The skydiving recalled Operation Anthropoid. It has its 80th anniversary this year
Parachute jump on the 80th anniversary of Operation Anthropoid in Prague (June 18, 2022).
| photo:
Michal Růžička,
MAFRA
This ceremony marked the beginning of events for the public in the capital, referring to Czechoslovak paratroopers who assassinated the Reich Protector Reinhard Heydrich during World War II.
Three paratroopers jumped from a helicopter from a height of 1000 meters. After a five-second free fall, they parachuted the parachutes and flags of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Great Britain. After a few moments, experienced paratroopers jumped to the marked place in Zítkovy sady.
On Saturday, Praguers and visitors to the capital will find a full-day event on Charles Square, as well as a traditional act of reverence at the Orthodox Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Prague’s Resslova Street.
With the participation of politicians, a service was held in the church from 10:00. In addition to Petr Fiala and Jana Černochová, House Speakers Markéta Pekarová Adamová and the Director of the Security Information Service Michal Koudelka also lit candles for the paratroopers.
It was in the crypt of this church that the Gestapo found their shelter 80 years ago. Some paratroopers fell after a brave fight with the Nazi superiority, others chose voluntary death.
Jan Hrubý, Jaroslav Švarc, Josef Valčík, Jozef Gabčík, Adolf Opálka, Jan Kubiš and Josef Bublík died in the church. The paratroopers of the Anthropoid paratroopers, who were sent from London to help the domestic resistance and were tasked with assassinating the deputy imperial protector Heydrich, arrived in the Protectorate in December 1941. The assassination was carried out by Kubiš and Gabčík.
Heydrich, who was sent to Prague to break the domestic anti-Nazi resistance and prepare plans to liquidate the entire Czech nation, was attacked on May 27, 1942. Heydrich died as a result of the June 4 assassination.
The Czechoslovak Legionary Community and Prague 2, with the support of the Ministry of Defense, are also organizing an all-day event on Charles Square, where a period military camp will be set up with presentation training and equipment for Czechoslovak paratroopers and ground forces in the United Kingdom. The camp will be open from 09:30 to 19:00, after noon there will be a series of annotated demonstrations.