OPERATION ANTHROPOID Meaning and
Definition
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Operation Anthropoid was a World War II mission undertaken by Czechoslovak exiled soldiers with the objective of assassinating Reinhard Heydrich, one of the highest-ranking Nazi officials. The operation took place in Prague, Czechoslovakia from December 1941 to May 1942. The codename "Anthropoid" was derived from the Greek words "anthropos" meaning man and "eidos" meaning form or shape, symbolizing the mission's aim to target an influential figure.
The plan involved parachuting a team of Czechoslovak agents, Jan Kubiš and Jozef Gabčík, into Prague where they would carry out the assassination. On May 27, 1942, the agents, armed with grenades and machine guns, ambushed Heydrich's car. Gabčík's first attempt failed but Kubiš managed to mortally wound Heydrich with a grenade before the agents fled the scene. Despite the successful assassination, the operation evoked a brutal retaliation by the Nazis, resulting in massive manhunts, reprisal killings, and the destruction of Lidice, a Czech village. It is worth noting that Operation Anthropoid is considered one of the most audacious and significant resistance actions against the Nazi regime during World War II.
Operation Anthropoid holds historical importance not only for its mission's outcome but also for its impact on Czechoslovakia and the broader European resistance movement. It serves as a symbol of bravery and resistance against oppression, highlighting the determination of those opposed to the Nazi regime and their efforts to undermine it.
Etymology of OPERATION ANTHROPOID
The word "operation anthropoid" is not derived from a specific etymology. It is a phrase that combines two distinct elements: "operation" and "anthropoid".
1. Operation: The word "operation" derives from Latin "operatio", which means "a working, operation, activity". It entered English through Old French "operacion" and has been used in various contexts to refer to planned activities or actions, particularly those related to a specific purpose or goal.
2. Anthropoid: The word "anthropoid" comes from Greek "ánthrōpos" (human) and "eidḗs" (form, shape), implying "having the shape or form of a human". Anthropoid is often used to describe primates, particularly those closely resembling humans.
