The Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich: Hitler's 'Blond Beast'
The article from NZZ Feuilleton examines the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, a prominent Nazi official often referred to as Hitler's 'blond beast'. Heydrich was one of the main architects of the Holocaust, chairing the Wannsee Conference in 1942. The piece draws a parallel between Heydrich's assassination and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, noting that Lincoln is revered as a national saint in the United States for abolishing slavery and preserving the Union. The article's title references a quote, 'God made me the instrument of his punishment', which is attributed to an actor who assassinated a president, likely John Wilkes Booth, though the article seems to conflate or compare these events. The summary focuses on the historical significance of Heydrich's death and its portrayal in the article.
Key facts
- Reinhard Heydrich was a key Nazi official, often called Hitler's 'blond beast'.
- Heydrich was assassinated, and the article discusses the end of his life.
- The article draws a comparison between Heydrich's assassination and that of Abraham Lincoln.
- Lincoln is described as coming from nothing, abolishing slavery, and holding the United States together.
- Lincoln is still revered as a national saint in the United States.
- The article is published by NZZ Feuilleton.
- The title references a quote about being an instrument of punishment.
- The article likely discusses the broader context of political assassinations.
Entities
Institutions
- NZZ Feuilleton