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Heydrich: Holocaust, the "Final Solution" | Beyond the Myth | Ep. 3 | Documentary

criminals and crime fighters・29 minutes read

Nazi SS General Reinhard Heydrich, known as the "Butcher of Prague," orchestrated the Holocaust in retaliation for an assassination attempt on his life, leading to the mass murder of innocent people. Heydrich's dual nature as a cultured individual and ruthless Nazi leader highlights the complexities of Nazi leadership during World War II.

Insights

  • Heydrich's rise within the SS and his orchestration of the Holocaust demonstrate the dual nature of his character, combining ruthless efficiency in professional life with a softer, cultured side in private, showcasing the complexities of Nazi leadership during World War II.
  • The assassination of Heydrich by Czech gunmen leads to brutal Nazi retaliation, including the destruction of a village, mass executions, and the germanization or extermination of children, highlighting the extreme measures taken by the Nazis in response to resistance and the tragic consequences of such actions.

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  • Who was Reinhard Heydrich?

    A high-ranking Nazi official during World War II.

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Summary

00:00

SS General Reinhard Heydrich: The Butcher's Legacy

  • Berlin, June 9th, 1942: Nazi VIPs attend the funeral of SS General Reinhard Heydrich, known as the "Butcher of Prague."
  • Heydrich, Hitler's governor in Czechoslovakia, survives an assassination attempt by Czech gunmen in Prague.
  • In retaliation, over 1,000 innocent people are murdered, leading to the Holocaust, orchestrated by Heydrich.
  • Heydrich's life takes a turn after being dishonorably discharged from the Navy in 1931, pushing him towards the SS.
  • Heydrich rises quickly within the SS, becoming head of the political department in Bavaria and later the secret state police in Prussia.
  • Heydrich merges party and state, creating a system of fear and violence to secure Hitler's rule.
  • Heydrich's focus on anti-Semitism leads to the forced immigration of Jews, with the SS driving the process.
  • Heydrich's personal life includes a family, a love for German culture, and a passion for sports, particularly fencing and sailing.
  • Heydrich's ruthless efficiency in his professional life contrasts with his softer side in private, enjoying music and sports.
  • Heydrich's dual nature as a cold strategist and a cultured individual highlights the complexities of Nazi leadership during World War II.

23:28

Heydrich's Role in Holocaust and WWII

  • Heydrich is drawn to the mountains, attending the Greater German Alpine Ski championships and taking pictures with winners.
  • September 1st, 1939 marks the invasion of Poland, a turning point in Heydrich's career as Hitler triumphs and brings Danzig to the Reich.
  • Heydrich, aware of Hitler's plans, shows no empathy for the Poles, sending Einsatzgruppen to wipe out elites in Poland.
  • Heydrich establishes the Reich Security main office in Berlin, coordinating mass murders in the East.
  • Heydrich initiates the establishment of ghettos in Poland, marking a crucial step towards the Holocaust.
  • Plans for deporting Jews to Madagascar are considered but abandoned due to logistical challenges.
  • Heydrich receives the order to work out a final solution to the Jewish question, leading to Operation Barbarossa as a war of extermination.
  • Heydrich's einsatzgruppen conduct mass murders in the East, targeting mainly Jewish men initially.
  • The Wannsee Conference in January 1942 solidifies the plan to deport 11 million Jews from Europe for forced labor or immediate murder.
  • Heydrich becomes Deputy Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia, implementing anti-Jewish policies and tightening control over the protectorate.

45:16

Assassination of Heydrich: Brave Soldiers, Brutal Retaliation

  • On the evening of May 26th, the last photo of Heydrich alive is taken before he plans to leave for Berlin and Paris at 10 am the next morning. Heydrich says goodbye to his family and leaves without an escort, convinced that no one would dare to harm him due to the fear of a severe punitive expedition by the Czechoslovakian Army in Exile.
  • Two soldiers, Kubish and Gabcik, trained in Great Britain for Special Operations in Hitler's Europe, successfully stop Heydrich's car and detonate a grenade, severely wounding him. Heydrich initially seems to recover but dies a week later from sepsis due to the lack of strong antibiotics in Nazi Germany.
  • The aftermath of Heydrich's assassination includes brutal retaliation by the Nazis, with a village near Prague being destroyed, 173 men shot on the spot, and children either germanized or sent to gas chambers. The assassins hide in a church in Prague, where they ultimately choose to commit suicide rather than face torture, becoming enduring symbols of Czech resistance.
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