Operation Anthropoid: The Most Important Assassination of WW2 (No AI Documentary) 

On a quiet spring morning in 1942, [music] a German staff car turned onto an ordinary street in Nazi occupied Prague. Inside was one of the Third Reich’s most feared [music] men. A figure so brutal the Czech people called him the butcher. What he didn’t know was that just ahead of him, weapons hidden beneath their coats.

 A handful of assassins lay in wait. They trained for months for this moment, knowing that once they acted, there would be no turning back. But how did they come to be standing on that street? What unfolded in the seconds that followed? And how far would the consequences reach? Using rare Gestapo and SS reports documenting those events in meticulous detail along with eyewitness testimony and modern technology will investigate moment by moment [music] the story of Operation Anthropoid, the assassination of Reinard Hydrish.

But who was he? Well, in short, Hydrish was not a good guy. The tall, blondehead, blue-eyed 38-year-old SS Ober Groomman Furer not only looked the part of a typical Nazi villain, but played it too. Highly intelligent and utterly ruthless, Hydrish had been the mastermind behind the infamous Inzat group and that unleashed a wave of destruction on civilian populations in central and eastern Europe.

 More important for our story, Hydrickch had been appointed rice protector of Bohemia and Moravia in September 1941, effectively in charge of the occupation of what is today the Czech Republic. He had immediately unleashed a reign of terror, deporting tens of thousands of Jews, instituting rationing and forced labor, and systematically looting the country.

 For all Czech patriots, Hydrri symbolized the ruthless oppression of their country and its people. And so it was perhaps no surprise that he became the number one target for assassination by the exiled Czech government in Britain. And there were plenty of people willing to risk their lives to have even a chance at ending [music] his.

 Let’s meet a few. First, Ysef Gabch, 29 years old in 1939. He’d fled his home on the outbreak of war and had served in the French Foreign Legion and Czechlovac division in France, earning the Quadigare and the Czechlovac War Cross for his efforts. Popular with his comrades, he was known for his sharp temper and direct communication.

In contrast, his 28-year-old friend and comrade Yan Kubish was a quiet and softspoken man. Like Gabri, Kubish had also fought in the French Foreign Legion and the Czech division and had earned the Czechlovac War Cross. Both men were proud patriots and willing to do whatever was required to strike a blow for their country.

But how? Enter the Special Operations Executive. Created in June 1940 on the orders of Winston Churchill with the broad but explicit remitt to set Europe ablaze. The SOE was a clandestine body of highly trained secret agents dropped into occupied Europe to gather intelligence, organize resistance, conduct sabotage, and on occasion carry out assassinations.

It was with SOE that Cubish and Gabchic alongside a number of other Czech agents found themselves in August 1941 undergoing rigorous training in all manner of clandestine warfare for what would ultimately become Operation Anthropoid. In its most simple form, the mission was to jump into occupied Czechlovakia, meet up with the local resistance, locate Hydrish, [music] and kill him, and ideally live to tell the tale.

 A fascinating set [music] of photographs exist taken at Portchester House in London, headquarters of the Czech Military Intelligence. It seems to have been something of a right of passage for all agents after receiving their orders to be photographed at the back of the building against a brick wall. On the 18th of December, it was the turn of warrant officers Yan Kubish and Joseph Gabchik.

 Over the following weeks and months, a number of other agents, Adalfa, Ysef Falchic, Yan Khub, Yaris Vasvartz, and Carol Cha would do likewise. Their paths would cross again. With training complete, 11 days later and alongside Colonel Moravez, head of Czech intelligence, Kubish and Gabch arrived at an aer drone near Tangmir, where they boarded an adapted Halifax bomber bound for occupied Czech Slovakia.

 with Gabchek’s parting words to his commander. You can rely on us, Colonel. We shall fulfill our mission as ordered. By 10 p.m., the pair along with a small arsenal of weapons and explosives and six other Czech agents, each with their own missions were airborne and soon over occupied Europe. 3 and 1/2 hours later, following a close shave with German night fighters over Dharmstad, flight leftenant Ron Hockey dropped down to 900 ft. And at 2:24 a.m.

 on the signal, Gabch and Kubish leapt into the night. Unfortunately, heavy snowfall and darkness had led the pilot astray. And instead of landing to the southeast of Pilson, the agents had actually been dropped outside the village Nevesdi, 70 mi off target, only 12 mi from Prague. But they had arrived. Within a few days, they’ made contact with the local resistance and before long were established in the bustling city.

 The support they received from local families was vital. Whether it was the Norvak family in Leeben district or Mr. and Mrs. Farfk on Kolinska Street with Joseph and Maurice Vartosh in the old town, local resistance leader Yan Zalinska on Biscopa Street or most frequently over the road in the second floor apartment of the home of the Moraveets family where Maria hosted the agents and gathered supplies whilst her son Vleski known as Ata helped plan the assassination.

But just how and where would they do it? Let’s explore. Since early April, Hydrris have relocated to a manor situated in the nearby village of Peninski Bjani, north of the city. The residents, stolen from local Jews, have been turned into a high security zone with guard posts and patrol dogs, making extremely secure, no go.

 Hydrick’s main office was located here in the impressive Prague Castle in the heart of the city. Naturally, it too was heavily defended and the chance of success was minimal. Various other options were considered, including derailing his personal train route to Berlin and even sniping at him with an anti-tank rifle, but none proved viable.

 There was though seemingly one vulnerability, the route between his home and his Prague office. That journey, a distance of some 15 mi, took the rice protector through this area of northern Prague along the main roads into the city. Regular observations showed that Hydrish, whether through arrogance or naivity, rarely varied his route and preferred to travel without an escort.

 Just he and driver Obasha’s fur Johannes client [music] in his open top Mercedes 320 tourer. After months of scouting and research, the agents finally identified the ideal location for an ambush right here. Let’s take a look. The problem is that the road layout today has changed significantly from how it was in 1942. So understanding it is tricky.

 But by investigating wartime aerial imagery along with these highly detailed Gestapo diagrams of the area immediately after the attack, then virtually recreating the road layout and anchoring it to common points on the map that have not changed and blending it onto the modern satellite view, we get a true understanding of exactly where those events took place.

 It’s worth pointing out how much the 1942 layout differs from the modern view. Today, this two-lane slip road connecting two dual carriageways is the main feature. And at glance, it does look similar to the shots many of us have seen of what happened here, but really it’s not. The actual road here at the time was this one, which ran northwest southeast, but with a sharp right-hand turn here towards Prague.

 As this overlay shows, it was actually located right here on the modern view around what is today a memorial to operation anthropoid. But back then was a wooded garden area enclosed by iron fencing and stone pillars around which was a footpath. Also missing on the modern view, but important in 1942 are several tram lines along with a complex array of posts and power lines which crossed the road in this area.

 The key [music] though is this tight right-hand turn which Hydrris driver would have to make on route to the city which had to be taken at very low speeds. An ideal position for an ambush. Let’s map out the plan. So Gabchic and Kubish were to loiter on the curb here whilst the third agent Adolf Fala would wait across the street in this location.

 The fourth man, Ysef Alchic, armed with a mirror, was to stand about 100 yards up this road and signal when Hydrri’s car came into view. That was the sign for Gabchic to prepare his sten gun and for Kubish to ready his custommade grenades. When Hydrris car entered the bend, Opalico would cross the road in front of it, ensuring that the car would be slow enough for the attack.

 When at almost point blank range, Gabjig Sten and Kubish’s grenades would put an end to Rad Hydrish. At least that was the plan. Now that we set the stage, let’s turn to the 27th of May 1942. Using those investigative images of the crime scene, which includes a reconstruction created immediately after the attack, we can follow events with precise detail.

 On that morning, Gabchic and Kubish left the Movette’s apartment, picking up two bicycles on route, traveled to the attack site. Kubish left his here against this post on the other side of the road while Gabchi propped his with a tache case and spare Sten magazine against this one a little further away. By 8:45 all four agents had met and were in position around the intersection.

Gabchic wearing a raincoat under which he had concealed his M2 Sten gun took up his position just here. Kubish with a coat and flat golfer’s cap stood just beyond him, ready with a modified type 73 British anti-tank grenade in his brown leather atache case. Both men also carried a 32 caliber cult pistol.

 Now they waited. Directly over the road, standing about here was Adolf Vapala and as agreed 100 yards up this road was Ysef Valic. Hydrish was due to arrive about 9:20 a.m. as he did regularly when commuting into the city. The minutes ticked by 9:20, 9:25, 9:30, but no hydrish. The men couldn’t have known it, but the rice protector was taking it easy that morning, enjoying a late breakfast and family time in the garden.

Finally, at 10:00 a.m., Hydrris joined the waiting driver, Klein, outside his home and climbing into the front passenger seat, the pair set off for the city. They passed a series of static police checkpoints along route, but were otherwise alone on their journey. 32 minutes later and at the point of giving up, Valich spotted Hydrris Mercedes approaching down what was then Kesha Estrasa.

 Turning to his left and flashing his mirror down the road. He warned the others who approached the roadside. Seconds later, Hydra’s car top down came into view and as planned began to slow to make the sharp right turn towards Prague. It was now or never. Let’s walk through the ensuing chaos second by second. Let’s just pause for a moment right here.

 As you can probably tell by now, this is a very intricate story full of incredible detail from all sides, much more than we can normally fit into a short format YouTube doc like this one. So, for those wanting to know more, be sure to check out our dedicated weekly Second World War podcast, World War II, Both Sides of the Wire, where I recently joined regular hosts, Professor Matias Stone and Jesse Alexander, in a multi-part series to take a deep dive into Operation Anthropoid, where we cover lots of aspects that we simply couldn’t fit in here. Check it out at

the link in the description or wherever you get your podcasts. Anyway, back to the story. As the Mercedes reached this point in the turn, it slowed down greatly and at the same time a tram entered the intersection here, moving in the opposite direction. Just then, Opala took his chance and dashed across the street, forcing the car to break.

 In that crucial moment, only feet from Hydrickch, Gabch raised his sten, pulled the trigger, and nothing. His weapon clicked and clicked as he stood fixed to the spot, but it didn’t fire. One can only imagine that split second when Hydrrich and Gabch surely looked at each other in mutual shock. Recovering quickly, an enraged Hydrrich shouted something to his driver, who slowed to a stop, not knowing that Kubish was on the scene with his grenade.

 In the same instant, he held the bomb, which exploded on impact above the running board just forward of the right rear wheel. There was a huge blast, so powerful that it shattered the windows of the passing tram, ripping through the bottom of the car door and sending metal fragments directly through Hydrickch’s seat, which lodged in his back.

 Utter chaos erupted as terrified tram passengers spilled into the street. Kubish turned and ran past Gabch to his bike left here and threw down his cap and began pedalling away as fast as he could, firing a single shot over his shoulder as he did so. Hydrish and Klein both managed to stagger out of the smoking wreckage.

 pistols in hand with the former probably firing a single shot before his Luger jammed. Gabchi, who had been jolted back to his senses by the explosion and who now dropped the sten, later photographed where it fell and fumbled to draw his own pistol. With his planned route of escape by bicycle now blocked by the stationary tram and its discing passengers, Yseph turned left and fled round the corner onto Keshme Street.

 It was now that witnesses report that Hydrish, apparently feeling the full impact of his injuries, doubled over in pain onto the hood of the car, ordering Klein to follow as the assassin made a break for it. The chase was on. While Kubish, Opala, and Valic scattered [music] in different directions, Gabchic was in the foot race of his life.

 Let’s follow his route street by street. Sprinting as fast as he could up the hill down which Hydrickch had driven. With Klein in pursuit, he turned several times to fire at the driver, who paused to fire back. Gabchic then turned left here and with Klene still on his heels, looked for an escape route as he stumbled down the steep hill.

 Crossing directly over the junction, he continued on until he reached this spot. Which way to go, left or right? Apparently unsure, he chose a third option to enter a butcher shop, which at the time was located right here. Zooming in onto the street and exploring this Gestapo shot from that very location allows us to line it up.

 Note the brick wall, the pillar just here, the building entrance and windows which all match. Gabch took a gamble and ran inside. In an incredible stroke of bad luck, the butcher shop was owned by a Nazi sympathizer named Franchichek Browner, whose brother actually worked for the Gestapo. But Anna immediately ran out into the streets shouting, attracting the attention of Klene, who was still giving chase and just approaching the junction.

 Gabchi quickly realized that the shop had no rear exit. So doubled back and almost literally ran right into his pursuer, who had taken cover at this pillar. In a chaotic wild west style firefight, Gabchic managed to shoot Klein in the left thigh and then force his way through the door, turn right, and back out onto Hollisher Street, the same road where Hydrish had been ambushed a couple of minutes earlier.

Reaching the bottom of the road here, he was spotted by Milada Matulova, who was sunbathing in her garden. He came running by from the street. How best to describe him? Rather short, staring eyes, a revolver in his hand pointing in front of him. His tie was flying in the wind. He was [music] out of breath.

 For a few seconds, he stopped there at the corner of our street, and it seemed to me he didn’t know where to go on running. Then he set off again, running down the hill along the street car tracks. Then he vanished amongst the surrounding gardens. He had, for now at least, escaped. So too had Kubish. Immediately after the attack, he cycled southward around one mile down Keshmeraza until he reached the suburb of Palmovka.

 here, bleeding from wounds to the face, chest, and hand caused by the detonation of his own grenade, he left his bloodstained bicycle outside the Bart shoe shop before staggering 300 yd to an apartment building in which Mrs. Novark lived. Luckily, she was home and immediately brought him inside. Knowing that the blood stained bicycle nearby was a major issue, she quickly sent her 14-year-old daughter out to retrieve it, which she did, but in doing so faced several inquiries from concerned passers by who thought she may have been in an accident. Whilst all

four agents had managed to disappear into the city, Hydrish was still at the junction, wounded but conscious, he was bundled into a passing tatra van loaded with floor polish and rushed to nearby Bulovka Hospital. Duty doctor Vladimir Schneider recalled the encounter. Hydrickch was alone in the room, stripped to the waist, sitting on a table where we carry out the first examination. I greeted him in check.

 He raised his hand but did not answer. I took four Epsom swabs and tried to see whether the wound was deep. He did not stir. He did not flinch, although it must have hurt him. At first sight, the wound did not seem dangerous, unfortunately. Further investigation by a German doctor revealed a 10x 5 cm wound in the left lower back, a collapsed lung, broken 11th left rib, ruptured diaphragm, and metal splinters lodged in his spleen.

The real danger, though it wouldn’t be clear for some time, was from the car’s upholstery, which had been dragged into his body by the blast. Despite the tremendous pain, Hydrickch remained conscious throughout, even walking to and from the X-ray machine. The immediate fallout in Prague was utterly brutal.

 Minister Carl Herman Frank declared martial law that very afternoon with all cinemas, restaurants, and theaters forced to shut as thousands of security personnel flooded into the city, which was effectively sealed off from the outside world. With this message printed on flyers and broadcast over the radio, a civilian state of emergency is imposed with immediate effect.

 Anyone who accommodates or provides assistance to persons involved will be shot dead with their family members. That first night alone, more than 8,000 personnel were involved in a methodical sweep across the city with 541 people arrested. The four key players all had close shaves with a pala being in a home as it was searched, only escaping by hiding in a broom cupboard.

 Though none of the agents were captured that night, one discovery did cause concern. A briefcase containing false identity papers was found at the home of a resistance member. Included amongst them, though with an incorrect first name, was an image of Yseph Valic. Distributed onto wanted posters with a reward of 100,000 crowns, Valic’s face was now to be seen around Prague.

 that the direct connection to the assassination attempt had not as yet been made. The German investigation into those events was rapid and extremely thorough with dozens of photographs taken from all angles. Every witness from the tram car interviewed along with the butcher and other passers by. Every piece of physical evidence was mapped and examined in minute detail and a whole series of reports produced to reconstruct events as best as possible.

As early as 9:00 a.m. on the 28th of May in the center of Prague, the Germans displayed much of the evidence left at the scene with detailed descriptions. Pale beige waterproof silk coat with light buttons. Two dark brown suitcases. One containing a dirty beige velour beret with labeler lab stores. Women’s bicycle motor J Kramer Tiplitzer.

Manufacturers number 40363. black rim wheels, 3/8 inch red stripes, ivory and red frame and forks, red handlebars, black hand grips, red brown saddle in good condition. Alongside it was this reward poster offering the massive sum of 10 million crowns, about $6 million in today’s money for information leading to the capture of the agents.

Despite the huge reward and lots of evidence, no new leads were forthcoming, though it wasn’t through lack of trying. In the days following the attack, over 21,000 German soldiers and local police were involved in searching thousands of homes on the trail of the would-be assassins.

 That constant searching did have an impact though. Feeling the mounting pressure, local resistance leader Yanzalinska decided that it would be better to move all the agents in the area into a single safe house. Approaching the dean of Prague Orthodox Church for help, he suggested the crypt of St. Sirill and St.

 At Matius Church on Rlo Street in the heart of the city between the 30th of May and the 1st of June, seven agents including Yan Kubish and Ysef Gabch arrived right here to take shelter in a place from which they would never leave. Above ground, the search intensified as the days went on with hundreds losing their lives.

 It seemed that all the agents had achieved thus far was to wound Hydrish and bring untold suffering to their countrymen. But what they didn’t know, in fact almost nobody knew, was the true condition of Reinard Hydrish. Since arriving at Bulofka Hospital, an entire floor had been cleared out for the rice protector, and no checks, doctors included, were allowed to see him.

 Hydrickch had undergone an operation to remove his spleen on the 27th of May, but since then had begun to deteriorate as infection took hold, very likely caused by the horseair and seat cushion material dragged into his wounds. They’d turned septic and despite multiple blood transfusions by 4:30 a.m. on the 4th of June, 8 days after the attack, Reinard Hydrish, the butcher of Prague, was dead.

 4 days later, following a torch lit procession through the streets of Prague and a return by train to Berlin, Hydrrich’s elaborate state funeral took place, attended by Hitler and all the leading Nazi party members. Originally buried under an ornate headstone in Berlin’s Invalid Fredov Cemetery, his grave was destroyed by occupying forces at the end of the war.

 And today, fittingly, the burial place of one of the most brutal war criminals at the Second World War is largely forgotten, identified only by this small stone plinth. Operation Anthropoid had been a success, but the story was far from over, and the repercussions to all of those involved would be enormous. But what of those seven agents hidden away in a Prague church crypt, betrayed by a countryman in the days to come, they would make a courageous last stand against overwhelming odds in one of the outstanding acts of defiance of the

Second World War. That powerful story is the subject of our very next video. Thanks for watching. If you enjoy content like this, be sure to check out our dedicated podcast, World War II: Both Sides of the Wire, where each week, our hosts, Professor Matias Stone and Jesse Alexander, explore famous episodes from the conflict from both the Allied and Axis perspectives.

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