The assassins of Reinhard Heydrich, Jan Kubiš and Jozef Gabčík, did not escape to Switzerland or another safe country after their successful assassination of the high-ranking Nazi official in Prague for several reasons rooted in their mission, geography, and the wartime realities of occupied Europe.
1. Their Mission and Patriotism
Kubiš and Gabčík were Czech and Slovak resistance fighters trained by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) to carry out Operation Anthropoid, the assassination of Heydrich.
Their mission was not only to eliminate Heydrich but also to inspire resistance within Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia and demonstrate that the exiled Czechoslovak government was actively fighting against the Nazis.
Escaping to Switzerland or another neutral country would have contradicted their sense of duty. They were committed to staying in Czechoslovakia to continue their resistance efforts if possible.
2. Geography and Logistical Challenges
Distance to Switzerland: Prague is located hundreds of kilometers from the Swiss border. Traveling to Switzerland through Nazi-occupied territory would have been extremely risky and required crossing multiple heavily monitored borders.
Intense Nazi Surveillance: After the assassination on May 27, 1942, the Nazis launched one of the most extensive manhunts of the war, sealing off transportation routes and conducting mass searches. Escaping under such circumstances would have been nearly impossible.
Limited Escape Options: Unlike modern operations, the assassins had no established escape route or safe house in Switzerland. Their escape plan relied on the support of local resistance networks within occupied Czechoslovakia.
3. Immediate Aftermath of the Assassination
Gabčík and Kubiš had to go into immediate hiding after the attack, as they were already being hunted by Nazi forces.
They sought refuge with local resistance members and moved between safe houses in Prague and its surroundings. The network of local supporters provided them with shelter, but they lacked the resources to facilitate an escape to Switzerland or another neutral country.
4. The Repercussions of Nazi Retaliation
Following Heydrich’s death on June 4, 1942, Nazi reprisals were swift and brutal. Entire villages, such as Lidice and Ležáky, were destroyed, and thousands of Czech civilians were arrested or executed.
This retaliation increased the pressure on the resistance network and made it even more difficult for the assassins to move freely.
5. The Betrayal and Final Stand
Despite their efforts to remain hidden, Kubiš, Gabčík, and several other resistance fighters were eventually betrayed by a fellow resistance member, Karel Čurda, who informed the Gestapo of their location.
On June 18, 1942, Nazi forces surrounded the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Prague, where the assassins were hiding. After a fierce firefight, Kubiš was mortally wounded, and Gabčík and others took their own lives to avoid capture.