A memorial at the historic site in Prague commemorates the Czechoslovakian parachutists who committed an assassination attempt on Reinhard Heydrich's life in 1942.
Prague, 1942, Heydrich's car after the assassination attempt, Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1972-039-44, N/A
Prague, 2009, »Operation Anthropoid« Memorial, Úřad městské části Praha 8
On March 16, 1939, the Czech rump state was incorporated into the German Reich as the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, following the invasion of the German Wehrmacht. Though there was still a government in Prague, it was for the most part dependent on Berlin. A Reich protectorate was set up in the city in order to enforce German interests locally. In 1941, the head of the Reich Main Security Office Reinhard Heydrich was appointed acting Protector in Prague, thus replacing the suspended Konstantin von Neurath, in order to introduce harsher measures in fighting Czech resistance.
The British Special Operations Executive (SOE) developed a plan - codenamed »Operation Anthropoid« - to assassinate Heydrich, considering him a key figure in the National Socialist hierarchy of power. Two former officers of the Czechoslovak army, Jozef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš, were trained for this mission. In December 1941, they were parachuted into Protectorate territory. They managed to get in touch with the underground and, after long preparations, they ambushed Heydrich with the help of an additional agent in the Liben suburb of Prague. Though the attack of May 27, 1942 failed, Heydrich died of his injuries on June 4.
The German authorities declared a state of emergency and retaliated with most brutal measures. Many were arrested, executed, the villages of Lidice and Ležáky were annihilated. The assassins Gabčík and Kubiš went into hiding. After being denounced by a comrade, they died in a shoot-out with the SS in a church in Prague on June 18, 1942.
The British Special Operations Executive (SOE) developed a plan - codenamed »Operation Anthropoid« - to assassinate Heydrich, considering him a key figure in the National Socialist hierarchy of power. Two former officers of the Czechoslovak army, Jozef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš, were trained for this mission. In December 1941, they were parachuted into Protectorate territory. They managed to get in touch with the underground and, after long preparations, they ambushed Heydrich with the help of an additional agent in the Liben suburb of Prague. Though the attack of May 27, 1942 failed, Heydrich died of his injuries on June 4.
The German authorities declared a state of emergency and retaliated with most brutal measures. Many were arrested, executed, the villages of Lidice and Ležáky were annihilated. The assassins Gabčík and Kubiš went into hiding. After being denounced by a comrade, they died in a shoot-out with the SS in a church in Prague on June 18, 1942.
Prague, 1942, Heydrich's car after the assassination attempt, Bundesarchiv, Bild 146-1972-039-44, N/A
Prague, 2009, »Operation Anthropoid« Memorial, Úřad městské části Praha 8
The memorial honours the parachutists who committed an assassination attempt on Heydrich's life and were later killed in action. The assassins, Jozef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš, were assisted by resistance fighter Josef Valčík.
Prague, 2009, Dedication of the memorial on May 27, Úřad městské části Praha 8
After the assassination attempt, the Germans set up a memorial in honour of Heydrich. It was destroyed at the end of the war.
In 2007, two citizens' initiatives set up memorial plaques - independently of one another - close to the historic site. One of them disappeared in 2009.
The »Operation Anthropoid« memorial was dedicated on May 27, 2009, on the anniversary of the assassination attempt on Heydrich. It is located at the exact site, though the street configuration today is different. At the time, there was a hairpin curve on Heydrich's way to work - the perfect spot for an assassination attempt as his car had to brake hard.
The three figures depicted on the statue represent Gabčík, Kubiš and a civilian as a symbol of civil resistance. The sculptors David Moješčík and Michal Šmeral as well as architects Miroslava Tůmová and Jiří Gulbi were involved in the creation of the memorial. The project was initiated and funded by the Prague 8 district in 2008.
In 2007, two citizens' initiatives set up memorial plaques - independently of one another - close to the historic site. One of them disappeared in 2009.
The »Operation Anthropoid« memorial was dedicated on May 27, 2009, on the anniversary of the assassination attempt on Heydrich. It is located at the exact site, though the street configuration today is different. At the time, there was a hairpin curve on Heydrich's way to work - the perfect spot for an assassination attempt as his car had to brake hard.
The three figures depicted on the statue represent Gabčík, Kubiš and a civilian as a symbol of civil resistance. The sculptors David Moješčík and Michal Šmeral as well as architects Miroslava Tůmová and Jiří Gulbi were involved in the creation of the memorial. The project was initiated and funded by the Prague 8 district in 2008.
Prague, 2009, Detailed view of the memorial, Vlasta Juricek
- Name
- Památník Operace Anthropoid
- Address
-
V Holešovičkách 41
182 00 Praha - Phone
- +420 222 805 164
- Web
- http://www.praha8.cz
- Petr.Bambas@praha8.cz
- Open
- The memorial is accessible at all times.