Against All Odds: The Great Escape

Part 2 of Across Countries and Cultures: Journeyer for Truth

A Man of Many Languages

Unlike many of his fellow conscripted acquaintances, Ján was well educated. In particular, he was a master multi-linguist, able to proficiently speak Czech, Slovak, German, French and Italian. This would prove to be tremendously beneficial for him as tensions continued to escalate throughout the empire. As the empire was internally combusting, its military and frontline defenses were in a mass of disarray. The idea of planning a great escape was beginning to enter Ján’s mind.

Nearly all of the military officers communicated solely in German. Almost all of their underlings though spoke a multitude of other languages, except German. Not only did this cause massive communication barriers between officers and enlisted, it also incurred mass confusion between the enlistees themselves. In order for the enlistees to better communicate amongst each other, the army attempted to create a conglomerate language. This became known as Army Slavic, based largely on Czech, it proved to be only mildly effective in easing linguistic tensions.

Due to the German speaking officers not being able to effectively communicate with their battalions, the officers largely grew to resent their non-Austrian soldiers. The resentment was not one sided, however, as ethnic tensions were erupting throughout the military and the broader empire. Various ethnic battalions increased their revolts against Austrian command, whom they saw as incompetent. Slavic battalions, in particular, became prone to desertion and mutiny. The Czech and Slovak battalions became particularly culpable of planning great escapes.

To Thine Own Self Be True

Linguistics were not the only issue though. The Austrian military command was almost exclusively Catholic. Ideally, religion should not be a matter of contention among fighting men, but this was not the case here. Even Archduke Franz Ferdinand was vocally anti-Protestant. In a very un-Christian way then, there became a push to Catholicize this population of men through military coercion. Whereas many of his fellow soldiers lived in blissful unintelligibility with what was being said about them, Ján did not. How could he obey men who brutally attacked his human dignity and religious beliefs?

The time had come for action. The stench of impending war was thick in the air throughout the Empire. Ján would not, no could not, fight to defend a military and political system which he detested. He had to escape somehow, he lived in the most landlocked part of Europe though. Every direction he turned though was part of the Empire. There was no place to run to and no place to hide. Where was he to go? If he was captured as a deserter he met physical death by firing squad. If he stayed and served as a conscripted soldier he suffered an internal intellectual death. It was a no win situation.

Escaping Into the Great Melting Pot

For the better part of fifty years there had been an influx of European immigrants to the United States. Whether for cultural, religious or intellectual freedom, hoards of individuals had crossed the Atlantic in search of prosperity and hope. Citizens of the Czech lands too were not immune to the new life that America offered. Whether through the railroad or meat packing plants or coal mines, advertisements were everywhere across the European continent, luring people to the promise of prosperity in America. Ján saw the advertisements. The initial ideas of escape started stirring in his mind.

Every time he went into Všetín. for farm supplies, religious services, or for his monthly enlistment duties, the signs taunted him. America, the land of opportunity. Own your own farm. Religious freedom. Build a better life. All of these advertising slogans rang true for him. One sign in particular though spoke to Ján, an advertisement sponsored by the Czech Brethren. “Come to Holland, Texas– Join our community of Czech Brethren.” With the promise of help finding employment and an active religious community to join, it seemed to good of an offer to pass up.

Reality Sets In

He had been away from home before. Months at a time when he had attended University, a week or two here and there for military training. In all of these instances though he had had the assurance that he would be coming home again. Now the idea that he would be leaving his beloved Moravian soil forever frightened him to the core.

To knowingly leave your home and family, permanently, is a tremendous emotional and intellectual assault. To bid farewell to your beloved mother and siblings, knowing you will never see them again in this lifetime is both humbling and terrifying. The fear almost petrified him, he almost stayed. By August of 1912 though, Ján had had enough. Still a few weeks shy of his twenty-first birthday he decided to commence his great escape plan.

The plan seemed perfect, theoretically. Get to Bremen, Germany and from there board a steamer for Galveston, Texas. Freedom and prosperity awaited. How was he to get to Bremen though? There were 946 km (approximately 600 miles) between the Švagera farm and Bremen. Ján had very little money and the horses they owned were needed for the farm.

The Heroes’ Journey

The hero’s journey is never easy though, always met with insurmountable obstacles and setbacks. So, like all good heroes, Ján set out on foot for a journey which would radically change his very being. Ten days to Bremen, eight if he walked fast. He had stayed at home too long. Wanting to see that his last harvest was brought in, to secure his family through the impending winter, had delayed his departure. He was due to report in Všetín for military duty in four days.

The ranking officers had been receiving reports of possible desertions and fear and anxiety was spreading throughout the enlisted men. If he reported for duty this month he might be sent to the eastern or southern front, even farther away from Bremen. He could not risk this possibility. Knowing full well that he would be missed in four days time, he fled. Walking faster and faster everyday, yearning to reach Bremen before being recognized or captured by the military police.

After eight days of arduous travel Ján reached the port authority in Bremen. Tired, hungry, legs aching and feet blistered, he approached the ticket booth to obtain passage for Galveston. Seeing that all of his papers were in order, the booking clerk produced his tickets. It was finished, he had made it, his great escape plan had worked, America was waiting.

So Close…Great Escape Foiled?

He was a wanted man though. Now over a week late for mandatory reporting, his name, unknowingly to him, had been placed on watchlists throughout the Empire. Although the booking clerk had sold him passage, he had also immediately notified the authorities present there that Ján Švagera, wanted for desertion was on the premises. As he awaited the time to board the ship, to his horror, Ján began to hear his own name blare across the public address system. “Ján Švagera, Ján Švagera, please report to authorities immediately.”

He had come to far, sacrificed to much to be apprehended now. He had to get on that ship, but how? There were soldiers everywhere checking papers, looking for him. God works in mysterious ways though, and sometimes, just when one thinks that all hope is lost, a passage opens which was previously unseen.

Sitting at the loading dock, Ján had been talking to a family of Jewish refugees who had children that were about his age. As the authorities approached and questioned the father, and head of the family, he advised them that Ján was indeed one of his own sons.

Apparently the authorities did not check each persons individual papers as they moved on.(Unfortunately, the name of the Jewish family whom adopted Ján has been lost to history.) Ján owed his very existence to the quick thinking of this man. Soon it was time to load the S.S. Breslau and Ján accompanied his “new family” onto the ship. Safety at last. Soon the ship was sailing up the channel and out into the Atlantic. Great escape successful, next stop Galveston, Texas.

Coming up, Part 3: Customs at Galveston

This is a recipe for a dessert which is completely unique to my Great-Grandfather’s region of the Czech Lands- Valaško. It is called Valašky Frgál. Like a giant kolač, but slightly different flavors and taste. I have attached a link to a wonderful recipe and overall website.

Frgály