You can also listen to the article in audio version.
Josef Hasil, nicknamed the King of Šumava in the communist writings of the StB, is one of the best-known representatives of the anti-communist resistance. But there were more Šumava kings. Their mission was to transfer across the border people who tried to emigrate after the establishment of the communist regime in February 1948.
Hasil was interrogated, convicted and eventually imprisoned by the regime for his actions. However, none of this deterred him from continuing his resistance activities, later even under the auspices of the American intelligence service CIC (Counterintelligence Corps). But the story of the little boy, which inspired several filmmakers and writers, began to take shape even before the Second World War.
He has been helping since childhood
Little Josef was born as the seventh and penultimate child to the Hasil family in the poor Šumava wilderness in Zábrdí. However, the father soon left the eight-member family, and five-year-old Josef had to start helping with its running together with his siblings. Because of his work with the farmers, he did not have time to go to classes.
During World War II, he worked in a Bavarian factory where his work group was dedicated to working on bearings for aircraft and other war purposes. Even then, however, partisan traits were awakening in Hasil, and in the factory he and others tried to harm the Reich Germans inconspicuously, but nevertheless in various ways.
Film Kings of Šumava 2024
On November 28, 2024, the film directed by Kris Kelly, awarded with the prestigious BAFTA and Emmy awards, opens in theaters. The Czech-Irish film The King of the Šumava brings the fate of the legendary smuggler and hero of the Šumava forests closer to Josef Hasil.
The story, inspired by real events, comes to life thanks to rotoscoping animation, which viewers may be familiar with, for example, from the film Alois Nebel. Authentic testimonies of direct witnesses are incorporated into the film, including the confession of Josef Hasil himself.
The release of the film coincides with the 100th anniversary of Hasil’s birth, also five years after his death on November 15, 2019.
However, towards the end of the war, he really became a partisan along with his brother and other friends. When the Germans retreated, they robbed the citizens of Šumava, what was the point. Hasil and his brother waited for them in a nearby village with flintlocks and forced them to surrender to the Americans. By disarming the Germans, they saved entire villages.
A member of the SNB, who did not belong to the state
Thanks to a partisan book, the door to the National Security Service (SNB) opened for young Hasil. After graduating from the police school in Protivín, he worked as a member of the SNB in the border village of Zvonková. After the communist putsch in February 1948, he let a lot of groups fleeing to the West pass through the Czech-Austrian-German triple border. “When we saw someone pass, we should have caught them. So we didn’t catch them. We let them be and didn’t check them at all,” Josef Hasil told Paměť národ.
However, Hasil was not satisfied with simply not checking. At the turn of the 1940s and 1950s, he organized and helped dozens of people across borders. However, one of such actions ended up being fatal for him. After three quarters of a year helping refugees, a friend asked him to get the group “over the line” along with the couple, who were facing arrest. But the rescue mission was complicated by several things from the beginning.
Hasil was on duty at the unit that day, which he did not attend. In addition, the married couple picked up suitcases, which they could not carry, so Hasil and his colleague Zdenek Vyleta, who supplied the SNB kitchen, helped them. But both got tired after a while, and neither of them really knew the terrain, which was plagued by blinding blizzards and fog. They successfully transferred the group, but the way back became critical for them.
Interrogations, prison and escape
On the way back, Hasil got into a shootout with a German border guard, from which he escaped unharmed. But the situation took even more from the already small amount of energy of the resistance fighters. So he decided to stop at a random house where the light was on on his way home. He was given a drink of milk by the Romanian re-emigrant Josef Marok, who lived in the house, and fell asleep. This gave the host time to report Hasil.
During the first encounter with the German border guard, Zdeněk Vyleta decided to move to Germany, but was then officially transferred back to Czechoslovakia. The two smugglers eventually made their way to the Pankrác prison together. They were interrogated separately. The famous judge Karel Vaš, who was also responsible for the sentence of, for example, Heliodor Píka, sentenced Hasil to nine years in prison “for the crime of conspiracy against the republic”.
During forced labor in a mine in Dolní Jiřetín, Hasil met Antonín Vítek, with whom he began planning his escape. They tried to get it while taking the prisoners from work back to the cells. And successfully.
American Intelligence and Emigration
After the successful escape, they wandered for several days, and with the help of one family and a gamekeeper, they successfully got back to Hasil’s family. They hid there for a month before heading to Germany. In Munich, they were screened as refugees and Hasil was assigned to the Czech Murnau camp.
Together with his brother Bohumil, he joined the American intelligence service CIC, the predecessor of today’s CIA. They found a network of collaborators and began further cooperation with the resistance fighters. Because of his inaccessibility, Hasil was then called the King of Šumava. His file with the StB was also called the same nickname. But Hasil did not like her, he spoke of himself as Pepík from Zábrdí.
Films, series and books about King Šumava Josef Hasil
- The King of Šumava (1959) – Karel Kachyňa (propagandist film)
- Report on the King of Šumava (2001) – Kristina Vlachová (TV movie)
- King of Šumava: Phantom of the Dark Region (2022) – David Ondříček, Damián Vondrášek (series)
- Kings of the Sumava (2024) – Kris Kelly (film)
- Return of the King of Šumava – David Jan Žák (novel)
- King of Šumava. Communist thriller – Petr Kopal et al. (book about the film King of the Sumavas 1959)
After the Iron Curtain finally closed the border in 1953, Hasil decided to emigrate. A year later, he went to the United States as part of the “Five Hundred People to America” event. In New York, he met friends he had transferred earlier, and even one of his brothers in Alberta. He settled in Chicago as a draftsman at General Motors and remained there until his retirement.
He was able to return to Czechoslovakia only after 1989. He did not see his mother alive, but he met his son. He was only one year old when he left his native country. However, he remained permanently living in Chicago, where in the meantime he managed to meet his future wife, Eliška. When they married, he also banished the three daughters.
In 2001, Josef Hasil received a medal for heroism from President Václav Havel. He died in the United States in 2019.
(in Jimmy Carr’s voice) Ah, the King of Šumava, Josef Hasil. Now, I’m not one to usually get excited about heroes, but this bloke’s got some serious credentials. I mean, he was a smuggler, a spy, and a bloody legend in his own right. And let me tell you, the communists didn’t take kindly to him, did they? I mean, they threw him in jail, gave him nine years for being a bit of a troublemaker. Nine years! That’s like me doing a gig at the local pub, and then getting locked up for telling a few off-color jokes.
(in Rowan Atkinson’s voice, as Mr. Bean-like character) Ah, yes, yes, yes! The King of Šumava, very interesting chap, indeed! (chuckles) Oh, the trouble he got into! (pauses to put on a silly face) A shoot-out with a German border guard, you say? (makes shooting noises) Bang, bang, bang! (laughs) Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!
(in Ricky Gervais’ voice) You know, I’ve always been fascinated by these sorts of stories. I mean, the bravery, the cunning, the sheer stupidity of it all! (chuckles) I mean, who in their right mind tries to escape from prison? (laughs) Ah, Josef Hasil, what a bloody idiot! I love it! And then, of course, he joins the American intelligence service, CIC. I mean, who wouldn’t want to work for the Yanks? (sarcastically) Oh, the glamour, the excitement, the free donuts!
(in Lee Evans’ voice) Hold on a minute, lads! Let’s not forget, this bloke’s got a story to tell! (clears throat) You see, Josef Hasil was born in the poor Šumava wilderness, and by the time he was five, he was already helping out on the family farm. I mean, talk about a hard start in life! (empathetically) And then, during World War II, he’s working in a Bavarian factory, trying to sabotage the war effort. I mean, what a legend! (excitedly) And after the war, he’s helping people escape across the border, playing cat and mouse with the communists… it’s like something out of a spy novel!
(in Jimmy Carr’s voice) Ah, but, of course, it’s not all fun and games being a hero. I mean, Hasil gets thrown in the slammer, gets interrogated, and then decides to make a break for it. I mean, who wouldn’t? (laughs) And then, when he finally makes it to America, he settles down, gets married, and has a family. I mean, it’s like the ultimate fairy tale… for a bloke who’s been in jail, that is. (winks)
(in Rowan Atkinson’s voice) Ah, yes, yes, yes! And did you know, the King of Šumava’s story has been made into not one, not two, but three films? (impressed) Oh, the cinematic charm of it all! (chuckles) And books, too! (in a silly voice) I mean, who wouldn’t want to read about the adventures of Josef Hasil? (normal voice) Ah, and let’s not forget the BAFTA and Emmy awards… I mean, talk about credibility!
(in Ricky Gervais’ voice) And what’s the take-home message from all this, you ask? Well, it’s quite simple, really. If you’re going to be a hero, make sure you’ve got a good story to tell, and don’t get caught. (winks) I mean, nine years in the slammer is no picnic, trust me.
(in Lee Evans’ voice) Cheers to Josef Hasil, the King of Šumava, a true legend and a bloke who’s got a story that’ll make your jaw drop! (raises an imaginary glass) Cheers, mate!
You can also listen to the article in audio version.
Josef Hasil, nicknamed the King of Šumava in the communist writings of the StB, is among the most celebrated figures in the anti-communist resistance, but his remarkable story was not alone, for there were more Šumava kings who shared similar missions, transferring people across the border who aspired to emigrate after the communist regime was established in February 1948.
Following his capture, Hasil endured intense interrogations, was subsequently convicted, and ultimately imprisoned by the regime for his courageous actions. However, such adversity did not deter him from continuing his resistance activities, which he later carried out under the auspices of the American intelligence service CIC (Counterintelligence Corps). The origins of his courageous story, which would later captivate the imagination of several filmmakers and writers, date back to a time preceding the Second World War.
A Childhood Marked by Resilience and Courage
Born as the seventh child in a family of eight in the impoverished Šumava wilderness of Zábrdí, little Josef’s life was marked by hardship from an early age. Abandoned by his father at the tender age of five, Josef was thrust into a life of responsibility, sharing the burden of caring for his family with his siblings. Due to his demanding work schedule, assisting local farmers, he found himself with little time for formal education, a sacrifice that would have a profound impact on his future.
During the tumultuous years of World War II, Josef worked in a Bavarian factory, where his work group focused on producing bearings for aircraft and other war-related purposes. Although his circumstances seemed bleak, even in the factory, the seeds of resistance were being sown within him. Along with his fellow workers, he surreptitiously sought ways to disrupt the war efforts of the Reich Germans, their acts of defiance a testament to their unyielding spirit.
However, towards the end of the war, Josef’s resistance activities took on a more pronounced form. Alongside his brother and friends, he participated in partisan activities. When German forces began to retreat, they preyed on unsuspecting civilians in Šumava, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Undaunted, Josef and his brother devised a plan to confront the marauders, using their limited arsenal of flintlocks to force the Germans to surrender to the advancing Americans. Their bravery saved countless lives and entire villages from impending doom.
A Complicated History with the National Security Service
Thanks to his distinguished partisan record, Josef was granted access to the National Security Service (SNB) after completing his studies at the police school in Protivín. He found employment as an SNB member in the border village of Zvonková. However, following the communist putsch in February 1948, Josef chose to defy the regime, allowing multiple groups fleeing to the West to cross the Czech-Austrian-German triple border undeterred. In his own words, as reflected in an interview with Paměť národ, “When we encountered someone attempting to pass, our duty was to apprehend them. Instead, we chose not to interfere, allowing them to proceed unchecked.”
Josef’s acts of defiance, however, extended far beyond mere inaction. At the turn of the 1940s and 1950s, he became instrumental in organizing and facilitating the crossing of dozens of people fleeing the communist regime. One such doomed rescue mission, prompted by a friend’s request, would prove catastrophic for Josef. The mission involved escorting a couple threatened with arrest across the border. However, complications arose from the onset, including Josef’s leave of absence and the married couple’s inability to carry their suitcases, forcing Josef and his colleague Zdenek Vyleta to intervene. Despite their eventual success in transferring the group, their return journey was riddled with danger.
Interrogation, Prison, and the Road to Freedom
During their perilous return, Josef found himself entangled in a deadly shootout with a German border guard. Though he escaped unscathed, the experience had taken its toll, and Josef decided to take refuge in a nearby house, where he received a drink of milk and an opportunity to rest. Unfortunately, his host, a Romanian re-emigrant named Josef Marok, exploited Josef’s momentary lapse, reporting him to the authorities. Zdeněk Vyleta, who had initially attempted to flee to Germany, ultimately returned to Czechoslovakia, and both men were reunited in the Pankrác prison under harsh conditions.
Within the confines of his prison cell, Josef met Antonín Vítek, and together they began to formulate a plan for escape. When their chance finally arrived, they seized it with determination, trying to make a break during the transition from the mine to their cells. Miraculously, they succeeded, finding themselves, quite against the odds, on the path to freedom.
The Road to Exile and Collaboration with American Intelligence
Following their harrowing escape, they navigated through treacherous terrain for several days, finally finding solace with a kind family and a gamekeeper. They were eventually smuggled back to Josef’s family residence, taking refuge there for a month before embarking on the perilous journey to Germany. Upon their arrival in Munich, Josef and his brother, Bohumil, found themselves engaging with the American intelligence service CIC (the precursor to today’s CIA). Leadership extended an offer to collaborate with resistance fighters, solidifying his notorious reputation as the elusive “King of Šumava” and outing resistance activities deep within enemy grounds.
Kings of Šumava 2024: A Film Honoring an Icon
On November 28, 2024, the rattling voice of Josef Hasil will come alive in the much-awaited film adaptation titled Kings of Šumava. Under the creative vision of award-winning director Kris Kelly, the docudrama offers a gripping portrayal of Josef’s indomitable resolve through sublime rotoscoping animation, a visual choice inspired by authentic first-hand testimonials from Hasil and fellow eyewitnesses.
More on Film and Written Adaptations
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Josef Hasil’s story is one of profound resilience, courage, and determination. His acts of bravery during the war, his defiance against the communist regime, and his collaboration with American intelligence agencies have left an indelible mark on history. Today, his legacy continues to inspire, with the upcoming film adaptation promising to shed new light on his extraordinary story.
