Temné obilí

„At the site of the murder and mass grave, grain grew that was unusually dark in colour.“

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Massacre at Švédské šance near Přerov

The night of 18 to 19 June 1945 was dark at Švédské šance near Přerov.

Study

A historical text on guilt and punishment, cruelty, cynicism, and contemporary reluctance

A text by historian Pavel Kreisinger

Graphic novel

A grim testimony to the times and the events themselves

An atmospheric graphic novel by the author duo Martin Šinkovský – Ticho762

Under the supervision and leadership of two Slovak soldiers, Karol Pazúr and Bedřich Smetana, and with the consent of commander Eugen Surovčík, 265 innocent Carpathian Germans, Hungarians and Slovaks, who were returning home to Slovakia by train after the war, were murdered and subsequently buried in a mass grave. The vast majority of them were women and children. This mass murder sadly entered Czechoslovak history as the so-called Massacre at Švédské šance.

In 2025, it will be 80 years since this horrific act took place. As part of the same anniversary of the end of World War II, which we commemorate in May, we have therefore decided to commemorate this dark and long-overlooked page of Czechoslovak history in an unconventional book form.

We have a debt to our history, which we are attempting to repay, at least in part, with the book Temné obilí (Dark Grain). While critical reflection on the post-war period is already well underway in professional circles, in wider society it remains an uncomfortable topic that is ‘not proper’ to bring up. We would like to see that change.

About the book

Graphic novel and academic text hand in hand? Yes!

The book Temné obilí offers an unconventional format of popular science publication that educates, raises awareness and at the same time offers an attractive reading experience.

With the aim of popularising history and bringing a difficult and sad topic to the widest possible audience, including the younger generation, while respecting the rules of academic literature, we decided to combine the seemingly incompatible and, in collaboration with an established author duo and a university historian, prepare a book that meets our idea of modern academic reading.

Two covers, two equivalent texts, two sides of the same coin, two parts that complement each other and together form a comprehensive whole. You choose how to read it; just turn the book to where you want to enter the dark and sad story of the massacre at Švédské šance

Graphic novel

Temné obilí
(Dark Grain)

This haunting graphic novel by Martin Šinkovský and Ticho762 vividly portrays the events of the Massacre at Švédské šance, particularly the journey of a train carrying returning Carpathian Germans, the unscrupulous decisions made about the fate of unsuspecting people, and the course of the fateful night of 18 to 19 June, when 265 innocent passengers were massacred. The comic is based on historical sources, but the narrative uses a fictional time loop and, to some extent, fictional characters. Its authentic and explicit style makes it suitable primarily for adult readers. The comic book underscores the grim testimony of the era and the events themselves with its visual style, which uses black-and-white aesthetics complemented by a striking dark red colour.

Study

Masakr na Švédských šancích v souvislostech
(The massacre at Švédské šance in context)

A study by historian Pavel Kreisinger provides a readable overview of the broader historical context of the comic section of the book. In his text, Kreisinger reveals the latest and previously unpublished findings from Czech and Slovak archives. He describes the fates of the perpetrators of this horrific crime, identifies the victims whose lives ended in a mass grave, and provides a detailed account of the entire process of uncovering and investigating the massacre. In short, it is a historical text about guilt and punishment, callousness, cynicism, and the unwillingness of the time to face the events head-on.

Buy your copy of Temné obilí

The book has been on sale since 15 May at the Palacký University Press e-shop and gradually also at good bookshops.

The retail price of the book is CZK 490 (app. EUR 20)

Buy your copy in e-shop

Script

Martin Šinkovský
(* 1979 in Šumperk)

screenwriter and writer, co-author of the evening cartoon Krysáci

His main focus is on writing for children and adolescents. His books include Petronie a Ptáčník, Hvězdonauti, Městečko Kytice, Průsvitní and Lapálie v Lampálii. As a screenwriter, his main focus is on comic book narratives, on which he collaborates with various artists. He has written comics such as Trikolora, Slavika, Mlžný ostrov zbarvený do ruda (artist TICHO762) and Rozděl-ení (artist Jan Pomykač). He is a regular contributor to the magazine Raketa, where he writes stories for Jarmil (artist Marek Rubec).

Drawings

Petr Novák – TICHO762
(* 1982)

prominent Czech comics artist and illustrator

His work is known for its detailed and expressive visual style. He studied art education at the Faculty of Education of the Palacký University in Olomouc. He often collaborates with screenwriter Martin Šinkovský, with whom he has created a number of award-winning books. Among his best-known works are the comics about the Velvet Revolution, Trikolora, and the comic novel Češi 1918: Jak Masaryk vymyslel Československo. Novák’s talent is evident in his ability to capture historical and fictional stories with a deep understanding of Czech culture and history. As a result, his drawings not only impress with their artistic execution, but also provide an interesting insight into the Czech society.

Study

PhDr. Pavel Kreisinger, Ph.D.
(* 1987 in Most)

historian and teacher

He studied history with a focus on modern history at the Masaryk University in Brno and continued with doctoral studies at the Department of History of the Faculty of Arts of the Palacký University in Olomouc, where he currently works as an assistant professor. He specializes in the history of Czechoslovakia, focusing on the First and Second Resistance, emigration and exile. He is the author of two books (Brigádní generál Josef Bartík, Češi a Slováci v Austrálii v 1. polovině 20. století a jejich účast ve světových válkách) and more than thirty articles. Since 2023, he has been the vice-chairman of the registered association Conditio humana, which seeks a closer understanding and unbiased documentation of the recent history of Central Europe.

Publish Temné obilí in your language

Are you interested in the concept of Dark Grain and would like to publish a translation of the book in your country?

We would be delighted! Write to us and we will discuss all the details and possibilities. Our goal is to spread awareness of the massacre at Švédské šance as widely as possible.

Aleš Prstek, director of Palacký University Press
ales.prstek@upol.cz | +420 731 663 195