Tank Battalion, Black Barons, King of Šumava, and More

In socialist Czechoslovakia, War and mandatory military service were not just about learning to fight. This system removed young men from their normal lives for extended periods, sometimes years, enforcing strict discipline and loyalty to the government. These military units became a representation of quiet fear, as those seen as politically unreliable were handed shovels instead of weapons to “help build the country.” Experience life in the barracks, mines, and the border areas with Kudy z nudy and the Czech Republic in Film series!

The country behind the barbed wire: we’re going to war!

In Czech cinema, the basic military service shows up in various styles—from adventure dramas to tragicomic satire and black humor. Often, it is used as a background to critique the government or to highlight the lack of freedom. While there is humor and irony present, a deeper truth remains visible about a time when the idea of Freedom was absent in military commands and daily life. The territory behind the barbed wire is not just a physical border; it represents a mental state that can be surprisingly clear in the films.

King of Sumava (1959)

King of Sumava is a well-known film directed by Karel Kachyna and is one of the most iconic “border” films in Czechoslovak cinema. The film’s lead character is a smuggler known as the King of Šumava, who skillfully navigates the treacherous swamps at night, always eluding the border guards. Since the actual Šumava bogs were not available for filming, the crew had to create them artificially. Nonetheless, Kachyň’s film offers intense adventure and visually captivating scenes set in the foggy, dark swamps of the Šumava region, while also acting as a piece of propaganda: The King’s of Sumava are depicted as criminals, smugglers, and agents, contrasting sharply with the portrayal of border guards as heroes. Even in what appears to be a simple thriller, the influence of ideology is evident.

The film was shot in Kvilda, located in the heart of the Šumava Mountains, based on the novel by Rudolf Kalčík. The lead roles featured actors like Radovan Lukavský, Jiřina Švorcová, Jaroslav Marvan, Stanislav Remunda, Miloslav Holub, Jiří Holý, and Jiří Vala. When King of Sumava was released in theaters, it attracted an astonishing four million viewers, and during the scenes where the King of the Bohemian Forest was captured, some brave audience members would shout out, saying “They didn’t catch Hasil!”

Where was the older King of Sumava filmed?

Interestingly, for his novel and script, Kalčík actually focused on another legendary figure from Šumava named Franz Nowotny, known as Kilian, instead of Josef Hasil. Kilian, hailing from Nové Huty, was never captured; following a vigorous pursuit, he found refuge in Bavaria, living out a peaceful life until old age. A small memorial honoring the kings of Sumava can be found near Kvilda at Františkov settlement, close to a bridge over the Teplá Vltava.

The film showcases Kvilda three years after the original residents were removed. It includes scenes of the Kvilda cemetery, which was closed in 1978, and the still-standing Church of St. Stephen. Since then, the filmmakers have visited Kvilda multiple times; for instance, in 1965, director František Vláčil filmed Markéta Lazarová, and later, the Kvilda plains became known for films such as Under the Badger Rock (1978) and Behind the Thorn Bush (1980) starring Tomáš Holý. However, until the early 1990s, Kvilda was surrounded by a heavily guarded border zone, and a company of border guards was based in the village.

Tank Battalion (1991)

As the regime transitioned, director Vit Olmer created a film that illustrated military service as a source of absurdity. Tank Battalion, derived from the book of the same name by Josef Škvorecký, went on to become the most successful film of 1991. The character Doctor of Philosophy, Danny Smiřický, serves as a stand-in for Josef Škvorecký’s alter ego Lukáš Vaculík, as he experiences the absurdities, frustrations, and incompetence of the army under a totalitarian regime. Olmert’s film plays like a parade of outrageous characters, bizarre military traditions, hazing, humiliation, and drunken escapades where officers make dubious orders and deliver pointless political speeches, but beneath the humor lies a deep sense of fear and the tense atmosphere of that period.

The script was penned by Radek John, while the film was shot in Kobylec Military Area, with locations in Nová Ves pod Pleší and the tank yard in Podbořany, while the barracks were located in Beroun. Filming wrapped up in just three weeks, and the popular soundtrack by Ivan Hlas contributed to its success, along with memorable phrases that audiences continue to quote today. Tank Battalion was among the first films post-revolution to highlight the reality of the “people’s army” without the usual propaganda spin. At the same time, it became a major box-office success, as people were eager to laugh at their previously unvoiced experiences. It’s not surprising that its 1991 premiere was seen as a significant cultural event.

Black Barons (1992)

Similar to how some fans prefer the film adaptation over the book, others contrast Škvorecký’s Tank Battalion with Black Barons by Miloslav Švandrlík, which was also adapted for film shortly after 1989. This story is set in the military focusing on the “péthepaks,” known as the auxiliary technical battalions, where young men received shovels instead of guns and were expected to “build the homeland” under overly serious officers.

Directed by Zdeněk Sirový, who actually served in the PTP (unlike Švandrlík who joined in 1953 with a different organization), the film stars Ondřej Vetchý as Private Kefalin and Pavel Landovský as Major Terazky. Notably, it featured several actors who also appeared in Tank Battalion, such as Miroslav Donutil, Milan Šimáček, Václav Vydra, and Miroslav Táborský. The shooting took place in the same location where the novel was set, specifically at Zelená hora castle near Nepomuk. The outcome was a comedy filled with unforgettable characters and lines.

King of Sumava (2022 and 2025)

More than sixty years later, filmmakers revisited the storyline of Josef Hasil (1924-2019), a remarkable smuggler who successfully helped many individuals escape communist Czechoslovakia to the West. The series King of Sumava, directed by David Ondříček and Damián Vondrášek, is an adventurous and raw spy drama that offers a darker and much more realistic portrayal than the 1959 version.

A psychological drama based on the biographical novel The Return of the King of Šumava by writer David Jan Žák from South Bohemia features Oscar Hesse as Hes, highlighting the harsh methods of State Security and the restrictions of life under a totalitarian regime. The story reveals how individuals find themselves caught between two conflicting worlds. The miniseries cleverly utilizes the Sumava landscape as a symbol for an impenetrable border—both beautiful and dangerous. Its cinematography, set design, and attention to historical detail provide a level of authenticity that allows viewers to feel the chill of the swamps and the oppressive atmosphere created by a system that crushed people without mercy, no matter their bravery. The King of Šumava series demonstrates that classic tales can resonate as fresh and urgent even today.

Basic military service

In socialist Czechoslovakia, military service was mandatory and affected nearly all men aged 17 to 60. The Defence Act of 1949 set its duration at 24 months, but the length gradually decreased over the years—first to eighteen months, then to a year. For many, serving in the army was a significant disruption to their lives, both in terms of time commitment and ideological pressure. After 1989, the basic military service was shortened until it was ultimately abolished. As of January 1, 2005, the Czech military became fully professional.

Auxiliary Technical Battalions

A particularly dark chapter in history is represented by the so-called Auxiliary Technical Battalions (PTP). These units were active from 1950 to 1954 and were intended for the detention and re-education of individuals deemed politically unreliable. They included not only the sons of tradespeople, kulaks, clergymen, intellectuals, and artists, but also young men with criminal records, Roma individuals, unrepatriated Germans, and students who protested against the Communist coup in Prague in February 1948. PTP soldiers, often called petepaks or Black Barons, wore black uniforms, were forbidden from carrying weapons, and were assigned to tough manual labor in mines, construction, or railway projects. Although the PTP were officially disbanded in 1954, some similar groups continued to exist under different names.