Paper short abstract:

The paper analyzes social context of Czech and German oral narratives about the Springer/Spring Man, mysterious urban phantom of the WWII, with special emphasis on temporary social spaces connected with this anomic storytelling such as public underground shelters.

Paper long abstract:

The paper analyzes social context of Czech and German oral narratives about the Springer/Spring Man, mysterious urban phantom said to be able to jump to extraordinary heights with aid of amazing spring-like mechanism attached to his boots. This regional version of international Spring-heeled Jack narrative complex became popular during last months of the Second World War, narrated as rumours, contemporary legends, personal experience narratives, anecdotes and jokes. Following tradition of classical wartime sociological study by Antonin J. Obrdlik "Gallows Humor - A Sociological Phenomenon" (1942), the paper describes main characteristics, distribution, variation, but especially social context of these oral narratives. Special emphasis is put on temporary social spaces connected with this anomic storytelling such as public underground shelters in wartime Prague, dormitories of young people working in context of Arbeitseinsatz in Nazi Germany, or homes of Sudeten German refugees displaced from Czechoslovakia to post-war Germany. In conclusion, some general remarks about this international narrative complex are presented, starting with its origin in Great Britain between 1837 and 1904 and ending with its best documented cases from Czech Lands, Russia and Soviet Union and Germany during the period of 1917-1965.