Structure and Logic of the Bio of Heydrich

The structure of this book is a bit unusual for a bio. My background is in investment banking (corporate finance), so the book begins with Executive Summary that provides key information on life and personality of Reinhard Heydrich. Executive Summary is followed by Timeline that presents key events in his life and times.

Timeline is followed by twelve chapters of the book core. The first chapter describes the essence of Reinhard Heydrich: he was an evil genius par excellence; serial mass-murderer (mission-oriented serial killer); the national-sociopath; the Soldier of the Reich… and the CEO of a diabolical “Holocaust Project”.

The second chapter describes his childhood and youth; the third chapter – his brief service in the Kriegsmarine; the fourth chapter – his security service in the SS (from Ic to RSHA).

The fifth chapter deals with serial mass murders committed by Einsatzgruppen – the brainchild of Reinhard Heydrich – in occupied Poland.  It covers Operation Tannenberg; Intelligenzaktion; AB-Aktion and other mass murders.

The sixth chapter is devoted to Heydrich’s activities as Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia (contrary to a popular misconception, he was no “Butcher of Prague” – neither was he “Hitler’s Hangman”). Although he did commit war crimes and crimes against humanity to earn hangman’s noose… alas, he was never tried.

The seventh chapter is the central one – it describes in sufficient detail Heydrich’s activities as the CEO of the diabolical “Holocaust Project” (actually, of the Special Project Vehicle created unofficially to implement the Final Solution).

It describes the whole project – from the decision to murder all male Jews of military age in the Wehrmacht-occupied Soviet territories (made and approved in April of 1941) to commencement of Operation Reinhard right after Wannsee Conference (another brainchild of Reinhard Heydrich).

The following two chapters (eight and nine) cover the personal life of Reinhard Heydrich – as a husband, father and a sportsman. The tenth chapter is devoted to Heydrich’s brief frontline service as a Luftwaffe fighter pilot.

The eleventh chapter covers the attack on Heydrich in Prague and his murder (two separate events) and the twelfth chapter describes the aftermath – “Holocaust Project” after the death of Heydrich.

The book ends with Conclusions, Appendices and Bibliography.