Prague is not only admired for its fairytale architecture and lively nightlife — it is also a city marked by the scars and stories of the Czechoslovak resistance during World War II. At the heart of this history stands Operation Anthropoid, the daring mission that assassinated Reinhard Heydrich. Today, visitors can join WW2 Czechoslovak Resistance Tours and walk the same streets where heroes fought and sacrificed their lives for freedom.
The Mission
On May 27, 1942, two Czechoslovak paratroopers, Jozef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš, carried out a mission that stunned the Nazi regime. Trained in Britain and sent by the Czechoslovak government-in-exile, their target was Reinhard Heydrich — Hitler’s feared “Butcher of Prague.” Though Gabčík’s weapon jammed, Kubiš’s grenade fatally wounded Heydrich, striking at the core of Nazi power in occupied Czechoslovakia.
The Reprisals
The Nazi retaliation was ruthless. The village of Lidice was erased from the map: 173 men were shot, women were deported, and 82 children were murdered in gas vans. Thousands of patriots were executed at Mauthausen concentration camp, and the resistance network suffered devastating losses. Yet, despite this brutality, Operation Anthropoid became the defining act of defiance in Czechoslovakia’s wartime struggle.
The Final Stand
On June 18, 1942, Gabčík, Kubiš, and their comrades made their last stand in the crypt of the Church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Prague. Surrounded by hundreds of SS troops, the resistance fighters fought for hours before choosing death over capture. Today, the crypt is preserved as a moving memorial to their ultimate sacrifice.
Walking in Their Footsteps
With WW2 Czechoslovak Resistance Tours, visitors can explore these powerful historic sites:
- Heydrich’s Curve in Libeň – the ambush location
- Cyril and Methodius Cathedral – last hideout of the paratroopers
- Lidice Memorial – a destroyed village turned symbol of Nazi cruelty
- Mass Grave at Ďáblice Cemetery – final resting place of executed patriots
Each stop transforms history from distant memory into a vivid, emotional experience.
Why It Matters
Operation Anthropoid was not just a military action — it was a declaration of Czechoslovak national pride. It proved that even in the darkest days of Nazi occupation, resistance was possible. For today’s visitors, these tours are a chance to reflect on the extraordinary price of freedom and the courage of those who refused to surrender.
Experience the Story in Prague
Join Operation Anthropoid – WW2 Czechoslovak Resistance Tours for a guided journey through Prague’s most important wartime sites. Led by licensed local patriots, these tours bring history to life with powerful storytelling and original locations.
Walking in their footsteps is more than sightseeing — it is an emotional journey into courage, sacrifice, and the unbreakable spirit of the Czechoslovak resistance.
