In Jaroslav Hašek's "The Good Soldier Švejk," the notion that "Austria's victory crawled out of her latrines" conveys a sense of irony and depicts the chaotic and often absurd nature of war. The statement suggests that the accomplishments of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, often viewed with pride, were actually born out of filth and disorder, reflecting the grim reality soldiers faced during the conflict.

This perspective challenges typical narratives of glory in warfare by illustrating the negative consequences and the unglamorous side of military success. Hašek uses humor and satire to critique the absurdity of war and the attitudes of those in authority, emphasizing how victories may be rooted in desperation and mismanagement.