Operation Anthrpoid

Reinhard Heydrich was a high-ranking German SS and police official during the Nazi era. As the head of the Reich Main Security Office (RSHA), Heydrich was one of the main architects of the Holocaust, responsible for the planning and execution of the Final Solution. In 1941, he was appointed Acting Protector of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, where he implemented harsh measures to suppress resistance and increase productivity for the German war effort. His brutality earned him the nickname “The Butcher of Prague.”

Operation Anthropoid was a covert mission carried out by Czechoslovak resistance fighters in exile, trained and equipped by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE). The objective was to assassinate Reinhard Heydrich, a key figure in Nazi Germany’s hierarchy. The operation was named after the term “anthropoid,” which means “resembling a human,” symbolizing the fight against the inhumanity of the Nazis.

The operation was meticulously planned by the SOE and the Czechoslovak government-in-exile. Two soldiers, Jozef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš, were selected for the mission. They underwent rigorous training in England, which included parachuting, sabotage, and assassination techniques. The operation aimed to strike a blow against the Nazi regime and demonstrate that the Allies supported the Czechoslovak resistance.

Gabčík and Kubiš were parachuted into the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia on December 29, 1941, along with other agents who were part of different missions. They landed near the village of Nehvizdy, east of Prague. After a challenging period of orientation and contact establishment with local resistance groups, they moved to Prague to prepare for the assassination.

On the morning of May 27, 1942, Heydrich was traveling in an open-top Mercedes car, driven by his SS chauffeur, Johannes Klein. As the car slowed down to navigate a sharp turn at the intersection of Kirchmayerova Street and Holesovičky Street in Prague, Gabčík and Kubiš were waiting in ambush.

Gabčík stepped into the road and aimed his Sten submachine gun at Heydrich, but the weapon jammed. Seizing the opportunity, Heydrich ordered his driver to stop and attempted to confront the attackers. At this moment, Kubiš threw an anti-tank grenade at the car. The explosion severely damaged the vehicle and injured both Heydrich and Kubiš. Despite his injuries, Heydrich attempted to chase Kubiš but soon collapsed.

Heydrich sustained severe injuries, including a shattered rib, a ruptured diaphragm, and splinters from the car’s upholstery embedded in his body. He was taken to Bulovka Hospital in Prague, where he underwent emergency surgery. Initially, Heydrich seemed to be recovering, but his condition worsened due to an infection caused by the fragments of car upholstery that had been driven into his spleen. Despite aggressive treatment with sulfonamides, a type of antibiotic available at the time, Heydrich developed septicemia (blood poisoning).

On June 4, 1942, eight days after the attack, Reinhard Heydrich died from his injuries. The combination of severe injuries, delayed medical intervention, and inadequate antibiotics contributed to his death.

The Nazi response to Heydrich’s assassination was swift and brutal. Heinrich Himmler, Heydrich’s superior, ordered widespread reprisals against the Czech population. The village of Lidice was completely destroyed, its male inhabitants were executed, and women and children were deported to concentration camps. A similar fate befell the village of Ležáky. These acts of collective punishment aimed to terrorize the population and deter further resistance.

A massive manhunt was launched to find the assassins and their collaborators. The Gestapo offered a substantial reward for information leading to their capture. After weeks of intensive investigation, a betrayal by Karel Čurda, a fellow resistance member, led the Nazis to the hiding place of Gabčík, Kubiš, and other resistance fighters in the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Prague. After a fierce battle on June 18, 1942, Gabčík and Kubiš, along with their comrades, took their own lives to avoid capture.

Operation Anthropoid had significant repercussions. The assassination of Heydrich disrupted Nazi plans and demonstrated the resolve of the Czechoslovak resistance. It also prompted the Allied governments to renounce the Munich Agreement and recognize the Czechoslovak government-in-exile.

The operation’s legacy endures as a symbol of resistance against tyranny. In post-war Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic, the bravery of Gabčík, Kubiš, and their compatriots is commemorated through memorials, films, and books, ensuring that the story of their sacrifice remains an enduring part of history.