cesta Švejkův slovník

Břetislav Hůla, 1951

© AHMP

Denní raport - c.k. okresního policejního komisařství III.z. 31./12. 1908

Bendlovka is mentioned in a story Švejk "comforts" his cell-mate at Policejní komisařství Salmova ulice with. Švejk had once at Bendlovka slapped an undertaker, who had returned the compliment. The next day it was in the newspapers.

Background

Bendlovka is by near certainty an alternative term for Bendova kavárna (also Bendovka), a former tavern in Nové město that Jaroslav Hašek knew well. In his explanations from 1951 Břetislav Hůla identifies it as a night-café in Sokolská ulice and is supported by Radko Pytlík who locates it to the corner of Sokolská and Fügnerovo náměstí. The location was next to Apollo, and on the opposite corner of the square was U Šolců, another of Hašek's favourite taverns.

Hašek and Bendovka

A well documented incident that involved the author took place here on 31 December 1908. According to police reports Jaroslav Hašek was involved in a brawl in the café during the small hours of the morning. He and Croatian technical student Rudolf Giunio refused to pay the bill, an argument erupted and glasses were broken. When the patrol-man Slepička arrived the humorist knocked the hat off his head so reinforcements were called. The two troublemakers were subsequently taken to Policejní komisařství Salmova ulice and were released the next morning.

Opočenský remembers

Another brawl involving the author is recorded by his friend Gustav Roger Opočenský’s in his book about Jaroslav Hašek (1948). It was written almost 40 years after the incident, but there is little reason to doubt the essence of the story: a clash between the author and some employee of a funeral agency erupted at Bendovka. It took place “in the small hours of one hot spring Saturday evening, a few years before the war”. This story has certain parallels to both the 1908 incident, but also to the passage in The Good Soldier Švejk. Otherwise Opočenský writes that Bendova kavárna offered live music, had marble tables, and was open until early in the morning, and the beer was cheap and poor. By the time he wrote his book the premises were occupied by some printing works.

Strána mírného pokroku

Jaroslav Hašek devotes a story to Opočenský in his collection of tales about Strana mírného pokroku v mezích zákona and also here the night café is mentioned (as Bendova kavárna) and even in the same breath as Apollo. In another story the term "v Bendlovce" is used in the same manner as in the novel. It seems to refer to a tavern (or at least a place where people met). Jaroslav Hašek had a few showdowns with a certain editor of České slovo here. The editor was of “Mosaic confession”.

In the papers

Národní politika, 20.8.1910

Národní politika, 3.11.1907

Newspaper reports confirm some of the information from Opočenský and also adds information about dancing arrangements. The café was operating at least from 1900 until the autumn of 1914, but at two locations. In the spring of 1905 the license of Marie Bendová was transferred from Nové město house No. 1816 to No. 1867. An advert from the first autumn of war reveals that opening times were by now shortened, to two in the morning, a common occurrence all over Austria-Hungary after the war broke out.

From time to time adverts seeking employees appeared, but reports about thefts, drunkenness and fighting were more prominent. Jaroslav Hašek was not the only troublemaker here. Here are just some of the incidents: in 1908 three German students caused serious trouble (reported in several newspapers) and in 1913 a stabbing incident was reported by Čech.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.5] Nebo v Bendlovce jsem dal jednou jednomu funebrákovi facku a on mně ji vrátil. Abychom se smířili, museli nás oba zatknout, a hned to bylo v odpoledníčku.

Sources: Hůla, Radko Pytlík, Jaroslav Šerák, Gustav Roger Opočenský

Literature

• Kavárenská strakaNárodní politika14.4.1900
• Přeložení živnosti bylo schválenoHostimil5.4.1905
• Bendova kavárnaNárodní politika8.9.1907
• Pozor! Taneční zabáva!Národní politika31.12.1907
• Z nočního působení buršákůNárodní listy21.11.1908
• Krvavá noční rvačkaČech11.3.1913
• Pomstil seČech28.12.1913
• Kavárna BendaNárodní politika8.11.1914

	U mrtvoly
Praha II./310, Karlovo nám. 13
MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Picture from 1926

Břetislav Hůla

U mrtvoly is mentioned in a story Švejk tells to "encourage" his fellow prisoner Policejní komisařství Salmova ulice. See Bendlovka.

Background

U mrtvoly has not been identified with certainty, but was in all probability a café at Karlovo náměstí, at the corner of Resslova ulice. The building which amongst others housed Pivovar U Šálků was demolished in 1939. There was a kavárna in the building, with entrance at Karlovo náměstí but the pictures do not reveal any name.

The address book from 1910 has an entry café "Rubáš" here and this gives a hint: "Rubáš" means "shroud" and "mrtvola" means "carcass/body". Břetislav Hůla states that U mrtvoly was a café opposite the technical college and this fits well.The owner in 1910 was Antonie Laadtová who in 1901 obtained the license to run the café[a].

A newspaper article in Národní listy in 1922 reveals that it by then had been renamed Děvín[a], but no further information relating to this name has been found. Vilém Mrštík also mentions the place in his novel Santa Lucia from 1893.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.5] Nebo když v kavárně „U mrtvoly“ rozbil ten pan rada dva tácky, myslíte, že ho šetřili? Byl taky na druhej den hned v novinách.

Sources: Hůla, Jaroslav Šerák

Also written:At the CorpseenZum LeichnamdeVed Liketno

Literature

• Románové restaurační a jiné zábavní podnikyJaroslav Šerák2009 - 2021

	Strážnice
Praha II./507, Ječná ul. 6
MapSearch

Strážnice is briefly mentioned when Švejk is led onwards from the police station in Salmovská ulice. From the novel it is clear that the guard is on street level because Švejk was interrogated on the first floor and was taken down to the guard room before he was escorted onwards.

Background

Strážnice was the guard house at the police station at Salmovská ulice. It was located in the same building as the police station but the entrance was from Ječná ulice. See Policejní komisařství Salmova ulice.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.5] Ukloniv se uctivě, odcházel s policejním strážníkem dolů na strážnici a za čtvrt hodiny bylo již vidět na rohu Ječné ulice a Karlova náměstí Švejka v průvodu druhého policejního strážníka, který měl pod paždí objemnou knihu s německým nápisem „Arrestantenbuch“.

Also written:GuardroomenWachstubedeVaktromno

	Kostel svatého Apolináře
Praha II./443, Apolinářská 20
Wikipedia czdeen MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Rozkvět, 10.9.1911

Kostel svatého Apolináře is mentioned in the narrative because the servant from church was at U kalicha when Švejk dropped by the pub after his final release from c.k. policejní ředitelství. This was probably on 29 July 1914 because Austria-Hungary had just declared war on Serbia.

Background

Kostel svatého Apolináře is a church in Nové město which is located only a few hundred meters from U kalicha. It was built in the 15th century and named after Apollinaris of Ravenna.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.6] Ve výčepu panovalo hrobové ticho. Sedělo tam několik hostů, mezi nimi kostelník od sv. Apolináře.

Also written:Church of Saint ApollinaireenApollinarkirchede

Literature

• Kostel sv. Apolináře na VětrověHrady.cz
• Gotische Schmuckfresken und verstummte OrgelRadio Praha

	Volná myšlenka
Královské Vinohrady/588, Korunní tř. 6
Wikipedia czdeennn MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Věstník volné myšlenky, 1910

Karel Pelant. Volná myšlenka, 1.2.1925

Volná myšlenka is mentioned in when pubkeeper Palivec cries out in court: "Long live Free thought!". This is what Mrs. Palivcová tells Švejk when he returns to U kalicha after having been released at the time war broke out.

Background

Volná myšlenka was an association of freethinkers, an anticlerical an atheist movement that appeared in many countries in the 19th century. The best known freethinker internationally was Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia (1859-1909).

The Czech organisation was founded in 1904, and provisionally dissolved in 1915. The best known representative of the Czech organisation was Machar, chairman from 1909. The organization also published a monthly periodical of the same name. Their most immediate goal was separation of state and church.

Karel Pelant (1874 - 1925) was one of the founders of the Czech section and this was a person Hašek knew well. Zdeněk Matěj Kuděj describes a meeting between the two in Plzeň in 1913 that was arranged after Pelant, at the time editor of the weekly Směr, owed Hašek money for a few stories he had written.

Pelant also appears in Strana mírného pokroku v mezích zákona and is listed as publishers of the Freethinker's monthly.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.6] Já jsem se tak lekla toho příbuzenského poměru, aby snad ještě z toho něco nebylo, tak jsem se vzdala svědectví a on chudák stará se tak na mne podíval, do smrti na ty jeho oči nezapomenu. A potom, po rozsudku, když ho odváděli, vykřik jim tam na chodbě, jak byl z toho cele] pitomej: ,Ať žije Volná myšlenka!`

Literature

• Volná myšlenkaJaroslav Šerák
• Vzpomínka čecha na letošní sjezd volné myšlenky v BruseluČeský svět14.10.1910

	Mimosa
Praha I./496, Havelská ul. 31
MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Právo lidu, 16.5.1914

Mimosa is mentioned because the doorman who had occupied Švejks room worked here.

Background

Mimosa was a well known night café that doesn't exist anymore. The Czech-Jewish reporter Egon Erwin Kisch set the plot of his only novel here. Der Mädchenhirt (The Pimp) was published in May 1914. In the address book of 1910 another café is listed at number 496/31: U Hvězdičky tři zlaté, but already in 1913 newspaper adverts revealed that Mimosa was operating. The café offered music and entertainment and to judge by adverts it started operating early in 1913.

In February 1917 Čech reported that the establishment had been forced to close down on demand from the police[a].

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.6] Když si bral límeček a skládal kravatu, vzpamatoval se již do té míry, že mohl ujistit Švejka, že noční kavárna „Mimosa“ jest opravdu jedna z nejslušnějších nočních místností, kam mají přístup jedině dámy, které mají policejní knížku v úplném pořádku, a zval Švejka srdečně, aby přišel na návštěvu.

Sources: Jaroslav Šerák, Radko Pytlík

Literature

• Románové restaurační a jiné zábavní podnikyJaroslav Šerák2009 - 2021
• Ein prager Roman von Egon Erwin KischPrager Tagblatt2.5.1914

	K.u.k. Kriegsministerium
Wien I./-, Stubenring 1
Wikipedia deenit MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Stubenring 1, neues Kriegsministerium; Foto: A. Stauda (um 1914)

Seidels kleines Armeeschema,1914

K.u.k. Kriegsministerium is mentioned by the author when he informs that the ministry remembered Švejk at the time when the Austrians where fleeing across Raba, and that Švejk was to help them out of the difficult situation.

The ministery appears again at the start of [I.13] when Feldkurat Katz receives a directive about how to adminster the last rites. In [II.1] the author notes that issued the propaganda posters that Švejk read at the station in Tábor (see Trainsoldat Bong and Zugsführer Danko).

When Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek describes Fähnrich Dauerling the ministry is mentioned twice. They allegedly published the book Drill oder Erziehung* and Marek also claims that this is where the most stupid officers end up.

* Drill oder Erziehung was published by L.W Seidel & Sohn, not by Kriegsministerium. The author was Johann Orth.

Background

K.u.k. Kriegsministerium was the common ministery of war of Austria-Hungary, one of the three ministeries that the two constituent parts of the Dual Monarchy shared. Minister of War from 1912 until 1917 was Alexander von Krobatin. He was regarded as one of the hawks, who wanted to settle scores with Serbia at the slighest pretext. As can be seen on the picture he gave audience to civilians two hours every week.

The war ministry was not responsible for k.k. Landwehr and Honvéd, the territorial armies of the two parts of the empire. The formal status Švejk held with regards to the ministery is unclear. He was classified as Landsturm (domobranec), reservists that were only called up on in great danger to the motherland.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.7] V době, kdy lesy na řece Rábu v Haliči viděly utíkat přes Ráb rakouská vojska a dole v Srbsku rakouské divise jedna za druhou dostávaly přes kalhoty to, co jim dávno patřilo, vzpomnělo si rakouské ministerstvo vojenství i na Švejka, aby pomohl mocnářství z bryndy.

[I.13] Polní kurát Otto Katz seděl zadumané nad cirkulářem, který právě přinesl z kasáren. Byl to rezervát ministerstva vojenství

[I.15] Zatraceně, proč ministerstvo vojenství dává takové věci do školního programu. To je přece pro dělostřelectvo.

[II.1] Strážnice byla vyzdobena litografiemi, které v té době dalo rozesílat ministerstvo vojenství po všech kancelářích, kterými procházeli vojáci, stejně jako do škol i do kasáren.

[II.2] A seshora ho bombardovali přípisy, ve kterých ministerstvo zemské obrany poukazovalo, že z píseckého okresu podle zpráv ministerstva vojenství přecházejí k nepříteli.

[II.2] Jeho hloupost byla tak oslňující, že byla největší naděje, že snad po několika desetiletích dostane se do tereziánské vojenské akademie či do ministerstva vojenství.

[II.2] Jednoroční dobrovolník si oddechl a vypravoval dál: „Vyšla nákladem ministerstva vojenství kniha ,Drill oder Erziehung’, ze které vyčetl Dauerling, že na vojáky patří hrůza.

[II.3] Že psaní pošle na velitelství pluku, do ministerstva vojenství, uveřejní je v novinách.

Also written:I. and R. Ministry of WarenC. a k. ministerstvo vojenstvícz

Literature

• Heerwesen, 2. TeilHugo Schmied1916
• Zentralleitung und MilitärbehördenSeidels kleines Armeeschema1914
• 100 Jahre RegierungsgebäudeDas Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft
• RegierungsgebäudeWien Geschichte Wiki

	Infanterieregiment Nr. 18
Hradec Králové/-, - -
Wikipedia de MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Der Oberste Kriegsherr und sein Stab,1908

Militärschematismus..., 1859

Infanterieregiment Nr. 18 is mentioned in the song Jenerál Windischgrätz a vojenští páni through the term "the eighteenth band". See Solferino and Piedmont.

Background

Infanterieregiment Nr. 18 was an infantry regiment with recruitment district Hradec Králové that took part in nearly every war the Habsburg Empire fought ever since the regiment was founded in 1682.

The theme of the song is the battle of Solferino that decided the outcome of the Second Italian war of independence in 1859. During the battle only the regiment's 4th battalion was involved, the other battalions were fortunate enough to be assigned border duty.

In 1914 the bulk of the regiment's soldiers were Czechs (75 per cent), the rest Germans.

An alternative version

Václav Pletka claims that the "18th gang" refers to a Feldjägerbataillon from Prague that was dissolved in 1893[a]. This seems however unlikely as none of the 29 Jäger-Bataillone where in 1859 garrisoned in Prague. Feldjägerbataillon Nr. 18 was located in Krumau but it remains to be investigated whether it participated by Solferino.

The good soldier Švejk in captivity

Some verses of the song about General Windischgrätz are also quoted in Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí and in a context that is very similar.[1]

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.7] Krve po kolena a na fůry masa, vždyť se tam seka vosumnáctá chasa, hop, hop, hop!

Literature

• 1859 - C.k. řadový pěší pluk č.18 v bitvě u SolferinaHistorický C. k. řadový pěší pluk č. 18z.s.
• Militärschematismus des Österreichischen KaisertumsK.K. Hof und Staatsdruckerei1859
• Der Oberste Kriegsherr und sein StabAlexander Duschnitz1908

	Pražské úřední noviny
Praha III./387, Karmelitská ul. 6
MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Adresář královského hlavního města Prahy a obcí sousedních, 1907

Prager Abendblatt,30.11.1914

Prager Tagblatt,5.7.1914

Prager Tagblatt,8.9.1914

Pražské úřední noviny prints a glowing homage to the patriotic cripple Švejk after he was pushed to the draft commission in a wheelchair. The title was: "Patriotism of a cripple".

Background

Pražské úřední noviny is not listed in the newspaper section of the address books of 1907 and 1910, but there is little doubt that the author refers to the publications of c.k. Místodržitelství (k.k. Statthalterei), often referred to by this or similar names like Pražské úřední listy, in German Prager Amtsblätter. These newspapers were mouthpieces of the Austrian authorities in Bohemia, headed by the Statthalter (governor).

The newspapers were published in Czech and German, with one official and one regular commercial part. The main periodical was Prager Zeitung in German, in Czech Pražské Noviny. Both were morning papers that were published every day except Monday. In the afternoon of working days they also published Prager Abendblatt, albeit in German only. Official announcements were printed in a separate add-on on weekdays: Úřední list Pražských Novin and Amtsblatt der Prager Zeitung respectively. On Sundays an entertainment magazine was added.

The editorial offices were located in Malá Strana, right behind Kampa island[a]. Some time between 1907 and 1910 they changed address, but were still in the same block. Editor in chief for all the papers was Aladar Guido Przedak, for the Czech part Jan Svátek. Przedak (1857-1926) was the chief editor from 1900 until 1918 and also bore the title k.u.k. Regierungsrat. The circulation of Prager Abendblatt was quintupled during his reign as editor[b].

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.7] O celé této události objevil se v „Pražských úředních novinách“ tento článek:

[I.7] Vlastenectví mrzáka. Včera dopoledne byli chodci na hlavních pražských třídách svědky scény, která krásně mluví o tom, že v této veliké a vážné době i synové našeho národa mohou dáti nejskvělejší příklady věrnosti a oddanosti k trůnu stařičkého mocnáře. Zdá se nám, že se vrátily doby starých Řeků a Římanů, kdy Mucius Scaevola dal se odvésti do boje, nedbaje své upálené ruky. Nejsvětější city a zájmy byly včera krásně demonstrovány mrzákem o berlích, kterého stará matička vezla na vozíku pro nemocné. Tento syn českého národa dobrovolně, nedbaje své neduživosti, dal se odvésti na vojnu, aby dal svůj život i statky za svého císaře. A jestli jeho volání „Na Bělehrad!“ mělo tak živý ohlas v pražských ulicích, jest to jen svědectvím, že Pražané skýtají vzorné příklady lásky k vlasti a k panovnickému domu.

[I.8] Zatímco jsem seděl, děly se v kasárnách divy. Náš obršt zakázal vojákům vůbec číst, třebas by to byly ,Pražské úřední noviny’, v kantině nesměli balit do novin ani párky, ani syrečky. Vod tý doby vojáci začli číst a náš regiment byl nejvzdělanější.

Also written:Prague Official NewspaperenPrager AmtszeitungdePraha Amtstidendeno

Literature

• Prager AbendblattPrager Abendblatt1914

	Prager Tagblatt
Praha I./896, Panská ul. 12
Wikipedia czdeenno MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Prager Tagblatt,1.12.1914

Listed in the 1910 address book.

Prager Tagblatt,5.1.1923

Prager Tagblatt,17.1.1926

Prager Tagblatt briefly notes that Švejk was protected by Germans against Czech agents from the Entente who wanted to lynch him on his way to Střelecký ostrov.

The newspapers features again in connection with the theft of Fox. The dog's owner, Oberst Kraus, placed adverts both here and in Bohemia where he promises a reward of 100 crowns.

Background

Prager Tagblatt was a German language daily published in Prague from 1877 until 1939. The paper had a reputation for outstanding journalistic qualities, and was regarded as one of the very best German-language newspapers of its time. It was over the years associated with a number of distinguished writers, amongst them Max Brod, Egon Erwin Kisch, Josef Roth, Michal Mareš and Friedrich Torberg. Franz Kafka was also amongst those who contributed to the newspaper and he was also an avid reader of it.

During World War I the paper aligned with the propaganda, but was often the victim of censorship, and put more emphasis on the human costs of the war than many other papers. In the inter-war years the daily re-established its reputation for journalistic excellence, but hardly two months after the German invasion in March 1939 it was closed for good. The numerous Jewish staff had been dismissed already during the days after the invasion.

Politically it was regarded as liberal-democratic, and in Czech address books it is listed as "German progressive". Chief editor in 1910 was Gustav Horn. The editorial and administration offices were located in Panská ulice (Herrengasse)[c], incidentally very close to where Oberst Kraus caught Oberleutnant Lukáš red-handed with the stolen Fox.

Prager Tagblatt and Hašek

After Jaroslav Hašek's death on 3 January 1923 Prager Tagblatt played a major role in acknowledging and spreading the word about the late author and his satirical masterpiece. This was largely thanks to Max Brod, a writer and journalist who is better known as the custodian of Franz Kafka's literary heritage.

Already on 5 January the paper printed an obituary[a], and Brod's own translation of the first chapter of The Good Soldier Švejk appeared in the same issue[b]. During the next fifteen years Švejk and Hašek showed up repeatedly in the newspaper's columns, particularly in 1926 when the full translation into German by Grete Reiner was published. At least seven of Hašek's short stories (translated into German) were printed in Prager Tagblatt in the years after the author's death.

The good soldier Švejk in captivity

In Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí Prager Tagblatt is also mentioned but in a differnt setting. In Švejk's cell at c.k. policejní ředitelství was sitting a higher official from the governor's office who had been arrested in front of their editorial offices in Panská ulice.[1]

Švejk greift in den Weltkrieg ein (Max Brod)

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.7] Ve stejném smyslu psal i „Prager Tagblatt“, který končil svůj článek slovy, že mrzáka dobrovolce vyprovázel zástup Němců, kteří ho svými těly chránili před lynchováním ze strany českých agentů známé Dohody.

[I.15] „Pane nadporučíku,“ pokračoval plukovník, „považujete za správné jezdit na ukradeném koni? Nečetl jste inserát v ,Bohemii’ a v ,Tagblattu’, že se mně ztratil stájový pinč?

[I.15] V tiché resignaci seděl nadporučík na židli a měl takový pocit, že nemá tolik síly nejen dát Švejkovi pohlavek, ale dokonce ukroutit si cigaretu, a sám nevěděl ani, proč posílá Švejka pro „Bohemii“ a „Tagblatt“, aby si Švejk přečetl plukovníkův inserát o ukradeném psu.

Literature

• ---

• Theater AdriePrager Tagblatt25.12.1921
• Der brave Soldat Švejk ist dem Ministerium zu schlimm...Prager Tagblatt22.2.1925
• Ein Blick ins AtelierPrager Tagblatt29.1.1926
• Der brave Soldat Schwejk im WeltkriegPrager Tagblatt8.5.1926
• Hašek in deustcher SprachePrager Tagblatt4.9.1926
• Der gute Soldat Švejk vor GerichtPrager Tagblatt6.3.1924
• Abenteuer des braven Soldaten HašekPrager Tagblatt23.12.1926

• ---

• Mužné zakročení pana Silberbergra proti TagblattuHumoristické listyJaroslav Hašek11.12.1908
• Smutný konec válečného zpravodaje Prager TagblattuKarikaturyEduard Drobílek25.11.1912

	Bohemia
Praha I./211, Liliova ul. 13
Wikipedia deen MapSearch Švejkův slovník

The first issue after the change of names

Deutsche Zeitung Bohemia,15.11.1914

Ferdinand Mestek de Podskal, E.E. Kisch

Bohemia,5.7.1914

Bohemia published an article that resembled the one from Prager Tagblatt about the cripple Švejk and his journey in a wheelchair. It adds that gifts for the benefit of the soldier can be presented at the administrative office. In the next chapter it becomes clear that it was in this paper Baronesse von Botzenheim read about the keen soldier.

In [I.14] the newspaper is mentioned again as Oberst Kraus placed an advert about the missing dog and offered a reward of 100 crowns.

On the train to Tábor [II.1] it is revealed that even Oberleutnant Lukáš reads Bohemia.

Background

Bohemia was a German-language daily published in Prague from 1828 til 1938, associated with the German Liberal Party. During the war they took a strongly patriotic stance, and from 15 November 1914 even changed the name to Deutsche Zeitung Bohemia. The editorial and administration offices were located in Liliova ulice in Staré město and chief editor in 1914 was Andreas Haase. He held the position for an impressive 40 years, from 1879 to 1919.

E.E. Kisch

Their best known reporter was without doubt the legendary Egon Erwin Kisch. He worked for the paper from 1906 to 1913, and published many reports from Prague, mainly focused on the shady underworld. Kisch dedicated a feuilleton to flea circus director Mestek, mentions murderer Valeš and negro Kristian, and wrote about a number of watering holes that are familiar to readers of The Good Soldier Švejk: Apollo, Tunel, U Kocanů, Montmartre, U Brejšky a.o.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.7] „Bohemie“ uveřejnila tuto zprávu žádajíc, aby mrzák vlastenec byl odměněn, a oznámila, že pro neznámého přijímá od německých občanů dárky v administraci listu.

[I.15] „Pane nadporučíku,“ pokračoval plukovník, „považujete za správné jezdit na ukradeném koni? Nečetl jste inserát v ,Bohemii’ a v ,Tagblattu’, že se mně ztratil stájový pinč?

[I.15] V tiché resignaci seděl nadporučík na židli a měl takový pocit, že nemá tolik síly nejen dát Švejkovi pohlavek, ale dokonce ukroutit si cigaretu, a sám nevěděl ani, proč posílá Švejka pro „Bohemii“ a „Tagblatt“, aby si Švejk přečetl plukovníkův inserát o ukradeném psu.

[II.1] Nadporučíkovi bezděčně zacvakaly zuby, vzdychl si, vytáhl z pláště „Bohemii“ a četl zprávy o velkých vítězstvích, o činnosti německé ponorky „E“ na Středozemním moři...

Literature

• Bohemia, 1910Andreas Haase
• Adresář královského hlavního města Prahy a obcí sousedníchVojtěch Kraus1910
• Egon Erwin Kisch 1885-1948Lebendiges Museum Online
• Egon Erwin KischWikipedia.de

	Odvodní komise
Praha I./336, Střelecký ostrov -
MapSearch Švejkova cesta Švejkův slovník

The draft commission on 31 December 1914

Oveview of Landsturm medical examination commissions in Prague

Čech,8.11.1914

Odvodní komise is the Czech name for Draft commission, the body that examined Švejk at Střelecký ostrov. Head of the commission was the infamous Doctor Bautze.

Background

Odvodní komise refers in this context to Landsturmmusterungskommision No. 1, a temporary body who were tasked with carrying out a renewed medical examination of Landsturm recruits who in peace time had either been declared unfit for armed service (Waffenunfähig) or had been dismissed from the armed forces after initially having started their military service (Superarbitriert).

Commission no. 1 was responsible for recruits who lived in Prague and had Heimatrecht in the city. In addition it examined residents of Prague with right of domicile elsewhere, if these were born from 1878 to 1883. Jaroslav Hašek belonged to the latter group (right of domicile Mydlovary, born 1883) and necessarily also Švejk. As a soldier in Infanterieregiment Nr. 91 his right of domicile must have been in Heeresergänzungsbezirk Nr. 91. See Ergänzungskommando.

The commission started the examinations on 1 October 1914 when those born from 1892 to 1894 were called in. Amongst this group more than half were deemed fit for service. From 16 November to 31 December it was the turn of those born from 1878 to 1890. Amongst this group far fewer were passed capable Tauglich, less than one third. This latter group is the most interesting for us as it was here Jaroslav Hašek fit in. Everything indicates that also Švejk belonged to this group and was thus born between 1878 and 1883. On 20 January 1915 it was announced that those passed for service were to report at their Ergänzungskommando on 15 February.

The examinations took place in the garden restaurant at Střelecký ostrov, on the southern part of the island. The restaurant was in 1914 a popular destination.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.7] Když Švejk revírnímu inspektorovi ukázal, že to má černé na bílém, že dne musí před odvodní komisi, byl revírní inspektor trochu zklamán; kvůli zamezení výtržnosti dal doprovázet vozík se Švejkem dvěma jízdními strážníky na Střelecký ostrov.

Also written:Draft commissionenMusterungskommisiondeMønstringskommisjonenno

Literature

• Svolávací vyhláška EMagistrát král. hlav. města Prahy22.10.1914
• Prodlídka domobrancůMagistrát král. hlav. města Prahy9.11.1914
• Svolávací vyhláškaNárodní listy20.1.1915
• Einberufung der Landsturmjahrgange 1878-1886Budweiser Zeitung22.1.1915
• Anekdota o Jaroslavu HaškoviKopřivy5.12.1918
• Románové restaurační a jiné zábavní podnikyJaroslav Šerák2009 - 2021

	Posádková věznice
Praha IV./214, Kapucínská 2
Wikipedia czen MapSearch Švejkova cesta Švejkův slovník

Čeští vojáci proti válce (1914-1915), Karel Pichlík

Posádková věznice is apparently the scene of the plot of two entire chapters. Both [I.8] and [I.9] takes place in and around the garrison prison. The first part is set in the sick-barrack of the prison, then moves on to cell no. 16. Švejk's escape starts in the chapel when Feldkurat Katz during holy mass takes to Švejk and consequently employs him as him officer's servant.

The prison is first mentioned at the end of [I.7] and it is said that this is where Švejk is going. Amongst the people Švejk met during his imprisonment are: Doctor Grünstein, Baronesse von Botzenheim, Hauptmann Linhart, the warders Stabsprofus Slavík, Feldwebel Řepa and Korporal Říha - and at the very end: the military prosecution represented by Auditor Bernis.

Background

Posádková věznice is the author's term for c.a k. vojenská věznice v Praze (k.u.k. Militärgefängnis von Prag), a prison that was part of the garrison complex at Hradčany. It shared the building with k.u.k. Militärgericht Prag and the k.k. Landwehr court. The building is located behind Loreta; and was opened in 1896 and is still in use, but not publicly accessible. Its function as a prison and brutal interrogation centre was revitalised during the Nazi and Communist dictatorships.

In 1906 there were two Stabsprofusen employed at the prison, but none of them fit the description of Stabsprofus Slavík, Korporal Říha, or Feldwebel Řepa. The two were Jan Frkal and Josef Bureš and they lived on the premises. If any of them was a model for the literary figures is impossible to say and it can not be determined if the author had anything to do with the garrison prison at all, so we must assumed that the inspiration for those figures hailed from elsewhere. On the other hand it is possible that Jaroslav Hašek had heard some story from former inmates of the prison. The description of the conditions in the prison and the brutality of the warders all in all appears strongly exaggerated.

It seems that the author was not very familiar with the organisation of the garrison. There is contradicting information on where Švejk actually was: at Vojenská nemocnice Hradčany or in a sick-bay within the prison. One passage indicates that the author believes that the military hospital was part of the prison, which it clearly wasn't. In chapter nine the reader gets the impression that the garrison actually WAS the prison, which it wasn't (at most "garrison" was a colloquial term for the garrison prison).

Antonín Matějovský

Antonín Matějovský

In 1923 a series of publications called "Documents from our national revolution" started to appear. Here one witness, A. Matějovský, gives some insight into the conditions at the prison. He was arrested after having distributed the so-called "Tsar Nicholas II's manifest" in 1914 and given a 10 year term. He spent the first 16 months at Hradčany before being transferred to Arad. His description of the prison is completely at odds with what Švejk experienced. The staff behaved impeccably towards the prisoners and gave them a friendly send-off to Arad, where the conditions were much worse. Matějovský was released in 1917 during the general amnesty issued by the new emperor Karl I. [a]

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.8] Švejka v posádkové věznici uložili do nemocničního baráku právě mezi takové malomyslné simulanty. „Už to nevydržím,“ řekl jeho soused na posteli, kterého přivedli z ordinačního pokoje, kde mu již podruhé vyplachovali žaludek. Muž ten simuloval krátkozrakost. „Zítra pojedu k pluku,“ rozhodoval se druhý soused po levé straně, který právě dostal klystýr, simuluje, že je hluchý jako pařez.

[II.4] Když jsem seděl na garnizóně, tak tam s námi byt takovej chytrej člověk vzdělanej, profesor na obchodní škole.

Also written:Garrison prisonenGarnisonsgefängnisdeGarnisonsarrestenno

Literature

• Věznice Praha - Hradčanytotalita.cz

	Vojenská nemocnice Hradčany
Praha IV./181, Loretánská 4
MapSearch Švejkova cesta Švejkův slovník

© Stará Praha

Český svět,5.5.1916

Vojenská nemocnice Hradčany is mentioned by Doctor Grünstein when he asks Švejk if he enjoys his stay at the military hospital. It is however unclear if the hospital is part of the plot at all, as the information about Švejk's stay amongst the malingerers at Hradčany is somewhat contradictory. In other parts of the text the reader gets the impression that it is talk of a sick-bay that is part of the garrison prison. See Posádková věznice for more on this topic.

Background

Vojenská nemocnice Hradčany refers to a branch of k.u.k. Militärspital nr. 11 in Prague. It was located in the same barrack complex as the garrison prison, the military court, and other army institutions. The main military hospital in Praha was Vojenská nemocnice na Karlově náměstí.

Chief staff doctor in 1916 was dr. Křejčí as revealed when newspapers reported on a visit by Countess Coudenhove, the wife of Bohemia's governor. The visit took place on 10 April 1916, too late to fit chronologically with the visit of Baronesse von Botzenheim, but nevertheless there are interesting similarities.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.8] Druhého dne při visitě otázal se dr Grünstein Švejka, jak se mu líbí ve vojenské nemocnici. Švejk odpověděl, že jest to podnik správný a vznešený.

Also written:Military hospital at HradčanyenMilitärspital am HradschindeMilitærsjukehuset på Hradčanyno

Literature

• Adresář královského hlavního města Prahy a obcí sousedníchVojtěch Kraus1906

	Československá Republika
Praha III./387, Karmelitská ul. 6
MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Československá Republika,1.1.1920

Chytilův adresář,1924

Rudé právo,8.5.1921

Národní listy,11.4.1931

Československá Republika is mentioned during the visit of Baronesse von Botzenheim at Hradčany where she gave Švejk the book Episodes from the life of our emperor that was written by the future editor in chief of this paper.

Background

Československá Republika was an official government daily newspaper that was published by this name from 1919 to 1932 (before and after it was called Pražské noviny). It was a direct successor to Pražské úřední noviny, and was even located in the same offices. The mentioned editor Filip, had been an working for the paper also during the old regime. From 1932 to 1938 it continued publishing, but now using the name Pražské noviny. The government's newspaper group also issued Úřední List Československá Republika and the evening paper Prager Abendblatt (in German).

In Rudé Pravo

Jaroslav Hašek also wrote a satirical article in Rudé Pravo where editor Filip and his newspaper is treated in more detail: What I would advise the Communists if I were the Chief Editor of the official Government newspaper Československá Republika. The article was dated 7 April 1921 printed on 8 May[a] - around the time when the passages in the novel were written. In the article he claims that some Svátek was editor in chief, in the novel the author of the book about the emperor (i.e. Filip) has this role. According to the address book from 1924 the chief editor was Josef Hevera, and another of the names mentioned in the Rudé Pravo article, Adolf Zeman, was indeed on the editorial board. The article furthermore suggests that Jaroslav Hašek was still a Communist at heart.

On Hašek

The newspaper wrote about Hašek from time to time, mainly after he became famous, and on 5 January 1923 they printed an obituary. Shortly after his return from Russia they printed adverts for his appearance at the theatre Červená sedma where he related stories from his stay in Russia.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.8] Potom vytáhla z koše tři láhve vína pro rekonvalescenty a dvě krabice cigaret. Vše elegantně rozložila na prázdnou postel vedle Švejka, kam přibyla ještě pěkně vázaná kniha „Příběhy ze života našeho mocnáře“, kterou napsal nynější zasloužilý šéfredaktor naší úřední „Československé republiky“, který se ve starém Frantíkovi viděl.

Literature

• Československá RepublikaJaroslav Šerák
• Československá RepublikaStátní tiskárna v Praze
• Jaroslav Hašek zemřelČeskoslovenská RepublikaA.V.5.1.1923

	Obchodní akademie
Praha II./1780, Resslova ul. 8
Search Švejkův slovník

Resslova 1780/8: Českoslovanská akademie obchodní.

Address book from 1910.

Jan Řežábek

Zlatá Praha, 21.10.1892

Obchodní akademie is mentioned when the author introduces Feldkurat Katz to the reader. He had studied at a commercial academy.

Background

Obchodní akademie is an ambiguous term, but we must assume that Otto Katz studied at one of the two commercial academies in Prague. Because he was Jewish it is at first glance logical to assume that his mother tongue was German and he therefore studied at the German academy. On the other hand the field chaplain was no doubt bi-lingual so the Czech academy must also be considered.

Českoslovanská akademie obchodní in Resslova ulice is all in all the likelier candidate. Hašek himself studied here and this weighs heavily in favour of the latter when analysing which commercial academy the future field chaplain studied at. It should also be noted that some Otto Katz actually graduated from this academy in 1881 and the author may well have been aware of him. Augustin Knesl claimed that this very person was the model of Hašek's literary field chaplain.

Another Otto Katz graduated from the German academy in 1896, but in 1906 he lived in Trieste so it is less likely that Hašek knew him.

Commercial academies as institutions

In Austria commercial academies were institutions that offered three-year (later four-year) education in commerce and accounting. The first of those academies was founded in Prague in 1856 as Prager Handelsakademie, the first with Czech as instruction language was the very Českoslovanská akademie obchodní that was established in 1872. From the beginning they were located in Staré město but in 1892 they moved to Resslova ulice i Praha II. They are still (2020) operating but located in another building in the same street. Commercial academies as institutions to this day exist in Czechia, Slovakia and Austria.

Hašek and the Czechoslavonic Commercial Academy

Jaroslav Hašek studied here from 1899 to 1902 and left with good grades. Here he met some of his best friends, first and foremost Hájek, but also Karel Marek who probably lent his name to the literary Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek. Another fellow student was Jan Čulen who joined Hašek on a longer journeys in 1900 and 1901. It was this education that enabled Hašek to serve as a one-year volunteer in k.u.k. Heer. The institution was one the list of establishments that gave its graduates the right to shortened term of service and other privileges.

On bad terms with the headmaster

In 1909 Jaroslav Hašek wrote he story Obchodní akademie for Karikatury. Here head teacher "Jeřábek", in real life Jan Řežábek[1], is mercilessly pilloried and the piece was censored and was only printed the next year, in a revised version. Jeřábek was even assigned qualities that readers of The Good Soldier Švejk will recognise in Oberst Kraus. In addition the academy is mentioned multiple times in Strana mírného pokroku v mezích zákona.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.9] Studoval obchodní akademii a sloužil jako jednoroční dobrovolník. A vyznal se tak dobře v směnečném právu a ve směnkách, že přivedl za ten rok obchodní firmu Katz a spol. k bankrotu tak slavnému a podařenému, že starý pan Katz odjel do Severní Ameriky, zkombinovav nějaké vyrovnání se svými věřiteli bez vědomí posledních i svého společníka, který odjel do Argentiny.

Sources: Augustin Knesl, Jaroslav Šerák

Also written:Commercial academyenHandelsakademiede

Literature

• Českoslovanská akademie obchodníNárodní listy8.10.1872
• Obchodní akademieKarikaturyJaroslav Hašek18.10.1909

---

• Ze vzpomínek bývalých posluchačů Českoslovanské akademie obchodníČeskoslovanská akademie obchodní1897
• Die Prager HandelsakademieVerlag der Prager Handelsakademie1906
• Adresář královského hlavního města Prahy a obcí sousedníchObec Pražská1910
• Historie školyČeskoslovanská akademie obchodní

	Katz a spol.
Search

Venkov, 1.5.1921

Adresář Libeň, 1896

Katz a spol. is mentioned when the author introduces Feldkurat Katz to the reader. The company traded in bills-of-exchange and was owned by Katz's father and his companion. When young Katz took over the business he drove it to bankruptcy within a short time. His father settled with the creditors and moved to North America whereas his companion emigrated to Argentina. Thus the firm continued to exists in the new world, as two incarnations.

Background

Katz a spol. is the author's term for a firm in Prague. At least two companies who traded in Praha at the time were owned by an Otto Katz. None of the two companies traded in bills-of-exchange. In 1983 Augustin Knesl made an attempt to identify Feldkurat Katz and thus the company, and concluded that Katz was born in 1864, was educated at Obchodní akademie and owned a company that went bankrupt in 1923.

The firm that Knesl refers to existed from at least 1918 until 1923 and was a weaver and linen manufacturer in Celetná ulice. The firm advertised widely in 1920 and 1921 and it may be that the author picked the name from these (Jaroslav Hašek was an avid reader of newspapers, including adverts).

Another firm existed from 1893 onwards in Libeň (Královská třída 358) and manufactured rape-seed oil. In 1902 the company is no longer listed but Otto Katz is still the owner of the property, as he is as late as 1932.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.9] Studoval obchodní akademii a sloužil jako jednoroční dobrovolník. A vyznal se tak dobře v směnečném právu a ve směnkách, že přivedl za ten rok obchodní firmu Katz a spol. k bankrotu tak slavnému a podařenému, že starý pan Katz odjel do Severní Ameriky, zkombinovav nějaké vyrovnání se svými věřiteli bez vědomí posledních i svého společníka, který odjel do Argentiny.

Sources: Augustin Knesl, Jaroslav Šerák

Literature

• Obchodní adresář a schematismus pro hlavní město PrahuKnihovna adresářů pro hlavní město Prahu1927
• Adresář královského hlavního města Prahy a sousedních obcíDůchody obce pražské1896
• Ze vzpomínek bývalých posluchačů Českoslovanské akademie obchodníČeskoslovanské akademie obchodní
• Kolandův adresář VIII. části královského hlav. města PrahyKnihovna adresářů pro hlavní město Prahu1903
• Adresář královského hlavního města Prahy a obcí sousedníchObec Pražská1910
• Zapsané firmyNárodní listy19.12.1893
• ZástěryLidové noviny27.1.1918
• SchürzenLinzer Volksblatt17.2.1918
• Vyrovnání a konkursyLidové noviny25.1.1923

	Ústav šlechtičen
Praha IV./2-3, U sv. Jíří 1
Wikipedia cz MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Ústav šlechtičen is mentioned by the author in his description of the baptism of Feldkurat Katz where a lady from this Institute for Noblewomen was present.

Background

Ústav šlechtičen was an institution for education of daughters of noblemen who were incapable of providing their daughter with an existence that was in line with their rank in society. The foundation was created by Maria Theresa in 1755 and accomodated 30 ladies. It was located in Rožmberský palác at Hradčany. The abbess was always an unmarried lady of the house Habsburg-Lothringen, and from 1894 to 1918 Maria Annunziata, the sister of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, held the position.

On 1 May 1919 the nobility institute was dissolved and the palace transferred to the Ministry of Interior. The building is located on the castle premises, and is today (2015) the property of the Czech state. It recently underwent extensive renovation and is used as a museum and exhibition area.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.9] Křtili ho slavnostně v Emauzích. Sám páter Albán ho na máčel do křtitelnice. Byla to nádherná podívaná, byl u toho jeden nábožný major od pluku, kde Otto Katz sloužil, jedna stará panna z ústavu šlechtičen na Hradčanech a nějaký otlemený zástupce konsistoře, který mu dělal kmotra.

Also written:Institute for NoblewomenenAnstalt für adelige FrauendeInstitutt for adelsdamerno

Literature

• Kurze Darstellung ...Ferdinand Jitschinsky1855
• Ústav šlechtičen na HradčanechJaroslav Šerák
• Ústav šlechtičenHrady.cz
• Institute of NoblewomenHrad.cz

	Konsistoř
Praha IV./56, Hradčanské nám. 16
Wikipedia czense MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Konsistoř is mentioned by the author in his description of the baptism of Feldkurat Katz where a representative of the consistory acted as Katz's godfather.

Background

Konsistoř (also called Curia) is a religious council that advises for instance the archbishop or the pope. In this case it is surely talk of the archbishop's consistory at Hradčany (Knížecí arcibiskupská konsistoř). In 1907 the council's address was the archbishop's palace itself, and they held meetings every Wednesday

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.9] Křtili ho slavnostně v Emauzích. Sám páter Albán ho na máčel do křtitelnice. Byla to nádherná podívaná, byl u toho jeden nábožný major od pluku, kde Otto Katz sloužil, jedna stará panna z ústavu šlechtičen na Hradčanech a nějaký otlemený zástupce konsistoře, který mu dělal kmotra.

Also written:ConsistoryenKonsistoriumdeKonsistorietno

Literature

• Arcibiskupská kurieArcibiskupství pražské
• KonsistořJaroslav Šerák

	Seminář
Praha I./1040, Křižovnické nám. 4
MapSearch

Adresář královského hlavního města Prahy a obcí sousedních,1907

Seminář is mentioned 3 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.

Seminář is mentioned by the narrator in his introduction of Feldkurat Katz's and his illustrious career. The newly converted priest was educated at the Seminary. In the next chapter [I.10,2] he mentions the Seminary in between some drunk drivel.

Background

Seminář most probably refers to Arcibiskupský seminář (The Archbishop's Seminary), an institution for education of catholic priests that still exists. During the times of Jaroslav Hašek the Seminary was located in Klementinum, but it was in 1929 re-located to Dejvice where it is still housed[a].

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.9] Ale jednoho dne se opil a šel do kláštera, zanechal šavle a chopil se kutny. Byl u arcibiskupa na Hradčanech a dostal se do semináře. Opil se na mol před svým vysvěcením v jednom velmi pořádném domě s dámskou obsluhou v uličce za Vejvodovic a přímo z víru rozkoše a zábavy šel se dát vysvětit.

[I.10.2] Počal se hlasitě smát, ale za chvíli zesmutněl a apaticky se díval na Švejka pronášeje: „Dovolte, pane, já vás již někde viděl. Nebyl jste ve Vídni? Pamatuji se na vás ze semináře.“

[I.13] Zatím polní kurát si v katechismu zopakoval, co kdysi v semináři neutkvělo mu v paměti

Also written:SeminaryenSeminardeSeminaretno

	U Vejvodů
Praha I./353, Jilská ul. 2
Wikipedia cz MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Národní politika,25.10.1910

U Vejvodů is mentioned in connection with Feldkurat Katz drinking himself to the ground the night before being ordained as chaplain. This is supposed to have happened "in a descent house with lady service" in a small street behind Vejvodovice.

Background

U Vejvodů is a house and a restaurant in Staré město in Prague and one of the oldest of its kind. It has existed at least since 1560. In 1717 Jan Václav Vejvoda bought the property and the building is named after him. Early in the 20th century Karel Klusáček took over and rebuilt it to become what it was known as until 1990. The house was also for a period the home of a cinema as well as hosting Umělecká beseda (the artist's union).

U Vejvodů still exists as a large restaurant which serves Czech food and Pilsner Urquell. The place is totally changed after the renovation in the 1990's, but is still very popular and relatively affordable considering the location.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.9] Opil se na mol před svým vysvěcením v jednom velmi pořádném domě s dámskou obsluhou v uličce za Vejvodovic a přímo z víru rozkoše a zábavy šel se dát vysvětit.

Sources: Radko Pytlík, Milan Hodík

Also written:VejvodoviceHašek

Literature

• Adresář královského hlavního města Prahy a obcí sousedních (1910)Obec Pražská
• Románové restaurační a jiné zábavní podnikyJaroslav Šerák2009 - 2021
• Středověký dům "U Vejvodů"Restaurace "U Vejvodů"

	Dům za Vejvodovic
Praha I./442, Vejvodova ul. 10
MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Vejvodova ulice, the brothel by the street lamp

Chytilův adresář 1913

Dům za Vejvodovic is mentioned in connection with Feldkurat Katz drinking himself to the ground the night before being ordained as chaplain. This is supposed to have happened "in a very descent house with lady service in a small street behind Vejvodovice".

Background

Dům za Vejvodovic most probably refers to a brothel owned by Čeněk Bartoníček in Vejvodova ulice 10, just a few steps east of U Vejvodů. Bartoníček was in the address book of 1913 listed as owner of the brothel at this address. This is also the only house of pleasure that fits the description in the novel.

In the address book from 1910 a man who carried this name was listed as a "coffee-house" owner in Věnceslava Lužická ulice 29 in Malá strana. This café was entered as a brothel in 1913 but with František Stránský as owner. Bartoníček thus seems to have sold and re-established himself east of the Vltava. Police registers reveal that he lived in Lužická ulice (Prague III/124) already from 1901 and he is registered in Vejvodová ulice from 24 November 1910.

The house itself, also known as Bílý kříž (the white cross) was in 1910 owned by Josef Sobička. To judge by the address books there was no "café" in Vejvodova 10 in 1910 so Bartoníček seems to have started the establishment from scratch.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.9] Opil se na mol před svým vysvěcením v jednom velmi pořádném domě s dámskou obsluhou v uličce za Vejvodovic a přímo z víru rozkoše a zábavy šel se dát vysvětit.

Also written:House behind Vejvodovice;noen

Literature

• Věstník živnostenský a dělnickýNárodní politika16.4.1901
• Záhadně zmizení děvčeteNárodní politika12.4.1905
• Adresář královského hlavního města PrahyVojtěch Kraus1910
• Pobytové přihlášky pražského policejního ředitelstvíNAČR1851 - 1914

	Vězeňské kaple
Praha IV./72, Kanovnická ul. 11
MapSearch Švejkova cesta

Vězeňské kaple was the scene of Feldkurat Katz' grand sermon for the prisoners in the garrison jail. Here he drunk field chaplain discovered Švejk when the latter started crying during his speech. It ended well for the good soldier who was eventually released and continued in a care-free existence, serving a field chaplain he got on with ever so well.

Background

Vězeňské kaple possibly refers Vojenský kostel sv. Jana Nepomuckého at Hradčany. The church belongs to the same building complex as the military hospital, the garrison prison, and the military court. It is easily accessible across the courtyard between the buildings. It shares the address with Voršilské kasárny.

Another place the author might have had in mind is a chapel on the premises of the Royal Country Penitary next door. This was not an army institution, but that will not necessarily have stopped the author from including it in the plot. It also fits the description in the novel more accurately as a house chapel (of the garrison) and a prison chapel is mentioned.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.9] „Zejtra máme u nás divadlo. Povedou nás do kaple; na kázání. My všichni v podvlíkačkách stojíme zrovna pod kazatelnou. To ti bude legrace!“. Jako ve všech věznicích a trestnicích, tak i na garnisoně těšila se domácí kaple; velké oblibě. Nejednalo se o to, že by nucená návštěva vězeňské kaple; sblížila návštěvníky s bohem, že by se vězňové více dověděli o mravnosti. O takové hlouposti nemůže být ani řeči.

Also written:Prison chapel at HradčanyenGefängniskapell am HradschindeFengselskapellet på Hradčanyno

Literature

• Vojenský kostel sv. Jana NepomuckéhoDuchovní služba Armády České republiky
• Vojenský kostel sv. Jana NepomuckéhoKatedrál sv. Víta, Václava a Vojtěcha

	Infanterieregiment Nr. 28
Praha III./132, Pod Bruskou 2
Wikipedia czderu MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Der Oberste Kriegsherr und sein Stab,1908

Vojáci 28. pěšího pluku shromáždění při pohovu u kasáren pod Bruskou (dům čp. 132 na Malé Straně). 1.3.1910.

Heeresergänzungsbezirk Nr. 28

Schematismus für das k.u.k. Heer..., 1911

Infanterieregiment Nr. 28 is mentioned 7 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.

Infanterieregiment Nr. 28 is mentioned many times in The Good Soldier Švejk. Their name first appears when Feldkurat Katz holds his sermon for the soldiers at Vězeňské kaple. His altar boy was a petty thief from the regiment.

In [II.1] the author mentions an episode where a soldier from the regiment explains how the Hungarians in Szeged ridiculed the Czech soldiers by holding their hands up above their heads.

In [III.1] IR. 28 re-enters the narrative in connection with a report that two of their battalions on 3 April 1915 by Dukla crossed over to the Russians to the tunes of the regiment's orchestra. The regiment was disbanded forever by an Army Order issued by Emperor Franz Joseph I. and their standard was handed over to the army museum in Vienna. The order is read out for the departing soldiers in Királyhida, and so is a related order from Archduke Joseph Ferdinand.

The last mention is in [IV.1] as a spy enters Švejk's cell in Przemyśl. He claims to have served in IR. 28 (although he spoke Czech with a Polish accent).

Background

Infanterieregiment Nr. 28 (pěší pluk č. 28) was one of 102 infantry regiments in k.u.k. Heer. It was founded as early as 1698 and was one of the oldest in the entire army. The regiment thus took part in many campaigns and they particularly distinguished themselves by Custoza on 24 June 1866. They also participated in battles during the Napoleonic Wars, for instance at Aspern and Leipzig.

It was a predominantly Czech regiment (95 percent), recruited from Heeresergänzungsbezirk Nr. 28, Prague. They had moved here from Kutná Hora in 1817. Apart from the capital it recruited from Žižkov, Smíchov, Královské Vinohrady, Kladno, Slany, Kralupy a.o.

The regiment's home barracks were at Bruska in Malá Strana. In 1914 only the 2nd battalion and the recruitment district command were located here. The rest of the regiment had since 1912 been garrisoned in Tyrol: staff and the 3rd battalion in Innsbruck and the 1st and 4th battalions in Schlanders (it. Silandro) and Malè respectively. The regimental commander in 1914 was colonel Ferdinand Sedlaczek[a].

During the war

Osmadvacátníci, Josef Srbek, 1936

After the outbreak of war, the three battalions from Tyrol[1] were sent to the Eastern Front and took part in the invasion of Russian Poland, including the battle by Komarów on 28 August 1914. The rest of the year and until April 1915 they were fighting north of and in the Carpathians, for instance by Limanowa in December where they suffered severe losses.

Mass surrender and temporary dissolution

Easter Saturday 3 April 1915 would become the most controversial day in the history of the regiment. At the front section north of Bardejov the bulk of the regiment, probably more than 1,000 men, surrendered after having been partly cut off by numerically superior Russian forces. On 8 April Feldmarschall-Leutnant Josef Krautwald, commander of III. Korps of 3. Armee reported that the regiment had surrendered to a single Russian battalion without firing a shot, that the newly arrived 8th march battalion was the main culprit but that the old core of the regiment was reliable. He claimed that he had received this information from the regiment's commander, a claim that the commander Schaumeier[2] later contested. On 10 April, the commander of 3. Armee, general Svetozar Boroević von Bojna decided to dissolve the regiment temporarily, with effect from the next day. He also informed Archduke Friedrich who on 16 April presented the case for the Emperor. He in turn issued a brief order dated 17 April 1915. It rubber-stamped the decision to temporarily dissolve the regiment, ordered its standard to be deposed in Heeresmuseum in Vienna, and that the decision be made public within the army. On 22 April Emperor Franz Joseph I.'s decree was indeed read out to the troops:

Ich genehmige die vom 3. Armeekommando angeordnete, vorläufige Auflösung des Infanterieregiments Nr. 28 und befehle, dass diese Maßregelung in der Armee allgemein verlautbart, die Regimentsfahne aber im Heeresmuseum deponiert werde. Wien, am 17. April 1915. Franz Joseph

The Emperor's order as reproduced in The Good Soldier Švejk contains some element of the original but is much more verbose and is very close in wording to one of the fake versions that started to appear as leaflets during the summer of 1915. On 11 August 1915 Wiener Zeitung reported that a court in Reichenberg (Liberec) had ordered confiscation of the leaflets[k] but by then the word had spread.

Ersatzbataillon

In the meantime (February 1915) the replacement battalion had been transferred from Prague to Szeged. It was thus one of the first of many Czech regiments that were moved away from their recruitment area that year. The reason for these measures was fears in military circles that the pan-slavic sentiments and increasing dissatisfaction with the war amongst Czechs would be political poison for the soldiers. Already from September 1914, there were reports of poor discipline and dissent when the soldiers left Prague with the 2nd march battalion. Many were reportedly drunk and some demonstrated openly. Commander of the Ersatzbataillon, the pensioned but now re-activated Oberst Josef Krček, was later accused of neglect and for allowing an irresponsible lifestyle amongst the officers. After the regiment's transfer to Szeged, he ordered 6,000 litres of beer a month for the officer's mess![c] In their home city they were replaced by Infanterieregiment Nr. 2 from Brassó (now Brasov in Romania).

Investigations and restoration

Svět, 21.11.1918

The 28th regiment was reconstituted in December 1915 after court investigations in Kassa (Košice) and Temesvár (Timișoara) concluded that the claimed mass desertion was less serious than first believed. During the rest of the war, the regiment operated in Albania, Sarajevo, Carinthia and on the Isonzo front. They took part in the advance on Piave in October and November 1917 (Caporetto) and also participated in the last battle of the war during the days of the final collapse of Austria-Hungary.

The replacement battalion was in 1916 moved from Szeged to Bruck an der Mur where they were garrisoned until the war ended. These were the first soldiers from the now defunct k.u.k. Heer who returned to Prague. Here they were celebrated as heroes, and the regiment was absorbed into the Czechoslovak army using their old number, and streets were named after them.

In history writing

The assessment of the regiment's failure on 3 April 1915 was in the beginning unison: in one way or another they deserted, even defected, traitors to Austrians, Germans and Hungarians, heroes to Czechs. That judgement has in the last 30 years been somehwat modified (more details below), but historian Manfried Rauchensteiner[3] is probably very close when stating: The subsequent investigation of the incident, which took months, brought to light the fact that there had been an overreaction, and that many factors, not least a dismal leadership style, had caused the regiment to surrender and at least not make efforts to sacrifice itself in a difficult situation.

The Austrian-German view

Der Sturz der Mittelmächte, Karl Friedrich Nowak, 1921

Erzherzog Friedrich's army order contained many inaccuracies and falsehoods.

Salzburger Chronik,17.4.1926

In 1921 historian Karl Friedrich Nowak[4] published the book Der Sturz der Mittelmächte (The fall of the Central Powers) where he openly questioned the established narrative. He wrote that the regiment fought for more than 24 hours against a superior enemy before giving up. He added that although some groups no doubt deserted or allowed themselves to be captured, it didn't apply to battalions as units.[f].

Still there is no indication that his observations made any impact on Austrian or Bohemian-German public opinion, nor in anything that was published in German in the inter-war years. Even Österreich-Ungarns letzter Krieg maintained the essence of the "desertion" story. On the 11th anniversary of the Emperor's army order Salzburger Chronik wrote about the 28th regiment but the narrative had not changed. IR. 28 were still traitors, end of discussion. In September 1939 Kronen-Zeitung in the now Nazi-ruled Austria used the affair in some particularly crude anti-Czech propaganda[h]. This was during the days leading up to the infamous Munich-agreement that forced Czechoslovakia to cede Sudetenland to Nazi Germany).

Over many years the former k.u.k. officer Robert Nowak wrote a manuscript titled Die Klammer des Reichs, probably completed around 1960. It deals with the attitudes of the nations of the Dual monarchy during the war. Nowak tried to have parts of it published in a major Viennese newspaper. The editor refused, explaining that the content was not in line with the public mood! Many historians have since referred to the document but it remains unpublished, stored in Vienna's Kriegsarchiv[i] with copies in the Czech Military Institute.

The Czechoslovak version

La Nation tchèque, 1.6.1916

Trondhjems Adresseavis, 22.11.1916

The Czech version of events had already started to develop in 1915. The Petrograd newspaper Čechoslovák reported the "Easter Incident". In 1916 the story was embellished further with claims that nearly 2000 men had crossed over, with their arms, luggage and the military band, that parts of the regiment immediately joined the Russians in fighting the Austrians. Later they were allegedly transported to Kiev where they received an enthusiastic welcome. This narrative seems first to have appeared in Corriere d'Italia[l] on 3 March 1916 and on 1 June the Paris-based mouthpiece of the Czech National Council published a variation of the story[b]. It was not signed but was probably written by director Eduard Beneš or editor-in-chief Ernest Denis. The same article came up with a number of improbable claims and extracts from it also appeared in the press of neutral countries, for instance in Switzerland and Norway. It was added that the 11th march battalion had been deliberately sacrificed as revenge, by being forced to fight in the most exposed sectors of the Isonzo-front. 1000 men at the age 18 to 20 had allegedly been slaughtered, only a handful survived. The news item about the 11th march battalion is said to have originated in the Italian press. Parts of content was reproduced in Čechoslovan on 30 October 1916, quoting the Edinburg publication Everyman[j]. This was at a time when Jaroslav Hašek contributed to the newspaper so he would have been aware of the content. More or less the same story appeared in the Bohemia's case for independence (1917)[5], a book written by Edvard Beneš that was also published in French and Italian.

In inter-war Czechoslovakia the desertion myth was obviously cultivated for different reasons than in Austria. The 28th regiment were celebrated as heroes who had voted with their feet against Habsburg oppression and for an independent Czechoslovak state. The deluge of legionnaire literature further underpinned this narrative and also partly credited the desertion to agitators from Družina (the predecessor the Legions) who were operating in the area when the affair took place.

General Kunz

General Jaroslav Kunz. Probably the first Czech who openly questioned the official narrative of the desertion of IR. 28.

The only dissenting voice from this period seems to have been pensioned general Jaroslav Kunz[6]. In 1931 he published an article called Falešná legenda in the weekly Pestrý týden where he openly questioned the official Czechoslovak and Austrian versions of the affair. Referring to Nowak's book he went further in his analysis, investigating witness accounts from the trial. His conclusion was that although desertions no doubt took place, there was no reason to believe that the battalions deserted without putting up a fight. He pointed out that there were many war graves of 28ers in the area of the battle, that few of those captured on 3 April 1915 ever joined the Legions and when prisoners were returned after the Brest-Litovsk treaty in March 1918, the returning soldiers were not punished for desertion. Later that year Falešná legenda appeared as a chapter in the book Tajnosti rakouského generálního štábu (The secrets of the Austrian general staff). Here Kunz added more observations and noted how hostile the reaction to his article had been, be it in Czechoslovakia or Austria.

General Klecanda who led the Družina reconnaissance patrols in the area where the 28th regiment was operating during Easter 1915 reacted immediately and called Kunz "unpatriotic". Kunz also reveals that his article was refused by many newspapers until Pestrý týden finally agreed to print it in February 1931.

Karel Pichlík

Karel Pichlík, Historie a vojenství, 1959

Under Communist rule there was little interest in revising the established narrative. The most useful study from this period was surely that of the well known historian Karel Pichlík who in 1959 published a detailed and well documented paper in Historie a vojenství.[e] He does not refute the allegations of collective betrayal but takes aim at the agenda of "bourgeois" Czechoslovakia and by the Austrian "imperialists". He takes issues with Kunz and states that Kunz merely proved that the regiment put up some resistance. Drawing on many sources he convincingly documented the anti-Austrian sentiments amongst the Prague recruits both from IR. 28 and k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 8 and how it manifested itself as open dissent. Predictably he fitted the narrative to the political dogma that prevailed at the time.

The Dukla incident mirrored in Švejk

The popularity of The Good Soldier Švejk has also played a part in spreading the myths about the Prague house regiment. This was however not the work of Hašek, despite the fact that he on half a page disseminated both Austrian and Czechoslovak disinformation. He simply replicated the information that was in circulation when he wrote the novel, including the claim about the regiment's orchestra joining the desertion. In 1957 his biographer Jaroslav Křížek repeated it all and he was surely not alone.

Recent publications

The recent reassessment of the history of IR. 28 seems to have started with Josef Fučík[7] who in 1994 published a paper about the regiment in the journal Střední Evropa. Later he wrote the book Osmadvacátníci (The Twentyeighters, 2006) which is an explicit rehabilitation of the regiment, to the extent that even the sleeve contains quotes from Nowak. The book is rich in details and very well researched. In 2011 Richard Lein followed up with more or less similar conclusions in his Pflichterfüllung oder Hochverrat. "Rehabilitation" in this context does not necessarily mean that the accusations of treason were entirely unfounded, simply that many of the claims made about IR. 28 and the events on 3 April 1915 were false and have since served political purposes.

That said both books suffer from the weakness that they underplay the fact that AOK's distrust of Czech regiments to a degree was justified. Many incidents had preceded that of IR. 28 and the conclusion of historian Manfried Rauchensteiner probably sums it up: it was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Hašek and IR. 28

There were no units from IR. 28 in Trento in 1906, the year that Hašek (according to Menger) enrolled with the regiment.

Schematismus für das k.u.k. Heer..., 1906

Apart from the author's own IR. 91 and its subordinated units IR. 28 is no doubt the military unit that is most often mentioned in The Good Soldier Švejk. This could be explained by the fact that the author himself was from Prague and thus would have known many who served in the regiment. Václav Menger even claimed that Hašek served with them in 1906 for a few weeks until he was superarbitrated. Closer investigations however reveal that this can't be true. See Trento for a background. It is however striking that this garrison features in all three versions of The Good Soldier Švejk but there is scant evidence that Hašek ever visited. Perhaps the inspiration comes from his acquaintances in IR. 28? The major part of the regiment was stationed in Trento from 1895 to 1899 and again in 1911 and 1912 so many men of his age from Prague would have served here.

From Hůla's explanations to Švejk (1951).

© LA-PNP

Hašek would, as a volunteer in České legie, have known several of the former soldiers from the 28th regiment. One such person was Břetislav Hůla who according to the service record from the Legions was captured by Dukla on 3 April 1915. Why the document states Dukla instead of Stebnícka Huta is a not known but Austrian loss lists confirm that when Hůla went missing he served in the 10th company (3rd battalion). This battalion was indeed part of the fateful battle. Hůla himself wrote about IR. 28 in his explanations to The Good Soldier Švejk (published in 1953) and states that "without offering serious resistance all three battalions let themselves get captured by much weaker Russian forces".

In the newspapers?

At least two of the historians who have touched on the alleged desertion of IR. 28 claimed that newspapers started to write about the affair already in 1915 but without naming any concrete examples. The two are Josef Fučík and Manfried Rauchensteiner, quoting the unpublished paper by Robert Nowak Die Klammer des Reichs. Searches in the digital libraries of Austria and Czechia do however not show a single hit on the issue. The Austrian Reichsanzeiger is supposed to have printed a news item on this[g] but such a newspaper can't be identified. A similar German/Prussian Reichsanzeiger did exist but this paper shows no trace of any news about IR. 28. It also appears strange that censorship allowed these stories to be printed at all as they would damage the delicate and by now deteriorating relation between the nations of Austria-Hungary. So there is still research to be done (Hungarian newspapers have not been consulted).

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.9] Zrzavý ministrant, dezertér z kostelnických kruhů, specialista v drobných krádežích u 28. pluku, snažil se poctivě vybavovat z paměti celý postup, techniku i text mše svaté.

[II.1] Od vedlejšího stolu řekl nějaký voják, že když přijeli do Segedina s 28. regimentem, že na ně Maďaři ukazovali ruce do výšky.

[II.2] Černožluté obzory počaly se zatahovat mraky revoluce. Na Srbsku, v Karpatech přecházely bataliony k nepříteli. 28. regiment, 11. regiment. V tom posledním vojáci z píseckého kraje a okresu.

[II.3] „Případ vašeho černocha Kristiána,“ řekl jednoroční dobrovolník, „třeba promyslit i ze stanoviska válečného. Dejme tomu, že toho černocha odvedli. Je Pražák, tak patří k 28. regimentu. Přece jste slyšel, že dvacátý osmý; přešel k Rusům.

[III.1] Potom Švejk počal mluvit o známých rozkazech, které jim byly přečteny před vstoupením do vlaku. Jeden byl armádní rozkaz podepsaný Františkem Josefem a druhý byl rozkaz arcivévody Josefa Ferdinanda, vrchního velitele východní armády a skupiny, kteréž oba týkaly se událostí na Dukelském průsmyku dne 3. dubna 1915, kdy přešly dva batalióny 28. pluku i s důstojníky k Rusům za zvuků plukovní kapely.

[III.1]

Armádní rozkaz ze dne 17. dubna 1915:

Přeplněn bolestí nařizuji, aby c. k. pěší pluk čís. 28 pro zbabělost a velezrádu byl vymazán z mého vojska. Plukovní prapor budiž zneuctěnému pluku odebrán a odevzdán do vojenského musea. Dnešním dnem přestává existovat pluk, který, otráven mravně z domova, vytáhl do pole, aby se dopustil velezrády.

František Josef I.

[III.1]

Rozkaz arcivévody Josefa Ferdinanda:

České trupy během polního tažení zklamaly, zejména v posledních bojích. Zejména zklamaly při obraně posic, ve kterých se nalézaly po delší dobu v zákopech, čehož použil často nepřítel, aby navázal styky a spojení s ničemnými živly těchto trup. Obyčejně vždy směřovaly pak útoky nepřítele, podporovaného těmito zrádci, proti těm oddílům na frontě, které byly od takových trup obsazeny. Často podařilo se nepříteli překvapit naše části a takřka bez odporu proniknout do našich posic a zajmouti značný, velký počet obránců. Tisíckrát hanba, potupa i opovržení těmto bídákům bezectným, kteří dopustili se zrady císaře i říše a poskvrňují nejen čest slavných praporů naší slavné a statečné armády, nýbrž i čest té národnosti, ku které se hlásí. Dřív nebo později zastihne je kulka nebo provaz kata. Povinností každého jednotlivého českého vojáka, který má čest v těle, je, aby označil svému komandantovi takového ničemu, štváče a zrádce. Kdo tak neučiní, je sám takový zrádce a ničema. Tento rozkaz nechť je přečten všemu mužstvu u českých pluků. C. k. pluk čís. 28 nařízením našeho mocnáře jest již vyškrtnut z armády a všichni zajatí přeběhlíci z pluku splatí svou krví těžkou vinu.

Arcivévoda Josef Ferdinand

[IV.1] Já jsem sloužil u 28. regimentu a hned jsem vstoupil k Rusům do služby, a pak se dám tak hloupé chytit.

[IV.1] ... snad ty si vzpomeneš na někoho, s kým si se tam tak stýkal, rád bych věděl, kdo tam je od našeho 28. regimentu?

Literature

• IR 28 - bojová cestaSignum belli 19142014
• Historie c.a k. pěšího pluku č. 28Michael Heres
• Přechod 28. Pražského pluku k rusůmOtakar Vaněk1925
• Bohemia's case for independenceDr. Edouard Beneš1917
• Das Verhalten der Tschechen im WeltkriegDeutschnationalen Geschäftsstelle Wien1918
• Předání praporu 28. pěšího pluku do Vojenského historického muzea ve VídniVHÚ
• Slovenský ZborovVojtěch Vladimír Klecanda1934
• Tajnosti rakouského generálního štábuJaroslav Kunz1931
• Pražský pěší pluk č. 28 v tažení 1914 - 1915Josef Fučík1995
• Pražský pěší pluk č. 28 na italské frontě 1915 -1918Historie a vojenstvíJosef Fučík8.1996
• Jaké byly osudy 28. pěšího pluku během I. světové války?Pavel Minařík
• DeserteureDas TagebuchLudwig Rege33.1.1921
• 28. pluk "Pražské děti"Karel Rélink1932
• S osmadvacátníky za světové válkyFerdinand Lirš1936

---

• Pravda o Čechách a PrazePokrok západu30.12.1914
• Potrestaný 28. plukOsvěta americká2.6.1915
• Zprávy z rodného krajeČechoslovák4.6.1915
• Jak byl zajat pražský 28. plukPokrok západu13.10.1915
• Zrušení 28. a 36. plukuČechoslovák29.11.1915
• Výtečné drženi se 11. pochodového praporu c. a k. péšibo pluku čis. 28Lidové noviny16.4.1916
• Češi v rakouské armáděSlavie28.4.1916
• Češi v rakouské armáděOsvěta americká3.5.1916
• K historii 28. plukuČeskoslovenská samostatnost23.5.1916
• Das Infanterieregiment Nr. 28Salzburger Volksblatt20.10.1917
• Das Verhalten des Tschechen im KriegeNeues Wiener Abendblatt10.5.1919
• Historický dokumentČeskoslovenský legionář22.8.1924
• Der Armeebefehl vom April 1915Salzburger Chronik17.4.1926
• Zur versuchten Ehrenrettung des ehem. I.R. 28 (1)Danzers Armee-ZeitungFritz Kosmath11.6.1926
• Zur versuchten Ehrenrettung des ehem. I.R. 28 (2)Danzers Armee-ZeitungFritz Kosmath18.6.1926
• Ein Ehrenrettungsversuch für das tschechische Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 28Kärntner Zeitung27.4.1926
• Wieder die 28er?Grazer Tagblatt3.3.1931
• Die AchtundzwanzigerPrager Tagblatt7.3.1931
• Osmadvacátníci a česká družinaHlas revoluceEduard Stehlík1.5.1990
• Legenda o dezercii pražského 28. pešieho pluku v Karpatochvalka.cz27.9.2008
• Pražské děti nezradilyRevue BabylonPavel Bělina19.6.2018
• Der Oberste Kriegsherr und sein StabAlexander Duschnitz1908

	K.u.k. Militärgericht Prag
Praha IV./214, Kapucínská 2
MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Address book from 1907

K.u.k. Militärgericht Prag the final part of [I.9] takes place here, during the process of transferring Švejk from the garrison prison to Feldkurat Katz. Head of the court was Auditor Bernis. See also Posádková věznice.

The court was first mentioned by the angry policeman at c.k. policejní ředitelství who wishes the devil may take Švejk. If the dares to appear once more he will be sent sraight to the military court.

In [II.2] the court is mentioned again as this is where Pepík Vyskoč was sentened.

Background

K.u.k. Militärgericht Prag was the military court of the Prague-based 8th army group. The court was located at Hradčany in the same building complex as the garrison prison and the military hospital. The k.k. Landwehr court was also located here. An article in Prager Tagblatt also mentions a brigade court, but it is not clear how these administrative subdivisions worked. To judge by newspapers reports from 1914 Hauptmann G. Heinrich led the court[a]. The address book of 1912 lists Major Josef Plzák as the highest ranking officer. His assistant was Oberleutnant Vladimír Dokoupil.

The good soldier Švejk in captivity

In Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí the miltary court is also part of the plot and to a higher degree than in the novel. An auditor handles Švejk's case but he is not named. The narrator also explains how the Austro-Hungarian military judiciary works.[1]

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.9] Vyšetřující auditor Bernis byl muž společnosti, půvabný tanečník a mravní zpustlík, který se zde strašně nudil a psal německé verše do památníků, aby měl pohotově vždy nějakou zásobu. Byl nejdůležitější složkou celého aparátu vojenského soudu, poněvadž měl tak hrozné množství restů a spletených akt, že uváděl v respekt celý vojenský soud na Hradčanech. Ztrácel obžalovací materiál a byl nucen vymýšlet si nový. Přehazoval jména, ztrácel nitě k žalobě a soukal nové, jak mu to napadlo.

[II.4] Když jsem seděl u garnisonsgerichtu, tak se ve vedlejší cimře jeden voják přiznal, a jak se to vostatní dozvěděli, tak mu dali deku a poručili mu, že musí svý přiznání vodvolat."

Also written:Military courtenC.a k. vojenský soudczMilitærdomstolenno

Literature

• Das Verbrechen der Majestäts-beleidigungBudweiser Zeitung16.4.1915

	Policejní komisařství XIII.
Libeň/185, Stejskalova ul. -
MapSearch

Policejní komisařství XIII. is mentioned by Švejk when Auditor Bernis asks him why he has ended up in the garrison prison. Švejk tells him that he doesn't know, just like the two year old who had walked from Vinohrady to Libeň and was locked up at the local police station. The analogy is that Švejk was also a foundling, just like the two-year old child.

Background

Policejní komisařství XIII. was the police station in Libeň, Prague's police district number 13. It was located in Stejskalova ulice 185 and the station's head in 1906 was chief commissioner Josef Roubal.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.9] „Poslušně hlásím, že to mohu vysvětlit náramně jednoduchým způsobem. U nás v ulici je uhlíř a ten měl úplně nevinnýho dvouletýho chlapečka a ten se jednou dostal pěšky z Vinohrad až do Libně, kde ho strážník našel sedět na chodníku. Tak toho chlapečka odved na komisařství a zavřeli je tam, to dvouletý dítě. Byl, jak vidíte, ten chlapeček úplně nevinnej, a přece byl zavřenej.

Literature

• Adresář královského hlavního města Prahy a obcí sousedních, 1907Obec Pražská

	K.k. Landwehr
Wien I./-, Schillerplatz 4
Wikipedia czdeenpl MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Schematismus der K. k. Landwehr ...,1914

The recruitment districts of Landwehr

Schematismus der K. k. Landwehr ..., 1913

K.k. Landwehr is first mentioned in the cell at Posádková věznice when Švejk doesn't return because Feldkurat Katz has chosen him as his servant. A Landwehr soldier with a vivid imagination was of the opinion that he had been taken to Motolské cvičiště to be executed.

In [II.1] when an old landverák (home defence soldier) at the station in Tábor explained to a sergeant the meaning of the word miláček (that Švejk had addressed him with). Later in the chapter the author for the first time mentions a Landwehr regiment: k.k. Schützenregiment Nr. 21.

In [II.2] k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 7 is implicitly referred to as this is where Toníček Mašků was called up to. Later in the chapter Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek mentions k.k. Landwehr patrols and because the plot is now set in Budějovice the unit in question is k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 29.

A curiosity is the fictive k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 64 that Feldoberkurat Lacina mentions on the train from Budějovice to Királyhida in [II.3].

Background

K.k. Landwehr (lit. Land Protection) was the territorial army in Cisleithania, a force that was created in 1868 after Ausgleich. Their Hungarian counterpart was Honvéd. Landwehr reported to Ministerium für Landesverteidigung and was rather a regular fighting force than a pure territorial army/reserve force. Their units were not associated with k.u.k. Heer, had their own barracks and infrastructure, even their own military academies. The term of service was two or three years, and the arrangement with one-year volunteers functioned roughly like in the common army.

Handbuch für den Infanteristen des k.u.k. Heeres, sowie der k. k. Landwehr,1914

Landwehr consisted of 37 infantry regiments but as opposed to k.u.k Heer the numbers of recruitment districts didn't always correspond to those of the infantry regiments. There was for instance a Landwehrergänzungsbezirk Nr. 38 (Beroun) but no corresponding k.k. Landwehr infantry regiment. Landwehr also contained artillery and cavalry units but had no fortresses. The infantry regiments were smaller than their counterparts in k.u.k. Heer, consisting mostly of three instead of four battalions. Because of the lower number of regiments the recruitment districts were larger than those of the common army. Drafting of recruits was however coordinated and the men were divided between k.u.k. Heer and Landwehr, drawn by lot. At army corps level there was also some co-ordination as both the common army and Landwehr reported to the same Korpskommando.

The k.k. Landwehr high command was located in the building of the Ministry of Justice at Schillerplatz in Vienna. From the district of Landwehrterritorialkommando Prag hailed five Landwehr regiments (names according to Schematismus): Nr. 6 Eger, Nr. 7 Pilsen, Nr. 8 Prag, Nr. 28 Pisek and Nr. 29 Budweis. The number of infantry regiments in k.u.k. Heer in the same area was eight.

During the war

Ehrenhalle des k. k. Landwehr, des k. k. Landsturmes und der k. k. Gendarmerie, 1916

Landwehr in Bohemia were mobilised already at the start of the war. As part of 8. Korps with HQ in Prague 21. Landwehr-infanterievisision was sent to the front against Serbia were they suffered huge losses and in addition were partly blamed for the failed invasions of Serbia. In February 1915 the unit was sent to the Carpathians where other k.k. Landwehr troops from Bohemia already were fighting.

Like the Czech regiments in k.u.k. Heer the reserve battalions from k.k. Landwehr in Bohemia were relocated to non-Czech parts of the empire. This happened in the autumn of 1914 and the first half of 1915, a step that was taken due to the feared disloyalty of Czech recruits (not entirely unfounded). Examples were k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 7 from Pilsen that was relocated to ethnic German Rumburk and k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 28 from Písek that already in late 1914 were moved to Linz.

K.k. Landwehr ⇒ K.k. Schützen

Arbeiter-Zeitung, 4.4.1917

In April 1917 all k.k. Landwehr units were renamed k.k. Schützen. The justification was that the new name better reflected that Landwehr were indeed fighting units on level with k.u.k. Heer and not a second line home defence as the former name indicated. The Imperial decree deciding the name change was issued on 19 March 1917, published in Verordnungsblatt für die k.k. Landwehr on 4 April.[a]

Hašek and Landwehr

Jaroslav Hašek would obviously have known and been in contact with k.k. Landwehr throughout. In The Good Soldier Švejk Einjährigfreiwilliger Marek tells Švejk about the conflicts with Landwehr in Budějovice. In this setting it would have been k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 29 who were garrisoned here. At the end of his stay here he might also have been in touch with k.k. Landwehrinfanterieregiment Nr. 6 from Eger (now Cheb) who were moved at the end of May 1915. Parts of this regiment were even housed in Mariánská kasárna, but probably only after IR. 91 vacated it. Two of Hašek's closest friends served with Landwehr: Zdeněk Matěj Kuděj (LIR 6 and LIR 7) and Václav Menger (LIR 28).

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.9] Nějaký pihovatý voják od zeměbrany, který měl největší fantasii, rozhlásil, že Švejk střelil po svém hejtmanovi a že dnes ho odvedli na motolské cvičiště na popravu.

[II.1] „Was ist das Wort: milatschek?“ obrátil se šikovatel k jednomu ze svých vojáků, starému landverákovi, který podle všeho dělal svému šikovateli všechno naschvál, poněvadž řekl klidně: „Miláček, das ist wie Herr Feldwebel.“

[II.2] „U nás byl taky jeden takovej nezbeda. Ten měl ject do Plzně k landvér, nějakej Toníček Mašků,“ povzdechla si babička, „von je vod mojí neteře příbuznej, a vodjel.

[II.2] ...dá se chytit landveráckou nebo dělostřeleckou patrolou v noci...

[II.2] ,Prokristapána,` slyšel jsem ho jednou hulákat na chodbě, ,tak už ho potřetí chytla landverácká patrola.

[II.2] Hejtman Spíro udeřil pěstí do stolu. "Zeměbrana vykonává službu v zemi v čas míru."

Literature

• Schematismus der k.k. Land­wehr (s. 1)Ministerium für Landesverteidigung1914
• Handbuch für den Infanteristen des k.u.k. Heeres, sowie der k. k. LandwehrRudolf Mattanić1914
• Z historie III. zeměbrany v PředlitavskuKarel Klátil
• Historie čáslavských regimentůLIR12 Čáslav

	Česká strana národně sociální
Praha II./739, Dlouhá tř. 27
Wikipedia czdeenno Search

The first party newspaper, one month after the party was founded

Prager Tagblatt,9.1.1909

Imprisoned anti-militarists, 1909

© Národní archiv - Archiv České strany národně sociální

Světozor,25.6.1909

Adresář královského hlavního města Prahy a obcí sousedních, 1910

Česká strana národně sociální is indirectly mentioned when one of the soldiers in Švejk's escort on way from Hradčany to Karlín asks him if he is a national socialist.

Background

Česká strana národně sociální was a political party that was founded in April 1897 as a break-away group from the Social Democrats and some defectors from Mladočeši. The split came about mainly because the mother party advocated working within Cisleithania as a whole, whereas the splinter group advocated state rights for the Czech Lands. The relatively large number of Jews in the mother party also played a part in provoking the break. Their political platform was roughly based on reform socialism, radical nationalism, and anti-militarism. They were also strongly anti-clerical, anti-German, promoted use of the Czech language in the public sector. The party was often referred to as "Czech Radicals". The party chairman from 1898 to 1938 was Klofáč.

The first who printed Švejk

It may, at first sight, appear odd the so much space is dedicated to the party, but in a Švejk context, there are two reasons for doing so. It was the party's own press who printed the first three stories about Švejk in 1911 (Karikatury, Josef Lada), and their principal mouthpiece České slovo was one of the main promoters of The Good Soldier Švejk after the author's death. Hašek was also shortly employed by this paper both in 1908 and 1912 and also contributed in other periods. He was a personal friend of several of the newspapermen who served the party press, and Hašek as a nationalist and socialist was no doubt ideologically close to the party.

Pre-war period

But now back to the party proper... At the 1911 election to Reichsrat the party achieved 9.7 per cent of the votes in Bohemia and had 15 representatives. In Moravia the party was much weaker and had only one representative.

Already from the beginning, Staatspolizei kept a keen eye on the party. Under particular scrutiny was the youth organisation and their newspaper Mladé proudy, led by Emil Špatný and Alois Hatina.

The agent Mašek

On 8 January 1909 party chairman Klofáč claimed in České slovo that an agent provocateur in the service of the police had tried to incriminate the party with highly treasonous fabricated material connecting them to Serbia. A key person in this plot was Hynek Mašek, a well-known adventurer and deceiver who the police already had employed to spy on politically suspect groups like the anarchists. According to Klofáč he was paid by Oberkommisar Chlum in Staatspolizei. Klofáč took the case as a matter of urgency to Reichsrat where he demanded Mašek be arrested and a stop to the illegal activities of the police. The thunderous debate took place on 12 March, but the case was rejected.

Klofáč never managed to prove the allegations, and in parts of the German language press it was ridiculed as a "romantic spy novel". The Czech newspapers were more accomodating but Čas, the paper of Professor Masaryk's Realist Party, commented in a terse and realist way that "the police have a strange connection both to the National Social party and to Hynek Mašek. No less, no more." That said many of the allegations were no doubt true, and none of them can be directly disproved.

Antimilitarist process

The youth organisation increasingly became a thorn in the eye of the authorities, mainly because they started to agitate and spread propaganda even within k.u.k. Wehrmacht, disturbing the draft process etc. In 1909 a court case against 46 of their leaders was instigated. In the first trial, only a few were convicted, but after an appeal by the state attorney, almost all of them were sentenced in 1910. The longest sentences handed out were two years. Again the name Hynek Mašek appears, and Hašek mentions both him and the trial in his feulleton Po stopách státní policie v Praze (On the tracks of the state police in Prague), Jaroslav Hašek, Čechoslovan, 21 August 1916.

The Šviha affair

In the spring of 1914, the party was hit by a scandal of far greater dimensions. The chairman of the party's group in parliament, Karel Šviha, was revealed to be linked to k.u.k. Staatspolizei and as usual when this unit was mentioned, the names Mr. Klíma and Mr. Slavíček appear. Šviha was forced to resign and the scandal signalled the end to his political career.

Banned and persecuted

In 1914 the party was banned and the leaders were arrested, and two party members were executed (editor Kotek and Slavomír Kratochvíl) in November 1914. Klofáč was spared the same fate by the 1917 amnesty issue by the new emperor Karl I.

After the war

In 1918 the party was renamed the Czechoslovak Socialist Party and in 1926 even the National Socialist Party! Their best known public profile after the war was without doubt Eduard Beneš who joined in 1923. The party was during the inter-war years member of the five-party ruling coalition. It was brutally persecuted during Nazi rule and in 1948 it was swallowed up by the communists and became their puppet party. It reappeared after the 1989 Velvet Revolution but with a dwindling number of votes, high debts, and frequent name changes, the party is now for all practical purposes non-existing.

National Socialist

The term "National Socialist" was, as the novel reveals, already used in daily speech already before World War I, but was obviously not related to the notorious Nazi party that emerged in Germany after the war. Although the two parties shared fervent nationalism, anti-Semitism and certain aspects of economic policies, the differences were much more notable.

The Czech national socials didn't seek to overthrow the democratic system, didn't persecute their opponents and were openly anti-militarist. Nor did they share the Nazi party's hatred of Communism or their ideas on racial hygiene. Whereas the Czech party's nationalism was a reaction to external threats to national culture and self-determination, their German namesake was driven by aggressive ambitions to expand at the expense of other nations.

Hašek and the party

Emil Špatný, friend of Hašek - during a razzia on 27 March 1909 he swallowed a compromising letter!

© Národní archiv - Archiv České strany národně sociální

Jaroslav Hašek was a personal friend of several members of the national social youth organisation, amongst them Alois Hatina and Emil Špatný. Both were editors at the newspaper Mladé proudy, and like Hašek they were at the time close to the anarchists. If Hašek ever was a party member is not clear, but we know that he assisted during election campaigning in 1908 (Radko Pytlík).

Nor was he a stranger to the party's official newspaper České slovo and the leadership of the party proper. Several party leaders and newspapermen are mentioned in his various stories. Klofáč himself appears in The Good Soldier Švejk and features in Strana mírného pokroku v mezích zákona and elsewhere. Otherwise, Karel Šviha, Jiří Škorkovský and many others fell victim to the satirist's sharp pen.

České slovo

České slovo (The Czech Word) was founded in 1907 and Hašek's first story appeared in their columns on 28 June 1908 and he had altogether eleven stories printed in the paper that year. In 1909 his name disappeared, but in 1911 and 1912 there was some scattered activity.

Hašek briefly worked for České slovo as a local reporter in 1912 but was soon dismissed. At the height of the Šviha affair in March 1914, he wrote a stinging obituary over the party in Kopřivy, a satirical magazine associated with the rival Social Democrats!

The publishing house Melantřich was closely linked to the party, and apart from České slovo they published a number of smaller newspapers and magazines. One of them was Karikatury, a satirical magazine edited by Hašek's friend Josef Lada. It was on their pages that The Good Soldier Švejk appeared for the first time, on 22 May 1911.

Following Hašek's return from Russia, a new period of intense activity in the columns of České slovo followed. The first story appeared already on 5 January 1921 and several more followed that spring. They mostly appeared in the evening paper Večerní České slovo.

After Hašek's death, České slovo played a prominent role in popularising his novel. From 11 November 1923 onwards they published Josef Lada's famous drawings that colour our perception of Švejk even until today. In the autumn of 1924, the evening paper printed the first serious study of the links between Hašek's own experiences in k.u.k. Heer and the plot of the novel. See Jan Morávek for more details on this theme.

The letter that was swallowed

Prager Tagblatt,29.3.1909

As a side note we have also made the following observation: One of Hašek's friends from the party may well have inspired one of the most memorable episodes from Švejk's stay in Királyhida. On 27 March 1909 the police carried out a house search at the homes of various members of Česká strana národně sociální. One of the subjects of the razzia was the aforementioned editor Emil Špatný. He showed himself to be very alert - and allegedly tore up and swallowed a compromising letter from the agent provocateur Mašek! The episode was reported in several papers, amongst them Prager Tagblatt[a] and Neue Freie Presse.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.10.1] „Nejsi národní socialista?“ Nyní počal být malý tlustý opatrným. Vmísil se do toho. „Co je nám do toho,“ řekl, „je všude plno lidí a pozorujou nás. Aspoň kdybychom někde v průjezdu mohli sundat bodla, aby to tak nevypadalo. Neutečeš nám?

Sources: Svatopluk Herec

Also written:Czech National Social PartyenTschechische national-soziale ParteideDet tsjekkiske nasjonalsosiale partino

Literature

• Exploring the Nature of Nationalism and Socialism in Czech National SocialismDaniel Miller2008
• Vztah národně sociální strany a národně sociální mládeže v letech 1901 - 1910Svatopluk Herec2014
• Politický klub "Osvěta" strany národně sociálníAdresář královského hlavního města Prahy a obcí sousedních1910
• Historie ČSNSČeská strana národně sociální

• ---

• Odboj sociálních demokratů proti Českému státuNárodní listy8.4.1897
• Klofač und MašekPrager Tagblatt9.1.1909
• Grosse Sturmszenen in AbgeordnetenhausePrager Tagblatt10.3.1909
• Persekuce strany národně-sociální za válkyFrantišek S. Frabša1921

• ---

• Hrst nezabudek, sázených na hrob strany národně sociálníKopřivyJaroslav Hašek26.3.1914
• Po stopách státní policie v PrazeČechoslovanJaroslav Hašek21.8.1916

	Na Kuklíku
Praha II./1130, Petrské nám. 6
MapSearch Švejkova cesta Švejkův slovník

České slovo,16.12.1923

Národní listy,20.5.1901

Na Kuklíku was the tavern where Švejk and his guards had a long and happy break before they, under the influence, continued to Feldkurat Katz in Karlín. A certain pubkeeper Serabona is reported to be the landlord, and as a member of Sokol he can be trusted.

Background

Na Kuklíku was a restaurant in Prague at Petrské náměstí. Newspaper adverts from 1877 reveal that the pub existed and that they also brewed their own beer. Towards the end of the 1880s brewing appears to have ceased, but the restaurant business continued. According to the 1900 census Gustav Holan was the landlord.

Vilém Srp was granted a license 1901 and was in 1923 still the owner. That year a newspaper report reveals that treasures worth Kč 50,000 had been hidden in the loft but had been stolen at a time when the landlord couple were ill. The culprits were caught and sentenced. It is interesting that a postcard from 1906 reveals that the place was also called U Serabono. See pubkeeper Serabona. The building was demolished in 1928.

Kuklík is mentioned in a story by Egon Erwin Kisch: Zitaten vom Montmartre where it is described as a rough place. Over the years several reports of disturbances appeared in the newspapers. There were incidents involving unruly soldiers, and reported cases of theft and a gang cheating at cards.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.10.1] „Pojďme na Kuklík,“ vybízel Švejk, „kvéry si dáte do kuchyně, hostinský Serabona je Sokol, toho se nemusíte bát. Hrajou tam na housle a na harmoniku,“ pokračoval Švejk, „a chodějí tam pouliční holky a různá jiná dobrá společnost, která nesmí do Represenťáku.“ Čahoun s malým podívali se ještě jednou na sebe a pak řekl čahoun: „Tak tam půjdem, do Karlína je ještě daleko.“ Po cestě jim Švejk vypravoval různé anekdoty a v dobré náladě vstoupili na „Kuklík“ a udělali to tak, jak Švejk radil. Ručnice uschovali v kuchyni a šli do lokálu, kde housle a harmonika naplňovaly místnost zvuky oblíbené písně "Na Pankráci".

[I.10.1] Švejk vzpomínal též na jednoho básníka, který tu sedával pod zrcadlem a v tom všeobecném ruchu „Kuklíku“, zpěvu a pod zvuky harmoniky psával básničky a předčítal je prostitutkám.

[I.10.1] Čahoun byl také toho mínění, že polní kurát může čekat. Švejkovi se však přestalo již na Kuklíku líbit, a proto jim pohrozil, že půjde sám.

Sources: Jaroslav Šerák, M. Smreček

Literature

• Románové restaurační a jiné zábavní podnikyJaroslav Šerák2009 - 2021
• BierfasserPrager Abendblatt13.11.1877
• Schlimme GästeEpoche17.5.1879
• WirtshausexcessPrager Tagblatt13.4.1880
• LynchjustizPrager Tagblatt19.10.1898
• Loupežná vražda na HradčanechNárodní politika29.4.1902
• Podivná historie s dvouzlatnikemNárodní politika25.8.1904
• Pro ty alimentyVenkov5.4.1912

	Sokol
Praha II./61, Ferdinandova tř. 24
Wikipedia czdeen MapSearch

Sokol exercise at Lipnice nad Sázavou castle, some time before 1913

Sokol being dissolved by decree

Národní listy,30.11.1915

Sokol is briefly mentioned by Švejk when he tells his escort on the way to Feldkurat Katz that the landlord pubkeeper Serabona at Na Kuklíku is a Sokol member and thus no reason to be afraid of. They could without worry leave their rifles in the kitchen and have a drink.

Background

Sokol (Falcon) is a still existing patriotic gymnastics movement founded in Prague in 1862 by Miroslav Tyrš and Jindřich Fügner. They soon became an important part of the Czech national consciousness and also took root amongst other Slav peoples in Austria-Hungary and even in Russia, Serbia and Bulgaria. Throughout the time of the monarchy the authorities kept a close eye on the movement that had strong support from parties that advocated Czech state rights, namely Česká strana národně sociální and Mladočeši. In 1910 the main office was located in Ferdinandova tř. 24, the building has been demolished. The premises are now (2015) occupied by the supermarket Tesco. Scheiner was chairman of both the Czech and the international organisation, and both were located at this address.

On 24 November 1915 the two Prague-based umbrella organisations of Sokol, Česká Obec Sokolská and Svaz Slovanského Sokolstva, were dissolved at the order of the Ministery of Interior. Local organisations were however allowed to function. The official reason for the crackdown was pro-Serbian and pro-Russians activities, anti-Austrian propaganda, and contact with North American Sokol organisation that was very hostile to the ruling dynasty. Sokol leader Scheiner had been arrested already on 25 May. Many Sokol members were indeed active in the Czech resistance movement during the war. Sokol reached its pinnacle during the first republic, but was of course banned by both the Nazis and the Communist.

On 6 January 1923 members of Sokol carried Jaroslav Hašek's coffin to his grave at Lipnice.

The good soldier Švejk in captivity

In Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí Sokol is mentioned in connection with the interrogation of Švejk at k.u.k. Militärgericht Prag.[1]

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.10.1] „Pojďme na Kuklík“, vybízel Švejk, „kvéry si dáte do kuchyně, hostinský Serabona je Sokol, toho se nemusíte bát. Hrajou tam na housle a na harmoniku,“ pokračoval Švejk, „a chodějí tam pouliční holky a různá jiná dobrá společnost, která nesmí do Represenťáku.

Literature

• Historie SokolaČeská Obec Sokolská
• Sokol v dějinách národaČeská Obec Sokolská
• Proč byla rozpuštěna Česká Obec SokolskáDělnické listy30.12.1915
• Die amtliche Verstandnis über die Auflösing der SokolverbandeNeue Freie Presse31.12.1915
• Great War and Ban on SokolÚstav pro studium totalitních režimů

	Reprezenťák
Praha I./1090, Josefské nám. 4
Wikipedia czdeen MapSearch Švejkův slovník

Architektonický obzor, 12.1912

Reprezenťák is mentioned when Švejk tells his escort that Na Kuklíku is a pleasant place where street girl and other good company who are not allowed at Reprezenťák may enter.

Background

Reprezenťák is a concert hall and entertainment complex in Prague, now officially called Obecní dům. It was originally known as Reprezentační dům, hence the colloquial term that Švejk uses. It is one of the landmark Art Nouveau buildings in the city. The Czechoslovak independence was proclaimed here on 28 October 1918.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.10.1] Hrajou tam na housle a na harmoniku,“ pokračoval Švejk, „a chodějí tam pouliční holky a různá jiná dobrá společnost, která nesmí do Represenťáku.“

Literature

• Románové restaurační a jiné zábavní podnikyJaroslav Šerák2009 - 2021
• Historie Obecního DomuObecní dům

	U Valšů
Praha I./286, ul. Karoliny Světlé 22
MapSearch Švejkův slovník

U Valšů, May 2011

Národní listy,18.9.1910

Policejní ředitelstvi, 30.11.1914

U Valšů is referred to in a conversation at Na Kuklíku where it is claimed that a certain Mařka (Marie) had disappeared to U Valšů with a soldier. The place appears again in a story by Švejk on the train after Moson, [III.1].

Background

U Valšů was a coaching inn and hotel in Staré město, from 1908 owned by František Materna[a], a person who may have leant his surname to Einjährigfreiwilliger Materna. It had long traditions and is mentioned in newspapers like Fremden-Blatt as early as 1861[b]. It was still operating in 1917 (the same owner) but seems to have ceased soon after. In 2021 the building housed a theatre.

A legendary hoax

U Valšů was the scene of one of Jaroslav Hašek's most famous hoaxes. On 24 November 1914 he hired a room there, registering as a Russian businessman, born in Kiev, arriving from Moscow. He was soon arrested and taken to c.k. policejní ředitelství. Here he was interrogated by Mr. Slavíček and eventually sentenced to five days in prison. Hašek claimed that the he did it to check how vigilant the security services were! The story soon appeared in newspapers, including the author's humorous response!

Both Václav Menger and Emil Artur Longen mention the episode in their books about Hašek and both brush up the story with dialogues and other details. The police report didn't mention what name Hašek registered under whereas Václav Menger claims it was Ivan Feodorovič Kuzněcov and Longen names him Lev Nikolajevič Turgeněv. Both these versions ought to be read with some scepticism, particularly Longen's. He lets the narrator be some detective Spanda and he even claims that he was the model for detective Bretschneider.

Another version of the story (origin unknown) claims that he registered under a name which backwards read "lick my arse", but this is surely nothing more than a "good story" and is not supported by the police records, nor by Václav Menger nor Longen.

Quote(s) from the novel

[I.10.1] U hudby hádali se dva, že nějakou Mařku včera lízla patrola. Jeden to viděl na vlastní oči a druhý tvrdil, že šla s nějakým vojákem se vyspat k „Valšům“ do hotelu.

Sources: Václav Menger, Emil Artur Longen

Literature

• Románové restaurační a jiné zábavní podnikyJaroslav Šerák2009 - 2021
• Jaroslav HašekEmil Artur Longen1928
• Jaroslav Hašek domaVáclav Menger1935

---

• PřispěvkyNárodní listy3.5.1862
• Falešný uprchlík z RuskaNárodní listy13.12.1914
• Humoristovy rozmaryDělnické listy18.12.1914
• Laciné noclehyTribuna12.6.1919
• Pražské hotely ve světle statistikyNárodní listy10.1.1924