Czechoslovakia, a vital European economy, was dismantled by Nazi Germany. The Sudetenland was annexed, and the rest of the nation became the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. Hitler replaced Reichsprotektor Konstantin von Neurath with Reinhard Heydrich in September 1941 due to unmet production quotas. Known as the "Butcher of Prague," Heydrich imposed martial law, leading to widespread arrests and executions.

In response, the Czechoslovak government-in-exile, led by Edvard Beneš, devised Operation Anthropoid to assassinate Heydrich. Josef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš, members of the exiled Czech Army trained by the British Special Operations Executive, parachuted into Czechoslovakia on 29 December 1941. Despite Heydrich’s suppression of the Czech resistance, local supporters assisted them.

On 27 May 1942, Gabčík and Kubiš attacked Heydrich as his car slowed at a bend. Gabčík’s Sten gun jammed, but Kubiš’s grenade wounded Heydrich. Though they escaped, Heydrich died eight days later.