Scheisskopf (in English, "shithead") is a minor

fictional character In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, ...

in the 1961 novel ''

Catch-22 ''Catch-22'' is a satirical war novel by American author Joseph Heller. He began writing it in 1953; the novel was first published in 1961. Often cited as one of the most significant novels of the twentieth century, it uses a distinctive non-chr ...

'' by

Joseph Heller Joseph Heller (May 1, 1923 – December 12, 1999) was an American author of novels, short stories, plays, and screenplays. His best-known work is the 1961 novel ''Catch-22'', a satire on war and bureaucracy, whose title has become a synonym for ...

, who is promoted through the ranks from

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

First Lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a s ...

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

and finally to

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

. Lieutenant Scheisskopf is the title of Chapter Eight and General Scheisskopf is the title of Chapter Thirty-seven. Scheisskopf is a

parade A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, float (parade), floats, or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually ce ...

-obsessed

ROTC The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC ( or )) is a group of college- and university-based officer-training programs for training commissioned officers of the United States Armed Forces. Overview While ROTC graduate officers serve in all ...

graduate and training officer at the Air cadet base where

Yossarian :''Also covered in this article are the characters Snowden and Yossarian's tentmates.'' Capt. John Yossarian is a fictional character, the protagonist of Joseph Heller's satirical 1961 novel ''Catch-22'' and its 1994 sequel '' Closing Time''. ...

and Clevinger are trained before being sent overseas. Later Scheisskopf is himself transferred overseas to

General Peckem The following is a list of characters in the 1961 novel ''Catch-22'' by Joseph Heller. Significant characters Yossarian Captain John Yossarian is a fictional character in Joseph Heller's novel ''Catch-22'' and its sequel '' Closing Time'', and t ...

’s command.

Biographical summary

Cadet training

Scheisskopf is the training commander for Yossarian and Clevinger, and he takes a particular dislike to Clevinger. Even though Clevinger is just as serious for parades as Scheisskopf, and his ideas help the squadron win multiple parades, Scheisskopf still considers him a wise guy, and someone that needs to be brought down a peg or two. Eventually Clevinger is tried for stumbling while marching at an Action Board, and he has the "book thrown at him." The bloated Colonel chairs the Board where also present are Major Metcalf, Scheisskopf (as a judge, prosecutor, and as the officer defending Clevinger) and note taker, Popinjay. Scheisskopf is constantly thinking up new schemes to help try to win the parade, held each Sunday afternoon. He reads books on marching and uses chocolate soldiers or plastic cowboys to act out his manoeuvres. His success and innovation in organizing parades leads to his later promotions.

Mrs. Scheisskopf and Dori Duz

Scheisskopf is always too busy planning parades to fulfill his wife's masochistic sexual fantasies and replies to her requests, “Don’t you know there’s a parade going on?” Instead, she sleeps with Scheisskopf's cadets, so they can all get revenge on her husband, and so can she for some “unforgettable crime she couldn’t recall.” Mrs. Scheisskopf is well read and has a Maths

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

, but can not count to twenty eight without getting into trouble every month; that is, she frequently has (or at least feigns) pregnancy scares due to her affairs with other men at the base. Mrs. Scheisskopf's girl friend Dori Duz was a “lively tart” who used men and then tossed them aside, humiliating them in bed with her superior sexual ability.

only sleeps with her once, but wishes he could do so again. Yossarian loves her, but as he never gets another opportunity to sleep with her, as she found him only "fair", he instead sleeps with Mrs. Scheisskopf to revenge himself on her husband for the way he treated Clevinger. In one notable exchange, Mrs. Scheisskopf and Yossarian lie in bed on

Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Philippines. It is also observed in the Netherlander town of Leiden and ...

debating the existence of

God In monotheism, monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator deity, creator, and principal object of Faith#Religious views, faith.Richard Swinburne, Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Ted Honderich, Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Ox ...

. While both claim to be

atheists Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there no d ...

, Mrs. Scheisskopf insists that the God she does not believe in is benevolent, and she is distressed at Yossarian's characterizing the God he does not believe in as sadistic or stupid.

Rome

Nearing the climax of the novel, Scheisskopf is shipped out to

’s command in Rome, and promoted to Colonel. On arriving he is welcomed by Peckem, who finds Scheisskopf unreceptive to his wit and charm, and is glad that he has been blessed with such a weakling as a subordinate. The only things Scheisskopf is concerned about are running parades and sending for his wife, both of which had been promised by the officers that sent him overseas. Peckem refuses both requests, and instead allows Scheisskopf to send out announcements stating that there will be no parade each week:

''Due to circumstances beyond my control, there will be no big parade this Sunday afternoon.'' Colonel Scheisskopf

Finally, in a massive oversight by General Peckem and

Ex-PFC Wintergreen The following is a list of characters in the 1961 novel ''Catch-22'' by Joseph Heller. Significant characters Yossarian Captain John Yossarian is a fictional character in Joseph Heller's novel ''Catch-22'' and its sequel '' Closing Time'', and t ...

, on the day General Peckem supersedes

General Dreedle The following is a list of characters in the 1961 novel ''Catch-22'' by Joseph Heller. Significant characters Yossarian Captain John Yossarian is a fictional character in Joseph Heller's novel ''Catch-22'' and its sequel '' Closing Time'', and t ...

’s wing command, his request for combat operations to be transferred to his old command, “Special Services”, is also granted. As Scheisskopf is now ranking senior officer of Special Services, he is promoted to

, and takes command of all combat operations, becoming the commanding officer of General Peckem. His first orders, relayed by Colonel Cargill, makes his intentions clear:

”Oh, my God!” he cried, as the phone fell from his fingers. “Do you know what he wants? He wants us to march! He wants ''everybody'' to march!”

In other media

Scheisskopf appears in the 2019 miniseries portrayed by

George Clooney George Timothy Clooney (born May 6, 1961) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by George Clooney, numerous accolades, including a British Academy Film Awards, British Academy Film A ...

who also produces the series. Scheisskopf's attention is much more direct to Yossarian than to Clevinger. Mrs. Scheisskopf is only seen sleeping with Yossarian whom she seems to genuinely love. Scheisskopf also plays a major role in the 5th episode where it is implied that he caught on to their tryst when he tells Yossarian that his wife sends her regards. In a departure from the novel, Scheisskopf prevents Yossarian from leaving the war, despite having made a deal with Colonel Cathcart prior, but allows him to continue fighting without his clothes on.

External links

''Catch-22'' quotes from Wikiquote {{Catch-22

Scheisskopf Scheisskopf (in English, "shithead") is a minor fictional character in the 1961 novel ''Catch-22'' by Joseph Heller, who is promoted through the ranks from Lieutenant to First Lieutenant, Colonel and finally to Lieutenant General. Lieutenant Scheiss ...

Catch-22 characters