# UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM

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## Heydrich, Reinhard: Timeline

March 7, 1904
Reinhard Heydrich is born in Halle an der Saale, in the German state of Saxony.

Spring 1922
Heydrich receives his high school diploma.

March 30, 1922
Heydrich enlists in the German navy.

April 1931
Hedyrich is compelled to resign from the navy after being found to have dishonored the officer corps. Soon afterward he becomes involved with the Nazi party.

August 1931
Reich Leader of the SS Heinrich Himmler brings Heydrich into the SS and tasks him with developing the SD.

December 26, 1931
Heydrich marries Lina von Osten, whom he met the previous year.

January 1933
The Nazis obtain control of the German state with the appointment of Adolf Hitler as Chancellor.

April 1, 1933
Himmler, commander of the Bavarian political police detective force, appoints Heydrich as his deputy.

June 1934
Nazi party Deputy Chief Rudolf Hess names the SD the sole agency authorized to gather political intelligence inside the Third Reich.

July 1934
Heydrich takes command of the Gestapo while remaining chief of the SD.

June 26, 1936
Himmler appoints Heydrich chief of the Security Police Main Office (Hauptamt Sicherheitspolizei).

January 24, 1939
Hermann Göring authorizes Heydrich to develop plans for a “solution to the Jewish question” in Germany.

September 1, 1939
Germany invades Poland, starting World War II.

September 27, 1939
Himmler appoints Heydrich to command the RSHA, which formally links the Security Police and SD.

June 22, 1941
Nazi Germany invades the Soviet Union. Under orders from Heydrich, the Einsatzgruppen of the Security Police and SD follow the German army and begin to systematically kill Jews.

July 31, 1941
Göring authorizes Heydrich to coordinate resources of the Reich for a “solution of the Jewish Question” throughout Europe.

September 1941
Hitler appoints Heydrich Acting Reich Protector for the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (now: Czech Republic).

January 20, 1942
Heydrich convenes the Wannsee Conference, presenting his plans to coordinate a European-wide “Final Solution of the Jewish Question” to key officials from Reich Ministries.

May 27, 1942
Czech parachute agents succeed in rolling a hand grenade under Heydrich's vehicle, as Heydrich travels to the Prague airport in an open vehicle. The blast sends metal shards into Heydrich's back and leg, seriously but not mortally wounding him.

June 4, 1942
Heydrich dies of the infection that set in a few days after the assassination attempt.

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