Assassination of the Butcher of Prague

On 4 June 1942, one of the most powerful figures of the Nazi Third Reich, Reinhard Heydrich, the ‘Butcher of Prague’ and architect of the 'Final Solution', died from wounds suffered in an assassination attempt carried out just days before. His death caused shockwaves in the Nazi State, resulting in savage reprisals, with Hitler ordering the annihilation of two village populations thought to be involved in assisting the assassins. Thousands of others were sent to concentration camps, where many were tortured and executed.

The British-trained Czech assassins, part of ‘Operation Anthropoid’, were eventually betrayed in their hideout in a Prague church. The initial battle to capture the Czech operatives in the choir stalls, after many hours, resulted in numerous German casualties. However, the German SS-troops and Gestapo soon realised another four operatives were in the vaults of the church, leading to further fighting. Hitler ordered they be taken alive.

Assassination of the Butcher of Prague provides a detailed and fascinating account of the assassination and subsequent events, hour by hour, and day by day.