Czechoslovakia, an important European economic power, was crushed by Germany. The Sudetenland was annexed, and the rest of the country became the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. In September 1941, Hitler replaced Reich Protector Konstantin von Neurath with Reinhard Heydrich for failing to meet production quotas. Heydrich, who became known as the Butcher of Prague, imposed martial law, which led to numerous arrests and executions. In response, the Czechoslovak government-in-exile, led by Edvard Benes, planned Operation Anthropoid to assassinate Heydrich. Josef Gabcik and Jan Kubis, members of the Czech exile army who had been trained by the British Special Operations Executive, parachuted into Czechoslovakia on 29 December 1941. Despite Heydrich's suppression of the Czech resistance, they were supported by local sympathisers. On 27 May 1942, Gabcik and Kubis attacked Heydrich when his car slowed down in a bend. Gabcik's Sten gun jammed, but Kubis' grenade wounded Heydrich. Although they escaped, Heydrich died eight days later.
Group
Books (first-hand)
Author
Grehan, John/Mace, Martin
Title
Operation Anthropoid
Details
English text, 100 bw-illustrations. 192 pages.
State
new
Subtitle
The Assassination of Hitler's Hangman, Reinhard Heydrich. Then and Now
Battle of Britain Hobbs Cross House CM17 ONN Old Harlow, Essex Vereinigtes Königreich
