Anthropoid and Prague - Then and Now.

Discussion in 'WW2 Battlefields Today' started by Jonathan Ball, Apr 8, 2023.

  1. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    First day of an Easter trip to Prague and it didn’t disappoint.
    First thing this morning we caught the No. 3 tram out of the city up to Liben in Prague 8 to the site of the ambush of the Mercedes carrying SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich, Acting Protector of Bohemia and Moravia in what is today’s Czech Republic. As most of you know will know that when the Sten gun of Jozef Gabčík jammed it was the adapted anti-tank grenade thrown by Jan Kubiš which ultimately did for Heydrich.

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    we then followed the flight from of Jozef Gabčík from the scene as he was pursued by Heydrich’s driver, SS-Oberscharführer Johannes Klein. The roads have now very fittingly been renamed after Gabčik, Kubiš and the man whose mirror caught the sun, Josef Valčík.

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    At the junction of Gabčíkova and Pomezni, Gabčik ran in to a butchers shop. The butcher, a known Nazi sympathiser called Brauner ran out to alert the pursuing Klein as to where Gabčik had gone. In the ensuing exchange of fire, Gabčik shot Klein in the leg before making good his escape. This is the location of that Butchers shop, then and now.

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    Back to the scene of the ambush. As you can see, the road layout is much changed from that of 1942.

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    The memorials at the site today.

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    An excellent set of orientation panels for todays visitor at the site.

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    And finally, some of the Anthropoid murals at the neighbouring Tram Stop at Vychovatena.

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    Last edited: Apr 10, 2023
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  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    You know I'm slightly Then & Now cynical (other than Stug/Skip ones), but fantastic background preservation on the first two.
    'Graffiti' very good too.
     
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  3. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    We then took the Tram back in to town to visit St Cyril and St Methodus church where the seven Czechoslovakian Parachutists were hidden. First we went in to the church itself. Views here are of the steps up on to the balcony which was barricaded by the three men on watch, as seen below (L-R) Adolf Opálka, Jan Kubiš and Jaroslav Švarc.

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    Secondly, to the right above the alter is the section of the balcony the three men were firing from. Thirdly, and now hidden under the rugs you can make out the position of the stone slab which the Germans blew up to gain access to the crypt below. The three brave Czechs held out for just under three hours before their resistance came to an end.

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    Last edited: Apr 9, 2023
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  4. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    So from the church we moved in to the beautifully preserved Crypt, now a fitting (and totally free to enter) museum and memorial. The four men who held out down there were as seen below (L-R) Josef Valčik, Josef Bublik, Jan Hruby and Josef Gabčik.

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    Again, their story is well known but I found visiting the Crypt to be deeply moving. This is the vent that they fired out from as the SS attempted to first smoke and then flood them out from the street outside.

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    The hole they began to dig through the wall of the crypt to reach a sewer on the other side.

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    the stone hatch which was the only access to the crypt before the Germans blew the stone slab up. The first SS soldier lowered through it on a rope was shot by the 4 men below.

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    Once the Germans blew the stone slab they discovered these steps down in to the crypt. As the SS came down they met a hail of fire from the four.

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    The four men held out for around four hours until at noon the Germans heard four shots ring out and then silence. Each of the four took his own life with his final round
    The seven are all remembered in the crypt.

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    A then and now of the failed attempt to smoke the four out of the crypt. They pushed the pipe back out from the ladder they had in the crypt.

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    Another then and now of the fire hoses pushed through the vent to flood the Parachutists in the Crypt.


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    The bodies of some of the Czechoslovakian Parachutists laid out on the pavement opposite the church, then and now.


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    SS-Brigadefuhrer Karl von Treuenfeldt’s unit pose for a victory photograph on the pavement of Resslova Street outside the church, then and now.

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    The bullet-riddled vent to the Crypt which opens on to Resslova Street now marks a few memorial to Czechoslovakian Patriotism.


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    To close this particular post on the thread, we remember seven unbelievably brave men..

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    Last edited: Apr 9, 2023
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  5. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    The Gestapo Headquarters at the Petschek Palace in Prague. In the cellar were the cells used to interrogate and torture all Czechoslovakians suspected of aiding the resistance during the occupation. The memorial on the wall reads:

    During the Nazi occupation, this building housed the torture chambers of the Gestapo.
    Fighters for the freedom of our homeland fought, suffered and died here.
    We will never forget their memories and will always remain true to their legacy.
    People wake up!

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    Last edited: Apr 9, 2023
  6. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    The Wehrmacht on Wenceslas Square then, on 1 March 1939 and now.

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  7. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    The Old Town Square, then and now. Interesting to note that the Baroque facade on the middle building was removed after the war to reveal the original 15th century gothic facade.

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  8. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    1945. The end.
    A Hetzer on the Old Town Square, then and now.

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  9. EmpireUmpire

    EmpireUmpire .........

    Wonderful photos - thank you for taking the time to upload them.

    One point I would like to make - Jozef Gabcik was Slovak not Czech.

    Regards
     
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  10. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Mea culpa!
    You’re absolutely correct and I’ve edited the posts to reflect that point.
     
  11. EmpireUmpire

    EmpireUmpire .........

    Forgive my intrusion into your thread - A couple of images from my visit to the church some years ago.

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    Cheers
     
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  12. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Prague under the Jackboot, then and now at the Astronomical clock.

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  13. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    Brilliant JB thanks for sharing.
     
  14. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Heydrich and Karl Frank at Hradcany Castle on 28 September 1941. The day Heydrich assumed command of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, then and now.

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  15. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler at the entrance to Hradcany Castle in October 1941, then and now. To the left of Himmler is Reinhard Heydrich. After moving into his office at the castle, Heydrich vowed to “Germanize the Czech vermin.”
    He failed. Miserably.

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  16. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Hitler at Hradcany Castle. 15 March 1939. Then and now.

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  17. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Panzer Mk II’s on Wenceslas Square marking Hitler’s 50th Birthday on 20 April 1939, then and now.

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    Last edited: Apr 9, 2023
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  18. Tomkil

    Tomkil Junior Member

    Some super images and I agree the first two are remarkable. I'd never have imagined the building in the background was contemporaneous. Looks much more like something knocked up in the 60s Curious about the Then and Now cynicism though - is that because the comparisons pics are usually so much less remarkable?
     
  19. EmpireUmpire

    EmpireUmpire .........

    The one with Hitler in the window is superb, one can almost see him stood there in the "now" photo.
     
  20. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    As a follow on from the above parade of Panzer MKII’s to mark Hitler’s 50th birthday, a further then and now taken at Prašná brána, (Powder Gate Tower).

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