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Jimmy Lee is Currently Reading

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The Killing of Reinhard Heydrich: The SS Butcher of Prague

by Callum A. MacDonald

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Jimmy Lee said: " Years ago, I watched a movie called "Operation Daybreak," which I now know to be a somewhat romanticized telling of Operation Anthropoid. I had just a basic grasp of World War II events at the time, but I thought the basis for the film sounded like a Years ago, I watched a movie called "Operation Daybreak," which I now know to be a somewhat romanticized telling of Operation Anthropoid. I had just a basic grasp of World War II events at the time, but I thought the basis for the film sounded like an incredibly compelling story. When the movie appeared on TCM a few months ago, I picked this up.

Author MacDonald has put together a well-researched and detailed background on Heydrich - an ideal target for assassination from many different perspectives. Reinhard Heydrich's strategic and effective persecution of the native population of Czechoslovakia was repressive in the extreme. As a rising star in the SS, his ability to gain consensus amongst rival Nazi organizations regardless of goal, and of course his development of the Final Solution, made Heydrich an appallingly ruthless Nazi who appeared to have a brilliant future helping the Third Reich be successful. He had even, thus far, been able to navigate the changing winds of Hitler's moods and those of his direct and general staff successfully.

More importantly, though, we learn of the politics on the other side. Primarily, there's the Czechoslovakian government in absentia, struggling for necessary - but not readily available - recognition on the world stage, while balancing the need to keep the communist party, ever ready to gain a foothold, at arm's length. Meanwhile, Soviet Russia, just hit by Operation Barbarossa, would happily take help from anywhere, and perhaps the Czech government could gain more prestige/that desired recognition by giving them information - if they had any to give - about the Nazis.

It all adds up to a perfect storm of underground activity and a fascinating story, not just lending insight into the political chess game, but also the nightmare of basic logistics, of immature wartime intelligence, and so many lives lost at the expense of the greater goal. At the end of the day, it's a story of great men and small men, heroes and traitors - and although we will never understand the motives, at least we will have a better understanding of the actions.

My De Capo edition came with photos, of very poor quality. But that's the only issue I have - MacDonald had detailed notes on every source, an explanation and log of all Czech mission codes, and an acronym list. Exceptional. ...more "

Jan 11, 2022 09:58AM · see review