Reinhard Heydrich

Fatally wounded on 27 May 1942 in Prague by Czech paratroopers of Operation Anthropoid; the acting protector of Bohemia died of his wounds and Nazi Germany answered with the destruction of Lidice.

Overview

Heydrich, head of the Reich Main Security Office, chaired the Wannsee conference that coordinated the genocide of the European Jews and ruled occupied Bohemia as acting protector. Soldiers of the Czech government in exile, Jozef Gabcik and Jan Kubis, trained in Britain, attacked his open car on a Prague bend; a jammed submachine gun forced a grenade throw, and Heydrich died of infection a week later. The SS killed every man of Lidice and razed the village, and razed Lezaky as well, murdering thousands in reprisal. The paratroopers died fighting in the Orthodox cathedral. The killing showed exile governments could strike the occupation leadership, terrorized the Czech resistance through reprisal, and left Heydrich remembered as one of the highest Nazi officials destroyed by concerted action.