Jan Kubiš (24 June 1913 – 18 June 1942) was a Czechoslovakian paratrooper who assassinated SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich, acting Reichsprotektor (Realm-Protector) of Bohemia and Moravia.
Elimination of Heydrich[]
Kubiš was dropped into Czechoslovakia along with his friend Jozef Gabčík to assassinate Reinhard Heydrich, who murdered more than two million people by shooting or gassing. Arriving in Prague, Kubiš learned the route that Heydrich's driver would take to transfer him to Occupied France and planned the assassination. A junction where Heydrich would have to slow for a hairpin bend was chosen and the attack took place at 10:30 am on 27 May 1942. When Heydrich's car passed, Gabčík tried to open fire but his Sten gun jammed. Heydrich chose to confront the would-be assassins and told his driver, Oberscharführer Klein, to stop the car and Kubiš threw a bomb at the car, effectively paralysing Heydrich's left side. Kubiš himself suffered minor injuries to his face before escaping on his bike. Klein jumped out of the car to chase Kubiš and Gabčík shot Klein in the leg. Heydrich was taken to Bulovka Hospital, where he later died.
Death[]
Kubiš and his group were found on 18 June in the Church of St Cyril and St Methodious in Resslova Street in Prague. In a bloody battle that lasted for six hours, Kubiš was seriously wounded by a grenade and was found unconscious. Heinz Pannwitz, the German detective charged with capturing at least one of the perpetrators alive, later recalled his death:
"He had tried to use poison on himself but apparently lost consciousness before he could do so. Although he was immediately transferred to the hospital none of the doctors’ attempts to keep him alive succeeded. He died within twenty minutes."
The other parachutists committed suicide to avoid capture after an additional four-hour battle with the SS.