Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier

An account of Smrekar’s internment during the First World War can be found in his satirical and poignant illustrated autobiography Henrik Smrekar – črnovojnik (Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier), which he had already written and drawn in 1917, but it was only published after the war (1919). It is considered the prototype of the Slovenian comic book.

Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier, Ljubljana 1919

Front Cover Page and Inside Cover Page

Front Cover Page and Inside Cover Page, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier, Ljubljana 1919

The Doctrine of Justice and Truth

The Doctrine of Justice and Truth, (1917‒1919)
signed lower right: HS
location unknown

Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier, Ljubljana 1919

The first sifting of Landsturm soldiers; Hinko Smrekar dressed as a ‘oneyear volunteer’ Janez

The first sifting of Landsturm soldiers; Hinko Smrekar dressed as a ‘oneyear volunteer’ Janez [John], (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier, Ljubljana 1919

Comrades in uniform; Commotion in front of the ‘Zuckerfabrik’ barracks

Comrades in uniform; Commotion in front of the ‘Zuckerfabrik’ barracks, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier, Ljubljana 1919

Hinko Smrekar tossing his ‘stick; On a visitation

Hinko Smrekar tossing his ‘stick; On a visitation, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Prepis teksta ob ilustraciji: »Med tem je detektivstvo, ovaduštvo čimdalje bujnejše cvetelo. Mož ženi ni zaupal – po pravici, niti žena možu ne – prijatelj je zvestega, takisto preplašenega prijatelja gledal krivo – nezaupno. Kdor je spregovoril za Avstrijo, je bil sumljiv, kdor je zinil zoper Avstrijo, je bil sumljivejši, kdor je molčal, je bil najsumljivejši. Skratka, človek še sam sebi ni zaupal, da se nenadno sam ne ovadi.«

Denunciation and detective activities are in full blossom

Hinko Smrekar dictating his utter incapacity for military service to the recording clerk; Denunciation and detective activities are in full blossom, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier, Ljubljana 1919

Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier, Ljubljana 1919

Midwives are awfully busy because of the world’s oldest profession

Midwives are awfully busy because of the world’s oldest profession; Women have set about drinking, God, the Blessed Virgin and the saints have heard many insults, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier, Ljubljana 1919

The strongbox, belly and arrogance of the god Capital’s worshipers are growing steadily

The strongbox, belly and arrogance of the god Capital’s worshipers are growing steadily; The Germans, patriots and notables – politicians, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier, Ljubljana 1919

Hinko Smrekar arrested on the grounds of denouncement

Hinko Smrekar arrested on the grounds of denouncement;
Hinko Smrekar taken into custody to Ljubljana Castle, and later on in an interesting company to Wagna near Leibnitz, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier, Ljubljana 1919

Hinko Smrekar waiting in a stall; Transportation in a livestock wagon to an unknown destination

Hinko Smrekar waiting in a stall; Transportation in a livestock wagon to an unknown destination, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Prepis teksta ob ilustraciji: »… Družba je bila nepopisno mešana. Doktorji in bankirji, morilci in tatovi, prostitutke vseh kalibrov in menihi, umetniki in trgovci itd.«

The arrival of the motley company in Enzersdorf; The merry arrival of Hinko Smrekar in Mittergrabern

The arrival of the motley company in Enzersdorf; The merry arrival of Hinko Smrekar in Mittergrabern, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier, Ljubljana 1919

Prepis teksta ob ilustraciji: »Življenje v tem taborišču ni bilo nezabavno. /…/ Občutljivejši ›trpini‹ pa so si postavili na ›prostem‹ svoja zasebna ognjišča. /…/ Vlad. Levstikov golaž pa zasluži svetovno slavo. Da je Levstik postal kuhar – kralji bi se trgali zanj.«

Private outdoor cookers of inmates in the camp; Vladimir Levstik cooking a delicious goulash

Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier

Front Cover Page and Inside Cover Page, (1917‒1919) location unknown

The Doctrine of Justice and Truth, (1917‒1919) signed lower right: HS location unknown

The first sifting of Landsturm soldiers; Hinko Smrekar dressed as a ‘oneyear volunteer’ Janez [John], (1917‒1919) location unknown

Comrades in uniform; Commotion in front of the ‘Zuckerfabrik’ barracks, (1917‒1919) location unknown

Hinko Smrekar tossing his ‘stick; On a visitation, (1917‒1919) location unknown

Hinko Smrekar dictating his utter incapacity for military service to the recording clerk; Denunciation and detective activities are in full blossom, (1917‒1919) location unknown

Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier, Ljubljana 1919

Midwives are awfully busy because of the world’s oldest profession; Women have set about drinking, God, the Blessed Virgin and the saints have heard many insults, (1917‒1919) location unknown

The strongbox, belly and arrogance of the god Capital’s worshipers are growing steadily; The Germans, patriots and notables – politicians, (1917‒1919) location unknown

Hinko Smrekar arrested on the grounds of denouncement; Hinko Smrekar taken into custody to Ljubljana Castle, and later on in an interesting company to Wagna near Leibnitz, (1917‒1919) location unknown

Hinko Smrekar waiting in a stall; Transportation in a livestock wagon to an unknown destination, (1917‒1919) location unknown

The arrival of the motley company in Enzersdorf; The merry arrival of Hinko Smrekar in Mittergrabern, (1917‒1919) location unknown

Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier, Ljubljana 1919

Private outdoor cookers of inmates in the camp; Vladimir Levstik cooking a delicious goulash, (1917‒1919) location unknown

Henrik Smrekar – the Landsturm Soldier, Ljubljana 1919

Front Cover Page and Inside Cover Page, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

The Doctrine of Justice and Truth, (1917‒1919)
signed lower right: HS
location unknown

The first sifting of Landsturm soldiers; Hinko Smrekar dressed as a ‘oneyear volunteer’ Janez [John], (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Comrades in uniform; Commotion in front of the ‘Zuckerfabrik’ barracks, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Hinko Smrekar tossing his ‘stick; On a visitation, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Hinko Smrekar dictating his utter incapacity for military service to the recording clerk; Denunciation and detective activities are in full blossom, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Midwives are awfully busy because of the world’s oldest profession; Women have set about drinking, God, the Blessed Virgin and the saints have heard many insults, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

The strongbox, belly and arrogance of the god Capital’s worshipers are growing steadily; The Germans, patriots and notables – politicians, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Hinko Smrekar arrested on the grounds of denouncement;
Hinko Smrekar taken into custody to Ljubljana Castle, and later on in an interesting company to Wagna near Leibnitz, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Hinko Smrekar waiting in a stall; Transportation in a livestock wagon to an unknown destination, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

The arrival of the motley company in Enzersdorf; The merry arrival of Hinko Smrekar in Mittergrabern, (1917‒1919)
location unknown

Private outdoor cookers of inmates in the camp; Vladimir Levstik cooking a delicious goulash, (1917‒1919)
location unknown