The Anthropoid Operation Memorial

The Operation Anthropoid Memorial is a nine-metre monument standing at the junction of Zenklova and V Holešovičkách streets in Prague's Libeň district (Prague 8). It marks the exact spot where, on 27 May 1942, Czechoslovak paratroopers carried out the assassination attempt on acting Reich Protector Reinhard Heydrich.

What happened at this exact spot?

At 10:35 a.m. on 27 May 1942, Reinhard Heydrich was being driven in an open-top Mercedes from his residence at Panenské Břežany towards Prague Castle. Coming from Kobylisy along what was then Kirchmayer Avenue (today's Zenklova), the car reached a sharp bend just before the junction with V Holešovičkách, forcing the driver to slow down. That single detail made the location the only viable ambush point on the route: two paratroopers of the London-based Czechoslovak government-in-exile, Jan Kubiš and Josef Gabčík, were waiting there. The attack succeeded — Heydrich died of his injuries on 4 June 1942.

What does the monument look like?

The memorial takes the shape of a triangular wedge echoing the outline of the Czech flag. Its surfaces are treated to resemble corroding metal, evoking a state torn apart and destroyed. At the top edge, nine metres above the ground, three bronze figures stand in an almost suicidal pose, capturing how dangerous and irreversible the mission was. They represent an English soldier, a Czechoslovak soldier, and a civilian — the civilian figure a reminder that the operation's success also depended on ordinary Prague residents who sheltered and helped the paratroopers. The design was chosen through a public competition and created by four artists and architects: David Moješčík, Michal Šmeral, Miroslava Tůmová, and Jiří Gulbis.

When was the memorial built and unveiled?

The foundation stone, cut from Sedlčany granite by academic sculptor Josef Vajce, was laid on 27 May 2008. The completed monument was unveiled exactly one year later, on 27 May 2009, at 10:35 a.m. — the same minute, 67 years on, as the attack it commemorates.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The monument stands in upper Libeň, on a rebuilt, multi-level junction of Zenklova and V Holešovičkách streets, close to the branch onto Liberecká street leading to the D8 motorway. The nearest public transport stops — a tram stop on Zenklova and a bus stop on V Holešovičkách — share the same name, Vychovatelna, right next to the memorial.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Operation Anthropoid Memorial? At the junction of Zenklova and V Holešovičkách streets in Prague-Libeň (Prague 8), on the site of the historic bend on the former Kirchmayer Avenue.

Who created the memorial? It was designed by David Moješčík, Michal Šmeral, Miroslava Tůmová, and Jiří Gulbis, winners of a public design competition.

Why does the memorial show three figures? They represent an English soldier, a Czechoslovak soldier, and a civilian — a reminder that the success of the attack on Heydrich relied on both trained paratroopers and the help of Prague's residents.

When was the memorial unveiled? On 27 May 2009 at 10:35 a.m., exactly 67 years to the minute after the assassination attempt on Reinhard Heydrich took place at this location.

How do you reach the memorial by public transport? The easiest way is by tram or bus to the Vychovatelna stop, located directly at the junction where the monument stands.