Map of Austria-Hungary in 1914 showing the military districts of k.u.k. Heer and Švejk's journey. The entire plot of The Good Soldier Švejk took place on the territory of the Dual Monarchy.
The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk is a novel which contains a wealth of geographical references - either directly through the plot, in dialogues or in the authors own observations. Jaroslav Hašek was himself unusually well travelled and had a photographic memory of geographical (and other) details. It is evident that he put great emphasis on this: 8 of the 27 chapter headlines in The Good Soldier Švejk contain place names.
This web site will in due course contain a full overview of all the geographical references in the novel; from Prague in the introduction to Klimontów in the unfinished Book Four. Countries, cities, towns, villages, mountains, oceans, lakes, rivers, islands, buildings are included. Note that from 14 September 2013, institutions (including pubs) have been moved to the new 'Institutions' page. The list is sorted according to the order in which the names appear through the novel. The chapter headlines are from Zenny Sadlon's recent translation (1999-2008) and will in most cases differ from Cecil Parrott's translation from 1973.
The quotes in Czech are copied from the on-line version of The Good Soldier Švejk: provided by Jaroslav Šerák and contain links to the relevant chapter. The toolbar has links for direct access to Wikipedia, Google maps, Google search, svejkmuseum.cz and the novel on-line.
The names are coloured according to their role in the novel, illustrated by these examples: Sanok a location where the plot takes place, Dubno mentioned in the narrative, Zagreb part of a dialogue, and Pakoměřice mentioned in an anecdote.
Places index of countries, cities, villages, mountains, rivers, bridges ... (591)
Show all
I. In the rear
14. Švejk as military servant to senior lieutenant Lukáš (60)
II. At the front
2. Švejk's budějovická anabasis (64)
3. Švejk's happenings in Királyhida (43)
III. The famous thrashing
1. Across Magyaria (38)
2. In Budapest (38)
3. From Hatvan to the borders of Galicia (50)
4. Forward March! (42)
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IV. The famous thrashing continued |
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1. Švejk in the transport of russian prisoners of war | |||
 | Hostýn |  | |||
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Hostýn is mentioned in connection with the battle against the Mongolians led by Jaroslav ze Šternberka, something Švejk reminds the Crimean tatar of in the prisoner transport of.
Background
Hostýn is a mountain in Moravia, now a pilgrimage site.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Hm - znáš Jaroslava ze Šternberka? To jméno neznáš, ty kluku tatarská? Ten vám natřel prdel pod Hostýnem. To ste vod nás jeli, vy klucí tatarský, z Moravy svinským krokem. Vás ve vašich čítankách neučejí, jako nás to učívali. Znáš hostýnskou panenku Marii? To se ví, že neznáš - ta byla taky při tom, však voni vás, kluky tatarský, tady v zajetí pokřtějí.“
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| Dobromil | | ||||
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Dobromil is a place Švejk passed through in the transport of Russian prisoners of war between Felsztyn and Przemyśl.
Background
Dobromil is the Polish name of the town Добромиль (Dobromyl) in Galicia, now in the Lviv province in Ukraine, only a few kilometres from the border with Poland. It is on the railway line from Chyrów to Przemyśl. The town was until 1918 part of Austria-Hungary.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Tak měl Švejk neštěstí, že se nemohl dohovořiti s nikým, a s ostatními vlekli ho na Dobromil, odkud se měla spravovati dráha přes Přemyšl na Nižankovice. V Dobromilu, na etapě v kanceláři, jednoho po druhém zapisovali, což šlo velice ztěžka, poněvadž ze všech 300 zajatců, které do Dobromilu přihnali, nikdo nerozuměl ruštině šikovatele, který tam seděl za stolem a který se přihlásil kdysi, že umí rusky, a jako tlumočník vystupoval nyní ve východní Haliči.
Also written:Добромиль ua
Literature
- Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego...1880 - 1914
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| Niżankowice | | |||
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Niżankowice is mentioned because the prisoners are going to repair the railway line between Przemyśl and Niżankowice.
Background
Niżankowice is the Polish name of the village Нижанковичі (Nyzhankovychi) in the Lviv oblast in Ukraine, very close to the Polish border and Przemyśl.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Tak měl Švejk neštěstí, že se nemohl dohovořiti s nikým, a s ostatními vlekli ho na Dobromil, odkud se měla spravovati dráha přes Přemyšl na Nižankovice.
Also written:Nižankovice Hašek Нижанковичі ua
Literature
- Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego...1880 - 1914
- Z Uher do okupovaného ruského Polska28.1.1916
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| Praga | | |||
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Praga is mentioned by the corporal who interrogates Švejk after he has been captured by Felsztyn. He mixes up Prague (in German Prag) and Praga.
Background
Praga is a district of Warsaw. Because the city was part of Russian Poland in 1914, the inhabitants were of course required to serve in the Russian armed forces. Praga is also the Polish name for Prague.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] „To nemusíš zapírat,“ pokračoval s určitostí šikovatel tlumočník, „každý z vás zajatců, který uměl německy, byl žid, a basta. Jak se jmenuješ? Švejch? Tak vidíš, co zapíráš, když máš takové židovské jméno? U nás se nemusíš bát přiznat se k tomu. U nás v Rakousku se nedělají pogromy na židy. Odkuď jsi? Aha, Prága, á to znám, to znám, to je u Varšavy. Taky jsem tu měl před týdnem dva židy z Prágy od Varšavy, a tvůj pluk, jaké má číslo? 91?“
Also written:Prága Hašek
Literature
- Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego...1880 - 1914
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| Yerevan | | |||
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Yerevan around 1920
Yerevan is mentioned by the corporal who interrogates Švejk after he has been captured by Felsztyn. The 91st Russian regiment is supposed to have been from here.
Background
Yerevan is now the capital of Armenia, in 1914 still belonging to Russia. The city was from 1921 to 1991 part of the Soviet Union. The current population figure is just over one million.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Šikovatel vzal schematismus, listoval se v něm: „Jednadevadesátý pluk je eryvanský, Kavkaz, kádr má v Tiflisu, to koukáš, co, jak my tady všechno známe?“
Also written:Jerevan cz Eriwan de Ереван ru
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| Caucasus | | |||
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Caucasus is mentioned by the corporal who interrogates Švejk after he has been captured by Felsztyn.
Background
Caucasus is a geographical region on the border between Europe and Asia which also comprises the mountain range of the same name. Europe´s highest mountain, Elbrus is found here. The countries of the region are Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Šikovatel vzal schematismus, listoval se v něm: „Jednadevadesátý pluk je eryvanský, Kavkaz, kádr má v Tiflisu, to koukáš, co, jak my tady všechno známe?“
Also written:Kavkaz cz Кавказ ru
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| Tbilisi | | |||
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Tbilisi is mentioned by the corporal who interrogates Švejk after he has been captured by Felsztyn.
Background
Tbilisi is now the capital of Georgia, in 1914 belonging to the Russian Empire. The city was from 1921 to 1991 part of the Soviet Union. The current population figure is just over one million.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Šikovatel vzal schematismus, listoval se v něm: „Jednadevadesátý pluk je eryvanský, Kavkaz, kádr má v Tiflisu, to koukáš, co, jak my tady všechno známe?“
Also written:Tiflis de Тбилиси ru
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| Židohoušť | | |||
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Židohoušť was where the priest priest Vobejda came from.
Background
Židohoušť has so far not been identified with certainty. It may be a mis-spelling of Živohoušť, at least translator Cecil Parrott made this assumption. This former village was flooded in 1954 when the Slapy dam was built across the Vltava.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] To u nás máme přeci lepší jména, jako ten farář v Židohoušti, kterej se jmenoval Vobejda.“
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| Lubaczów | | |||
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Lubaczów is mentioned because the prisoners are to repair the railway line between Przemyśl and Lubaczów.
Background
Lubaczów is a town north of Przemyśl near the Ukrainian border.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Časně ráno změnilo vojenské stavební velitelství disposice a usneslo se, že ona skupina zajatců, ve které byl Švejk, bude dopravena přímo do Přemyšlu k obnovení trati Přemyšl-Lubaczów.
Also written:Любачів ua
Literature
- Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego...1880 - 1914
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| Przemyśl | | |||||
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Przemyśl Rynek, 3.7.2015
,23.3.1915 (10.3) .
,24.10.1914.
,4.6.1915.
Przemyśl is mentioned 25 times in The Good Soldier Švejk.
Przemyśl is pivotal to the action in Part Four after Švejk was taken prisoners by his fellow soldiers after having put on a Russian uniform. More than two chapter is dedicated to the city - only Prague and Bruck (with Királyhida) are given more space in the novel.
As part of the prisoner transport Švejk is escorted to one of the destroyed forts in the inner ring of fortifications, and is accommodated in some abandoned stables. Here Major Wolf soon discovers that Švejk is Czech and wants to hang him immediately, but is wish is resisted by a colleague. The two officers argue intensely as the escort the prisoner to the main guard. Then they continue to the garrison where the good soldier is locked up in a former rice store and where he stays overnight surrounded by mice and vermin.
In the morning a provocateur is placed in the cell. He produces false testimonies against Švejk and tells that they met in Kiev. The next day the good soldier is brought before a tribunal headed by the blood-thirsty garrison commander General Fink - a group that consists of several officers, amongst them the Czech-speaking Major Derwota. The latter has a certain leaning towards legal procedures and justice, and convinces the others to send a telegram to the brigade to enquire about Švejk. After the interrogation the accused is moved to the garrison prison and is given spiritual consolation by Feldkurat Martinec, and in the end the dead drunk Derwota ends up in the cell with the prisoner. In the morning the telegram from the brigade arrives and indeed confirms who Švejk is, and ask for him to be handed over. Thus Fink has to let go of the expected summary execution. Švejk is placed on the train and escorted to brigade staff in Wojalycze.
The author also deals with the immorality, corruption and brutality at the garrison. "Nurses" were employed with the sole purpose of satisfying the officers - on top at that embezzlement, drunkenness and debauchery. Even the previously so pious Feldkurat Martinec gets embroiled in these undertakings.
Background
Przemyśl is a city in the south-west corner of current Poland. Under Austria-Hungary it was an important fortress and garrison city, and also the seat of the 10th army corps. Then as now it was connected with railways to Kraków and Lwów, the two biggest cities in Galicia.
The fortress
The city was during Austria-Hungary the centre of an extensive system of fortifications. The outer ring of forts measured 45 km. There was also an inner ring of fortifications around the city itself. Przemyśl was in 1914 one of the 10 largest fortresses in Europe and became world famous during the sieges of autumn 1914 and spring 1915. The second siege of Przemyśl was the longest lasting operation of its kind of the whole war.
On 17 September 1914 the Russians reached the outer fortifications and by the 26th the city was encircled. This first siege was broken as the Russian army failed in the attempt to take the city by a frontal attack and lifted the siege on 11 October. In early November a new offensive started and the 8th the fortress was again encircled. This time the attackers used a different tactic; they waited for the defenders to run out of supplies. The fortress was finally forced to surrender on 22 March 1915, and the nearly 120,000 defenders were taken prisoners of war. These were mostly Hungarians, commanded by general General Kusmanek.
During the Central Power's offensive in May, Przemyśl came under siege again and in the early hours of 3 June 1915 their forces entered the city. Logically Švejk's appearance must therefore have occurred soon after (he was in Budapest on 23 May). One of the writers that witnessed (and wrote about) the recapture was Ludwig Ganghofer. Around this time Generalmajor Gustav Stowasser was named commander of the garrison, but the fortress had now lost its military importance and the garrison was reduced to a few battalions.
Manewry Szwejkowskie
Sanocka brama, 3.7.2015
Przemyśl hosts the largest regular Švejk-related event in the world. Fans of the good soldier congregate from all over Poland and often also from the Czech Republic and Ukraine. In July 2015 the 18th manoeuvres took place, and as usual it was a two day event attended by around 100 people. On 4 July a new museum was officially opened at Sanocka brama. On the city's main square there has since 2006 been a statue of Švejk, sitting on a munition crate. A small street off the square is named in honour of the soldier.
The good soldier Švejk in captivity
In Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí the city is briefly mentioned at the start of chapter 5. The author notes that the Russian army had occupied Lvov and encircled Przemyśl. In Serbia the Austrian army was in trouble, in Prague people were happy and in Moravia they were preparing cakes to welcome the cossacks. This had happened when Švejk was in prison at the start of the war.[1]
Ludwig Ganghofer. Przemysl, 5. Juni 1915
Immer neue Soldatenzüge klirren in die Stadt herein, Reiter mit wehenden Fähnchen an den Lanzen, österreichische Dragoner und ungarische Husaren, rasselnde Geschütze und knatternde Kolonnenreihen. Von der Menge der Truppen und Wagen stauen sich alle Straßen voll. Und wo in der schwülen Mittagssonne nur ein bisschen Schatten ist, da legen sich die Müdgewordenen auf das Pflaster hin und warten geduldig, bis an sie die Reihe kommt mit Quartier und Kost.
Quote(s) from the novel
[I.14.4] Mezitím co byl Švejk zavřen, ruská vojska zabrala Lvov, oblehla Přemyšl, dole v Srbsku stálo to také velmi špatně s rakouskou armádou, lidé v Praze byli veselí a na Moravě dělali již přípravy k pečení koláčů, až přijdou kozáci.
[I.14.4] Švejk posadil se na lavici ve vratech a vykládal, že v bitevní frontě karpatské se útoky vojska ztroskotaly, na druhé straně však že velitel Přemyšlu, generál Kusmanek, přijel do Kyjeva a že za námi zůstalo v Srbsku jedenáct opěrných bodů a že Srbové dlouho nevydrží utíkat za našimi vojáky.
[II.3] „Někdy,“ řekl Švejk, „se zas v gefechtu člověku udělá špatně, člověk si něco zvoškliví. Vypravoval v Praze na Pohořelci na ,Vyhlídce’ jeden nemocnej rekonvalescent od Přemyšlu, že tam někde pod festungem přišlo k útoku na bajonety a proti němu se vobjevil jeden Rus, chlap jako hora, a mazal si to na něho s bajonetem a měl pořádnou kapičku u nosu. Jak se mu von podíval na tu kapičku, na ten vozdr, že se mu hned udělalo špatně a musel jít na hilfsplac, kde ho uznali zamořenýho cholerou a odpravili do cholerovejch baráků do Pešti, kde se taky vopravdu nakazil cholerou.“
[II.3] Když jsme byli na frontě u Přemyšlu, tak tam byl s námi hejtman Jetzbacher, svině, které nebylo rovno pod sluncem.
[IV.1] Potom je přejímal major Wolf, vládnoucí tou dobou nad všemi zajatci pracujícími na opravách v pevnosti Přemyšlu a okolí. To byl důkladný člověk. Měl u sebe celý štáb tlumočníků, kteří vybírali ze zajatců specialisty ku stavbám podle jejich schopností a předběžného vzdělání.
Sources: Grzegorz Karnas, Dariusz Hop
Also written:Přemyšl cz Перемишль ua
Literature
- Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego...1880 - 1914
- Die Belagerung von Przemysl1915
- Józef Szwejk w Przemyślu
- Twierdza Przemyśl
- 10 October 1914 – Przemysl Relieved
- 22 March 1915 – The Fall Of Przemysl
- 03 June 1915 – Przemysl Regained
- Poslední zprávy10.6.1915
- Die Front im Osten5.5.1915
- Z Uher do okupovaného ruského Polska11.2.1916
- Rakousko-uherští důstojníci u pevnosti Přemyšl
| 1 | Dobrý voják Švejk v zajetí | 1917 |
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| Milatyn | | |||
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Das Infanterieregiment Nr.91 am Vormarsch in Galizien
Milatyn is mentioned because professor Professor Masaryk was unaware of the dangers lurking between Sokal, Milatyn and Bubnów.
Background
Milatyn is the Polish name of the village Милятин (Myliatyn) in the Volyn province in Ukraine. IR. 91 with Jaroslav Hašek marched past this place on 28 August 1915 during the Central Powers's advance onto Russian territory that autumn. Milatyn is located by the river Strypa, right on the former border between Austria-Hungary and Russia.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Neznalo ještě nic určitého o revolučních organisacích v cizině a teprve v srpnu na linii Sokal - Milijatin - Bubnovo obdrželi velitelé batalionů důvěrné reserváty, že bývalý rakouský profesor Masaryk utekl za hranice, kde vede proti Rakousku propagandu.
Sources: Jaroslav Křížek, VÚA
Also written:Milijatin Hašek Milatyn pl Милятин ua
Literature
- Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego...1880 - 1914
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| Bubnów | | |||
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Bubnów is mentioned because professor Professor Masaryk was unaware of the dangers lurking between Sokal, Milatyn and Bubnów.
Background
Bubnów is the Polish name of the village Бубнів (Bubniv) in the Volodomyr-Volynski province in Ukraine. As there are several places with this name in the country, there is some uncertainty involved, but mentioned place is the best guess due to it's location just north of Sokal in an area that Jaroslav Hašek knew well (he was stationed nearby for nearly four weeks in August 1915). The author's statement that the front went here at the time is also correct.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Neznalo ještě nic určitého o revolučních organisacích v cizině a teprve v srpnu na linii Sokal - Milijatin - Bubnovo obdrželi velitelé batalionů důvěrné reserváty, že bývalý rakouský profesor Masaryk utekl za hranice, kde vede proti Rakousku propagandu.
Also written:Bubnovo Hašek Бубнов ru Бубнів ua
Literature
- Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego...1880 - 1914
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| Milan | | |||
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"Světem letem", , 1896.
Milan is the mentioned in the anecdote Švejk uses against the spy who enters his cell in Przemyśl.
Background
Milan is Italy's seconds largest city and capital of the region of Lombardy. The city was more or less permanently under Habsburg rule from 1525 up to the battle of Solferino i 1859.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Všechny lidi, který potkával na ulici, viděl buď na nádraží v Miláně, nebo s nimi seděl ve Štýrským Hradci v radničním sklepě při víně.
Also written:Milán cz Mailand de Milano it
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| Berounka | | |||
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Berounka is mentioned in the anecdote Švejk during interrogation in Przemyśl, where his message is that it is possible to end up in other peoples clothes.
Background
Berounka is a river which empties into the Vltava near Zbraslav, 10 km south of Prague city centre. Elva har kjelder så langt vest som i Bavaria og renn austover. Lengda er godt over 100 km.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] „Vím, vod 91. regimentu mne už jistě hledají, ale jestli dovolíte, pane majore, malou poznámku vo tom, jak se lidi dobrovolně převlíkají do cizích šatů. Roku 1908 někdy v červenci koupal se knihař Božetěch z Příčný ulice v Praze na Zbraslavi ve starým rameni Berounky.
Also written:Beraun de
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| Dobříš | | |||
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Dobříš is mentioned in the anecdote Švejk during interrogation in Przemyśl, where his message is that it is possible to end up in other peoples clothes.
Background
Dobříš is a town in okres Příbram in central Bohemia, with 8,597 inhabitants at the 2009 count. The town was previously known for its glove factory and also has a chateau.
Conference
In 1983 Dobříš hosted a large conference on Jaroslav Hašek in connection with the 100th anniversary of the author's birth. The participants were with few exceptions from Warszaw Pact countries.
That same year Bamberg in Bavaria hosted a competing conference with participants came from the rest of the world, including a large number of Czechoslovaks in exile.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Nemusejí se bát vlézt do nich. Vodvšivený jsou před tejdnem u okresu v Dobříši. Podruhý si dají lepší pozor na toho, s kým se koupají. Ve vodě vypadá každej nahej člověk jako poslanec, a je to třeba vrah.
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| Chuchle | | |||
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Velká Chuchle 1916
Chuchle is mentioned because the gendarmerie patrol from here arrested bookbinder Božetěch, dressed in a tramps clothes.
Background
Chuchle is a place south of Prague, now within the city boundaries, between Braník and Zbraslav. It is mostly used as a common term for the suburbs Velká Chuchle and Malá Chuchle.
Quote(s) from the novel
[IV.1] Vyhýbal se okresní silnici a šel přes luka po pěšinkách a setkal se s četnickou patrolou z Chuchle, která vandráka zatkla a odvedla druhého dne ráno na Zbraslav k okresnímu soudu, neboť to by moh říct každý, že je Josef Božetěch, knihař z Příčný ulice v Praze, čís. 16.“
Literature
- Můj přítel Hanuška5.10.1913
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IV. The famous thrashing continued |
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1. Švejk in the transport of russian prisoners of war | |||
| © 2008 - 2023 Jomar Hønsi | Last updated: 30.11.2023 |