General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
RE: Reinhard Heydrich
Posted by:
Ken Dunn
()
Date: February 19, 2001 05:54PM
<HTML>Hi Craig and Fin,
Heydrich was assassinated by two members of the Free Czechoslovak Forces stationed in England. They were parachuted in (along with five others to support their effort) on December 21, 1941 with specific orders to assassinate Heydrich. Their names were Jan Kubish and Josef Gabchik. They worked closely with the Czech resistance for months on the task. It was a team effort. Here is a brief summary of the story:
After the message arrived, a meeting was held in London to discuss this urgent matter. The meeting took place in England on May 13, 1942. Two representatives of the political émigrés and two representatives of the émigré military intelligence hashed it out among themselves. The political representatives were inclined to respect the opinion of the homeland resistance, but both army representatives insisted that a “large action†was expected of the Czechs and that it was too late to retreat from the commitment.
On the recommendation of the majority present at this meeting, Eduard Benes, President of the Czech government-in-exile, answered Vanek (Professor Ladislav Vanek, cover name “Jindraâ€) requesting that the “large action†be carried out. He explained that the Czech Protectorate Government, by collaborating with the Germans, had created the impression of having effected a compromise peace with Germany, and that it was necessary that the Czech nation demonstrate its complete repudiation of the Nazi occupation. \"In this situation,\" his message urged, \"an aggressive action or revolt would be highly desirable and indispensable. In international politics this would mean salvation for the nation, even at the cost of large sacrifice.\"
Although the leaders of the underground had unanimously doubted the wisdom of the assassination, no such hesitation had even entered the heads of Josef Gabchik and Jan Kubish. As noted by Vanek, they had been making preparations since their arrival. Although they had been forced by circumstances to postpone the D-date several times, neither had for one moment intended to abandon his original purpose. They had studied Heydrich\'s routine; through his cook and his charwoman, both resistance workers, they had gleaned information on his personal habits. (It should be noted here that Czechs, including prisoners, were assigned to work for the Heydrich household. Once employed there, they were virtually slaves to Mrs. Heydrich, who did not hesitate to beat them or otherwise ill-treat them if they displeased her.)
A spot had been selected for the assassination. This was to be at a sharp bend in the street in Holesovice (a Prague suburb) along Heydrich\'s daily route between his villa in the country and his office in the Prague Hradeany Castle. It was his custom, in good weather, to make this journey in an open car.
The two young men spent hours loitering by this roadside, watching for Heydrich\'s approach and making calculations. When he appeared they would respectfully remove their caps and bow. After twelve days of such reconnaissance activities, they had pinned down the average hour of Heydrich\'s passage, the speed at which the car usually passed, the varying degree of police protection, the nearby terrain and escape routes. They determined what equipment they would need: this included two bicycles and two briefcases, which were supplied to them through the usual underground channels.
Gabchik had been specially trained to assemble a Sten gun very rapidly and with one hand. A Sten gun for the assassination had been provided in England and, disassembled, had been part of his gear when he jumped. In his Prague hideout he continued daily practice in the split-second assembly of this weapon and kept it always in top condition.
Kubish had jumped with a disassembled bomb, in the care and use of which he too had been thoroughly schooled. These two weapons would be concealed, on D-clay, in the two briefcases.
Alternate Plans were worked out for different eventualities with other members of their group. Since Heydrich sometimes traveled with police escort and sometimes not, the degree of such protection would be the variable which would determine the final course of action. Rela Fafek, who in addition to being an ardent (resistance) worker had become Gabehick\'s \"girl,\" would give the crucial signal.
In a rented car she would drive ahead of Heydrich\'s Mercedes and make the turn in the road several moments before he did. If he were accompanied by police, she would wear a large summer hat. If not, she would be bareheaded-the hat would be tossed to the passenger seat of the car she drove.
Heydrich meanwhile was winding up his Prague affairs with an eye to his next assignment - France.
The Sten gun would be carried disassembled; the bomb would be ready. At the Moravech apartment Kubish carefully went over its workings with Atya, to be sure that it was in order.
The morning of May 27 dawned bright and clear-a good sign, as Heydrich would undoubtedly ride in his open car to revel in the beautiful sunshine. Kubish and Cabehik, in their separate hideouts, both arose with the birds, in cheery moods typical of young men on a bright spring day. Kubish, quartered in the Ogoun apartment, stopped to cheer Professor Ogoun\'s young son who was cramming for an exam.
According to prearranged plan, the paratroopers went separately to a meeting place in the Vysocany sector of Prague, where they joined waiting members of the underground including Zelenka and Rela Fafek. Here each of the helpers was assigned a battle station. Rela was dispatched to get her car and her Easter bonnet and to wait for Heydrich at the outskirts of Prague. Valchik, equipped with a hand mirror, was posted at the bend in the road to signal the approach of the target by refracting the sun\'s rays. The others mingled with the street population to become \"passersby\" along the route, ready to distract or engage the police if necessary.
Gabchik and Kubish rode on beyond the bend and parked their bicycles at the chosen spot. Gabehik removed his raincoat and slung it over his arm. Five months\' worth of careful planning were about to reach their culmination.
If all went as Planned, Gabehik would shoot both Heydrich and his driver with the Sten gun, then ride away; Kubish would snatch Heydrich\'s briefcase, doubtless full of strategic information of use to London, and would substitute his own case which contained his bomb at the ready. Then he too would ride away. They would make their escapes independently and would lie low in separate hideouts until it seemed safe to make contact.
Each carrying his briefcase, the two ambled to their posts, a few feet apart, every motion premeditated. They assumed their accustomed pose of casual loiterers.
The spot beyond the bend had been selected because the road curved sharply at that point, forcing a driver to brake his car and to make the turn slowly. It was a blind turn in both directions. They waited for the prearranged signals to tell them what to expect. At 10:31 Rela Fafek drove slowly around the corner in her rented car, bareheaded.
Gabchik smoothly assembled his Sten gun with one hand without removing it from the briefcase. Then, discarding the briefcase, he hid the gun under his coat. Seconds later Valchik’s signal cam - the bright, restless flashes from the mirror. Gabchik now dropped his coat and stepped into the road. He aimed at the bend around which the open Mercedes soon appeared, taking the curve carefully. The target was perfect. The aim was perfect.
He pulled the trigger.
He pulled it again. Nothing happened.
The gun was jammed.
Kubish, tense and ready, leaped into action. As both Heydrich and his chauffeur drew their pistols to shoot him down, Kubish reached into his briefcase, withdrew the bomb, and hurled it toward Heydrich, who was now standing up in the car aiming at the stunned Gabchik.
The bomb exploded near the car\'s rear wheel, shattering the door. Heydrich, wounded and immobilized, dropped his pistol. Fragments of exploding debris hit Kubish in the face, but despite impaired vision he managed to jump on his bicycle and pedal away, bleeding profusely.
Gabchik, starting to run, dropped his useless gun, drew his shoulder pistol, and shot the now pursuing chauffeur in both legs. Then he too escaped. Heydrich was still standing upright, probably in shock, waiting for help to come. But he found himself surrounded by stony-faced pedestrians who noticed nothing out of order.
One lone woman-a collaborator-recognizing Heydrich, turned in agitation to those around her, appealing for aid.
“It is Herr Heydrich!†she screamed. “Help him Help him! It is the Reichsprotector!â€
The unsympathetic passersby made various sarcastic comments before they melted away. \"The hospital is just around the corner,\" one suggested. \'Let him walk!\" A trolley lumbered around the bend; its driver and its passengers peered curiously but were not inclined to stop. Heydrich’s lone sympathizer forced a truck to halt by blocking its path and demanded assistance from the driver.
The truck driver, noticing the SS uniform, apologized profusely and politely but explained that his truck was already too heavily loaded. He drove on.
Finally the woman succeeded in stopping a small station wagon; the driver of this car was willing to help the Reichsprotector. Heydrich tried to make the transfer from his own disabled car by himself, but he could not. When he tried to move, he collapsed. His two rescuers were forced to lift him, awkwardly and painfully, into the back of the car.
They took him to the nearby hospital. It was May 27, 1942. He died on June 4, 1942.
The above came from “The Assassination of Heydrich†by Jan Wiener (ISBN: 670-13878-9).
I suspect the “bomb†thrown at Heydrich was actually a hand grenade but I have no way to be sure.
The good news is that Heydrich died a slow painful death, the bad news is that he had already caused so many others to suffer the same fate. The only brave people in this story are the men and women who were involved in his assassination (before and after). Many of them also died as a result.
I see no intelligence in a hated individual like Heydrich driving by the same route, unprotected, and in an open car on a regular basis. I see nothing but arrogance and stupidity. Neither did Hitler. When he called Karl Hermann Frank (shortly to be known as “The Butcher of Lidiceâ€) to find out what happened here is what Frank wrote in his diary:
Prague, May 27,1942
At 12:30 1 was called from the Führer\'s Headquarters and I talked to the Führer personally. I gave the Führer a report on the attack on SS Obergruppenführer Heydrich. My report contained basically the same facts enclosed in the first provisional report of the Gestapo dated May 27, but without details. The Führer asked right away if Obergruppenführer Heydrich had driven without escort, to which I answered in the affirmative.
This was sharply condemned by the Führer.
Then he asked about the condition of the Obergruppenführer. I reported as I had been informed by Herr Dr. Dick after the first operation. The Führer then ordered the following:
1. Until the recovery of the Obergruppenführer I am to be in charge of the agenda of the Reichsprotector.
2. I am not allowed to drive without protective escort. (He asked if I had an armored car at my disposal; I answered in
the negative. The Führer said that he would put such a car at my disposal.)
3. All possible searches should be initiated immediately.
4. A reward of one million Reichsmarks (ten million crowns ) is to be offered for the arrest of the assassins.
5. Whoever gives the assassins any help, or knows their whereabouts without reporting it, is to be shot with his whole family.
6. Ten thousand Czech suspects are to be taken into custody as a reprisal. Also those who have committed political crimes, or are already in prison, should be shot immediately. The Führer ordered me to keep him informed. When I asked if I should come to the Führer’s Headquarters to discuss the political implications of this case, as soon as we had a complete picture of the case and its consequences, the Führer answered \"Yes.\"
(State Central Archive, Prague, Secretariat of K. H. Frank, Frank\'s minutes of a telephone conversation with Hitler, May 27, 3942).
IQ and wisdom are not necessarily related.
As to his possible performance had he not been kicked out of the Navy, based on his performance in the SS he would have been hated and feared by his peers and his crew alike and he wouldn’t have hesitated to machine gun the survivors from the ships he sunk. As far as I can see the Navy was very astute in getting rid of him. If they hadn’t, they like the SS, would have had to live down the atrocities he committed.
As to his childhood and upbringing, many others suffered everything he did and worse but they had the character to overcome it. I feel no pity for this man – only sadness that he ever lived. There is no excuse for what he did.
Regards,
Ken Dunn
</HTML>
Heydrich was assassinated by two members of the Free Czechoslovak Forces stationed in England. They were parachuted in (along with five others to support their effort) on December 21, 1941 with specific orders to assassinate Heydrich. Their names were Jan Kubish and Josef Gabchik. They worked closely with the Czech resistance for months on the task. It was a team effort. Here is a brief summary of the story:
After the message arrived, a meeting was held in London to discuss this urgent matter. The meeting took place in England on May 13, 1942. Two representatives of the political émigrés and two representatives of the émigré military intelligence hashed it out among themselves. The political representatives were inclined to respect the opinion of the homeland resistance, but both army representatives insisted that a “large action†was expected of the Czechs and that it was too late to retreat from the commitment.
On the recommendation of the majority present at this meeting, Eduard Benes, President of the Czech government-in-exile, answered Vanek (Professor Ladislav Vanek, cover name “Jindraâ€) requesting that the “large action†be carried out. He explained that the Czech Protectorate Government, by collaborating with the Germans, had created the impression of having effected a compromise peace with Germany, and that it was necessary that the Czech nation demonstrate its complete repudiation of the Nazi occupation. \"In this situation,\" his message urged, \"an aggressive action or revolt would be highly desirable and indispensable. In international politics this would mean salvation for the nation, even at the cost of large sacrifice.\"
Although the leaders of the underground had unanimously doubted the wisdom of the assassination, no such hesitation had even entered the heads of Josef Gabchik and Jan Kubish. As noted by Vanek, they had been making preparations since their arrival. Although they had been forced by circumstances to postpone the D-date several times, neither had for one moment intended to abandon his original purpose. They had studied Heydrich\'s routine; through his cook and his charwoman, both resistance workers, they had gleaned information on his personal habits. (It should be noted here that Czechs, including prisoners, were assigned to work for the Heydrich household. Once employed there, they were virtually slaves to Mrs. Heydrich, who did not hesitate to beat them or otherwise ill-treat them if they displeased her.)
A spot had been selected for the assassination. This was to be at a sharp bend in the street in Holesovice (a Prague suburb) along Heydrich\'s daily route between his villa in the country and his office in the Prague Hradeany Castle. It was his custom, in good weather, to make this journey in an open car.
The two young men spent hours loitering by this roadside, watching for Heydrich\'s approach and making calculations. When he appeared they would respectfully remove their caps and bow. After twelve days of such reconnaissance activities, they had pinned down the average hour of Heydrich\'s passage, the speed at which the car usually passed, the varying degree of police protection, the nearby terrain and escape routes. They determined what equipment they would need: this included two bicycles and two briefcases, which were supplied to them through the usual underground channels.
Gabchik had been specially trained to assemble a Sten gun very rapidly and with one hand. A Sten gun for the assassination had been provided in England and, disassembled, had been part of his gear when he jumped. In his Prague hideout he continued daily practice in the split-second assembly of this weapon and kept it always in top condition.
Kubish had jumped with a disassembled bomb, in the care and use of which he too had been thoroughly schooled. These two weapons would be concealed, on D-clay, in the two briefcases.
Alternate Plans were worked out for different eventualities with other members of their group. Since Heydrich sometimes traveled with police escort and sometimes not, the degree of such protection would be the variable which would determine the final course of action. Rela Fafek, who in addition to being an ardent (resistance) worker had become Gabehick\'s \"girl,\" would give the crucial signal.
In a rented car she would drive ahead of Heydrich\'s Mercedes and make the turn in the road several moments before he did. If he were accompanied by police, she would wear a large summer hat. If not, she would be bareheaded-the hat would be tossed to the passenger seat of the car she drove.
Heydrich meanwhile was winding up his Prague affairs with an eye to his next assignment - France.
The Sten gun would be carried disassembled; the bomb would be ready. At the Moravech apartment Kubish carefully went over its workings with Atya, to be sure that it was in order.
The morning of May 27 dawned bright and clear-a good sign, as Heydrich would undoubtedly ride in his open car to revel in the beautiful sunshine. Kubish and Cabehik, in their separate hideouts, both arose with the birds, in cheery moods typical of young men on a bright spring day. Kubish, quartered in the Ogoun apartment, stopped to cheer Professor Ogoun\'s young son who was cramming for an exam.
According to prearranged plan, the paratroopers went separately to a meeting place in the Vysocany sector of Prague, where they joined waiting members of the underground including Zelenka and Rela Fafek. Here each of the helpers was assigned a battle station. Rela was dispatched to get her car and her Easter bonnet and to wait for Heydrich at the outskirts of Prague. Valchik, equipped with a hand mirror, was posted at the bend in the road to signal the approach of the target by refracting the sun\'s rays. The others mingled with the street population to become \"passersby\" along the route, ready to distract or engage the police if necessary.
Gabchik and Kubish rode on beyond the bend and parked their bicycles at the chosen spot. Gabehik removed his raincoat and slung it over his arm. Five months\' worth of careful planning were about to reach their culmination.
If all went as Planned, Gabehik would shoot both Heydrich and his driver with the Sten gun, then ride away; Kubish would snatch Heydrich\'s briefcase, doubtless full of strategic information of use to London, and would substitute his own case which contained his bomb at the ready. Then he too would ride away. They would make their escapes independently and would lie low in separate hideouts until it seemed safe to make contact.
Each carrying his briefcase, the two ambled to their posts, a few feet apart, every motion premeditated. They assumed their accustomed pose of casual loiterers.
The spot beyond the bend had been selected because the road curved sharply at that point, forcing a driver to brake his car and to make the turn slowly. It was a blind turn in both directions. They waited for the prearranged signals to tell them what to expect. At 10:31 Rela Fafek drove slowly around the corner in her rented car, bareheaded.
Gabchik smoothly assembled his Sten gun with one hand without removing it from the briefcase. Then, discarding the briefcase, he hid the gun under his coat. Seconds later Valchik’s signal cam - the bright, restless flashes from the mirror. Gabchik now dropped his coat and stepped into the road. He aimed at the bend around which the open Mercedes soon appeared, taking the curve carefully. The target was perfect. The aim was perfect.
He pulled the trigger.
He pulled it again. Nothing happened.
The gun was jammed.
Kubish, tense and ready, leaped into action. As both Heydrich and his chauffeur drew their pistols to shoot him down, Kubish reached into his briefcase, withdrew the bomb, and hurled it toward Heydrich, who was now standing up in the car aiming at the stunned Gabchik.
The bomb exploded near the car\'s rear wheel, shattering the door. Heydrich, wounded and immobilized, dropped his pistol. Fragments of exploding debris hit Kubish in the face, but despite impaired vision he managed to jump on his bicycle and pedal away, bleeding profusely.
Gabchik, starting to run, dropped his useless gun, drew his shoulder pistol, and shot the now pursuing chauffeur in both legs. Then he too escaped. Heydrich was still standing upright, probably in shock, waiting for help to come. But he found himself surrounded by stony-faced pedestrians who noticed nothing out of order.
One lone woman-a collaborator-recognizing Heydrich, turned in agitation to those around her, appealing for aid.
“It is Herr Heydrich!†she screamed. “Help him Help him! It is the Reichsprotector!â€
The unsympathetic passersby made various sarcastic comments before they melted away. \"The hospital is just around the corner,\" one suggested. \'Let him walk!\" A trolley lumbered around the bend; its driver and its passengers peered curiously but were not inclined to stop. Heydrich’s lone sympathizer forced a truck to halt by blocking its path and demanded assistance from the driver.
The truck driver, noticing the SS uniform, apologized profusely and politely but explained that his truck was already too heavily loaded. He drove on.
Finally the woman succeeded in stopping a small station wagon; the driver of this car was willing to help the Reichsprotector. Heydrich tried to make the transfer from his own disabled car by himself, but he could not. When he tried to move, he collapsed. His two rescuers were forced to lift him, awkwardly and painfully, into the back of the car.
They took him to the nearby hospital. It was May 27, 1942. He died on June 4, 1942.
The above came from “The Assassination of Heydrich†by Jan Wiener (ISBN: 670-13878-9).
I suspect the “bomb†thrown at Heydrich was actually a hand grenade but I have no way to be sure.
The good news is that Heydrich died a slow painful death, the bad news is that he had already caused so many others to suffer the same fate. The only brave people in this story are the men and women who were involved in his assassination (before and after). Many of them also died as a result.
I see no intelligence in a hated individual like Heydrich driving by the same route, unprotected, and in an open car on a regular basis. I see nothing but arrogance and stupidity. Neither did Hitler. When he called Karl Hermann Frank (shortly to be known as “The Butcher of Lidiceâ€) to find out what happened here is what Frank wrote in his diary:
Prague, May 27,1942
At 12:30 1 was called from the Führer\'s Headquarters and I talked to the Führer personally. I gave the Führer a report on the attack on SS Obergruppenführer Heydrich. My report contained basically the same facts enclosed in the first provisional report of the Gestapo dated May 27, but without details. The Führer asked right away if Obergruppenführer Heydrich had driven without escort, to which I answered in the affirmative.
This was sharply condemned by the Führer.
Then he asked about the condition of the Obergruppenführer. I reported as I had been informed by Herr Dr. Dick after the first operation. The Führer then ordered the following:
1. Until the recovery of the Obergruppenführer I am to be in charge of the agenda of the Reichsprotector.
2. I am not allowed to drive without protective escort. (He asked if I had an armored car at my disposal; I answered in
the negative. The Führer said that he would put such a car at my disposal.)
3. All possible searches should be initiated immediately.
4. A reward of one million Reichsmarks (ten million crowns ) is to be offered for the arrest of the assassins.
5. Whoever gives the assassins any help, or knows their whereabouts without reporting it, is to be shot with his whole family.
6. Ten thousand Czech suspects are to be taken into custody as a reprisal. Also those who have committed political crimes, or are already in prison, should be shot immediately. The Führer ordered me to keep him informed. When I asked if I should come to the Führer’s Headquarters to discuss the political implications of this case, as soon as we had a complete picture of the case and its consequences, the Führer answered \"Yes.\"
(State Central Archive, Prague, Secretariat of K. H. Frank, Frank\'s minutes of a telephone conversation with Hitler, May 27, 3942).
IQ and wisdom are not necessarily related.
As to his possible performance had he not been kicked out of the Navy, based on his performance in the SS he would have been hated and feared by his peers and his crew alike and he wouldn’t have hesitated to machine gun the survivors from the ships he sunk. As far as I can see the Navy was very astute in getting rid of him. If they hadn’t, they like the SS, would have had to live down the atrocities he committed.
As to his childhood and upbringing, many others suffered everything he did and worse but they had the character to overcome it. I feel no pity for this man – only sadness that he ever lived. There is no excuse for what he did.
Regards,
Ken Dunn
</HTML>
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
Reinhard Heydrich
|
MPC | 02/17/2001 08:16PM |
|
RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
Rainer Bruns | 02/17/2001 08:39PM |
|
RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
kpp | 02/17/2001 08:53PM |
|
sorry
|
kpp | 02/17/2001 09:03PM |
|
RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
james stewart | 02/17/2001 09:38PM |
|
RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
J.S. | 02/18/2001 10:38AM |
|
RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
james stewart | 02/17/2001 09:44PM |
|
RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
MPC | 02/17/2001 10:29PM |
|
RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
kpp | 02/17/2001 11:03PM |
|
RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
Rainer Bruns | 02/18/2001 01:15AM |
|
RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
MPC | 02/18/2001 09:56AM |
|
RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
Ying | 02/18/2001 12:50PM |
|
RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
kpp | 02/18/2001 02:35PM |
|
RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
Vaclav Samsa | 02/18/2001 02:14PM |
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RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
Craig McLean | 02/18/2001 02:29PM |
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RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
kpp | 02/19/2001 09:49AM |
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RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
Ken Dunn | 02/18/2001 07:41PM |
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RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
Craig McLean | 02/19/2001 01:40AM |
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RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
Fin Bonset | 02/19/2001 02:00PM |
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RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
Ken Dunn | 02/19/2001 05:54PM |
|
RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
Fin Bonset | 02/19/2001 06:19PM |
|
RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
Craig McLean | 02/20/2001 01:51AM |
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RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
Bill | 02/20/2001 02:20PM |
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RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
Craig McLean | 02/20/2001 03:11PM |
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RE: Reinhard Heydrich
|
Bill | 02/20/2001 02:09PM |