Národní památník hrdinů heydrichiády
A free memorial in the crypt of the Church of Sts Cyril and Methodius on Resslova Street, with an exhibition on the assassination of Heydrich and the paratroopers’ fight in 1942.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The memorial is located in the crypt of the Orthodox Church of Sts Cyril and Methodius on Resslova Street. After the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, seven Czechoslovak paratroopers hid in the church and the crypt for 21 nights; on 18 June 1942 they fought their last battle there. Traces of gunfire and of an attempt to dig an escape route into the sewers can still be seen in the crypt.
The memorial was founded in 1995 by the couple Jaroslav and Eva Šuvarský. Since 2017 it has been managed by the Military History Institute Prague; the building is owned by the City of Prague. A new exhibition was opened on 18 June 2022 for the 80th anniversary of the events. It covers the period from the Munich Agreement through the Protectorate and the rise of Heydrich to Operation Anthropoid and the fight in the church and crypt. It also commemorates the resistance of the Sokol movement and the help given to the paratroopers by members of the Orthodox Church.
The exhibition displays original objects and period audiovisual materials, with texts in Czech and English. In the crypt stand busts of the seven paratroopers by the sculptor Milan Benda, with their biographies. The memorial is a place of commemoration; there is also a lecture hall with a projector.
Highlights
- The crypt, where the Czechoslovak paratroopers hid and fought in June 1942
- Exhibition on Operation Anthropoid with original objects and period footage
- Busts of the seven paratroopers by Milan Benda, with their biographies
- Entry and guided tours free of charge
- Texts in Czech and English
Permanent exhibition
- Expozice Národního památníku hrdinů heydrichiády – The exhibition follows the period from the Munich Agreement through the Protectorate and Operation Anthropoid to the fight in the church and crypt, with original objects and period audiovisual materials.
- Founded
- 1995
- Operated by
- Vojenský historický ústav Praha
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission and guided tours led by a guide from the Military History Institute are free of charge.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kids
The memorial is a place of commemoration; school programmes are offered mainly to pupils of primary and secondary schools.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Karlovo náměstí
Metro line B, Karlovo náměstí station; trams 2, 3, 6, 14, 18, 22, 23 and 24, Karlovo náměstí stop; trams 5 and 17, Jiráskovo náměstí stop.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours for schools (mainly primary and secondary) take place from Tuesday to Friday, 9:00–16:00, and include a short video, an explanation of the memorial’s history, a tour of the exhibition and a moment of silence in the crypt; they are booked through the reservation system. Tours are not offered to individuals and do not include entry to the church, which is managed by the Orthodox Church. |
