Gabcik

Do I detect a note of --- could it be sarcasm? --- in this comment? I cannot now remember if this important fact is even mentioned in the film. Historically, however, it is essential that we remember that the assassination was a joint Czech and Slovak operation. Czechoslovakia was one country during the war and up to the 1990s, when it split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The village of Gabcíkovo in southern Slovakia is named after Gabcik, and one of the biggest dams on the Danube next to the village is named after the village. Jozef Gabcik's name was also given to the 5th special forces regiment of Jozef Gabcík, part of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, based in Žilina.

Again, none of this is mentioned in the film. I have been to the Cathedral of Cyril and Methodius where Kubis and Gabcik held their last desperate stand, saving their last bullets for themselves. Here I also saw the photographs of Gabcik and Kubis in death.

Their grave has recently been discovered. They were buried with fellow patriots, but also with collaborators and Nazis. I think there is a movement to see them reburied more fittingly.

Heydrich was a monster. In January of the year he was assassinated he had taken part in the Wannsee Conference, which plotted the "final solution" of the Jews. Even if his violent death led to horrendous reprisals, the razing of Lidice and another village and the deaths of hundreds of Czechs and Slovaks, Gabcik and Kubis are still remembered as heroes.

Well, it does. It shows that the assassins of Heydrich represented the whole country. It's a long time since I read the book, but I seem to recall that their British instructors (in Scotland?), or perhaps the Czechoslovak-Governent-in-exile, thought it important that both Czechs and Slovaks were represented in the suicidal mission.

On my first visit to Prague, many years ago now, I visited the church where the whole group held out and killed themselves as the Fire Brigade, under Nazi orders, flooded the church. There is no formal museum, but I was shown the photographs, in death, of all members of the group.

Then there was Lidice, of course, and other horrors.

Heydrich's widow lived out her days comfortably off her pension on an island in the north of Germany.

I have also visited the building in Berlin where the Wannsee conference was held. Heydrich was one of the leading Nazis present as plans for the "final solution" were drawn up.

Pieces of metal from his car lodged in his body. He suffered for several days and died in agony.