Hostau, Czechoslovakia

Hostau is the location of the stud farm in Czechoslovakia where Gustav Rau houses his empire's most prized breeding horses. This stud farm is one of the main epicenters of the Nazi horse breeding program. It is where the prized Austrian Lipizzaner and Polish Arabians are relocated to after being seized by Nazi officials. Hostau is where Witez lives during most of the war and it is also home to the breeding horses for the Spanish Riding School after they are removed form Austria.

In order to save these horses from the Russian Army, American troops invade Czechoslovakia and occupy the entire town of Hostau. This occupation is contentious because Czechoslovakia is deemed Russian territory by the Allies. Hostau is a significant location throughout the book, not just because it is the site of American invasion, occupation, and rescue, but also because it is where the...