The physical deconstruction and erasure of the old village of Lidice took over two years of solid graft, was financially costly, and was paid for by the victims’ bank accounts. It was not until September the 25th, 1944, that Karl Frank could finally announce with much satisfaction that the clearing
Category: Anthropoid
President Beneš Statement on LidicePresident Beneš Statement on Lidice
President Beneš had acknowledged the likelihood of reprisals when discussing the pros and cons of Anthropoid with Colonel Moravec the previous autumn; and must have expected some backlash following the death of Heydrich. Nevertheless, even he seemed genuinely shocked at the savagery of the Nazi response. When he made a
Lidice – the first violationLidice – the first violation
At dawn on June the 4th, the day of Reinhard Heydrich’s death, the first search of Lidice took place. Eyewitness accounts recall the truck full of troops peeling off the main road from Prague to Kladno, racing into the village, ejecting residents from their homes, and immediately lining them up
A Suspicious LetterA Suspicious Letter
An ill-conceived love letter was about to be handed to the secret Police which would have devastating consequences for the people of Czecho-Slovakia. It would give Karl Frank the excuse he needed to create a narrative, however bogus, to link the Bohemian village of Lidice with the murder of Heydrich.
The Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich – Operation AnthropoidThe Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich – Operation Anthropoid
The mortal wounding of Reinhard Heydrich in Prague By late 1941 the decision had been made to assassinate Heydrich, even thought it was obvious that the German reaction would be brutal. As the Special Operations Unit task force was Churchill’s initiative, he sat with power of veto at the top
The Prelude to Operation AnthropoidThe Prelude to Operation Anthropoid
By late 1941 the decision had been made to assassinate Heydrich, even thought it was obvious that the German reaction would be brutal. As the Special Operations Unit task force was Churchill’s initiative, he sat with power of veto at the top of the chain of command, so it seems