One of a team of British-trained agents sent by the Czechoslovak government in exile in London during World War 2 to assassinate SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Reinhard Heydrich who was the Nazi in command of Prague and Bohemia. His savagery and ruthlessness in suppressing the population earned him the name of "The Butcher of Prague".

The team was Adolf Opalka (the leader), Josef Valcik, Jan Kubis and Josef Gabchik. Heydrich's car, driven by SS-Oberscharfuhrer Klein, had to slow down to take a sharp bend where the Czech team waited. As the car approached, Gabchik took aim and pulled the trigger of his Sten, but the gun failed and did not fire. Klein, believing Gabchik to be alone, stopped to shoot at him. Kubis then threw an anti-tank grenade at the car. This exploded and severely wounded Heydrich.

Heydrich later died of his wounds.

The team then took refuge at the Orthodox Church of Sts Cyril and Methodius in Resslova Street, Prague, but the information wrung out other resistance members gave away the hiding-place. On June 18th 1942 the Germans surrounded the church. The soldiers attacked, but they were held off for fourteen hours by the seven parachutists. When all hope was lost they all committed suicide.

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