Robert Gerwarth - Hitler’s Hangman: The Life of Heydrich

Copyright 2011 Robert Gerwarth

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gerwarth, Robert.

Hitler's hangman: the life and death of Reinhard Heydrich/Robert Gerwarth.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-300-11575-8 (hardback)

1. Heydrich, Reinhard, 19041942. 2. Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter-Partei. SchutzstaffelBiography. 3. NazisBiography. 4. GermanyPolitics and government19331945. 5. CzechoslovakiaPolitics and government19381945. I. Title.

DD247.H42G47 2011

943.086092dc22

[B]

2011013535

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For Porscha

Heydrich as chief of the Bavarian Political Police, 1934. Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz.

Heydrich's demolished car after the assassination, May 1942. Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz.

a) and b) The Heydrich assassins: Josef Gabk and Jan Kubi. Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz.

Reinhard's father, Bruno Heydrich c. 1940. Stadtarchiv Halle.

Young Reinhard and his sister Maria, c. 1910. Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz.

Heydrich as a naval officer cadet, 1924. Stadtarchiv Halle.

The Heydrich wedding, 1931. Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz.

Heinrich Himmler looks on as Heydrich and Karl Wolff depart from Himmler's home in Waltrudering, c. 1935. Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz.

Himmler, Heydrich and Kurt Daluege, c. 1935. Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz.

Heydrich talks to a delegation of German industrialists, c. 1935. Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz.

Heydrich, his sons Klaus and Heider and his newborn daughter Silke, 1939. Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz.

Heydrich looks on as Hitler observes the front line in Poland, 1939. Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz.

Heydrich in pilot gear during the Battle of Britain, 1940. Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz.

Himmler, Heydrich and Arthur Nebe confer after the failed attempt on Hitler's life, 1939. Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz.

Heydrich during a fencing tournament in Berlin, c. 1941. Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz.

Heydrich and Gring at the latter's birthday reception in January 1941. Bildarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz.

Heydrich, Rudolf Hess, Himmler and Fritz Todt listen as Professor Konrad Meyer explains his plans for German settlement in the East, March 1941. SZ archive.

Heydrich saltues as the SS flag is raised over Prague Castle on his arrival, September 1941. SZ archive.

Heydrich greets his former adjutant, Carl Albrecht Oberg, on his arrival in Paris, May 1942. SZ archive.

Himmler speaks at Heydrich's funeral, June 1942. SZ archive.

Maps

Germany, 1937.

German Reich, 1942.

Only a few months after the Nazis' seizure of power, Heydrich as head of the Bavarian Political Police where he and Himmler used their powers to incarcerate political opponents of the new regime in Dachau concentration camp.

Heydrich's demolished car after the assassination. The bomb struck the rear wheel of Heydrich's Mercedes convertible causing metal splinters and horse-hair from the upholstering to enter Heydrich's body. He died of blood-poisoning a few days later.

a) and b) The Heydrich assassins: Josef Gabk and Jan Kubi volunteered for a mission to be parachuted into the Nazi-occupied territories in 1941. After the assassination, both were betrayed and killed during the SS siege of their hide-out.

Reinhard's father, Bruno Heydrich, was an accomplished musician and composer, whose Conservatory in Halle was a flourishing family business until the First World War.

Young Reinhard and his sister Maria, c. 1910. The three Heydrich children Reinhard, Maria and Heinz Siegfried enjoyed a privileged childhood. Later in life, Reinhard and Maria had a falling out as he treated his family with disdain.

Heydrich as a naval officer cadet, 1924. During his time in the German navy Heydrich remained an outsider, but his career seemed to thrive until, in 1931, he was dismissed from military service due to a broken engagement promise and arrogant behaviour towards the military court of honour.

The Heydrich wedding, 1931. By the time Reinhard Heydrich married his fiance, Lina von Osten, he had embarked on a new career path in the SS. Lina had a crucial influence on his decision to join the SS.

Heinrich Himmler looks on as Heydrich and Himmler's personal adjutant, Karl Wolff, depart after a birthday party at Himmler's Bavarian home in Waltrudering. No other figure except his wife had a greater impact on Heydrich's career than the Reich Leader SS, Heinrich Himmler. Their personal relationship was close and Heydrich rose steadily in Himmler's shadow.

The Hunters: Himmler, Heydrich and the chief of the uniformed German Order Police, Kurt Daluege, shared a passion for deer-hunting. The three men represent the key institutions in charge of repression and mass murder in the Third Reich: the SS, the SD, the Gestapo, and the Order Police.