What occurred when Karel Churda got here to betray the Gestapo – Seznam Médium

On June 16, a distraught man got here to the Gestapo management workplace in Prague’s Peck Palace. The matter was believed to be in regards to the assassination of Heydrich, however Heinz Pannwitz, chairman of the fee investigating the assassination, was not within the constructing. At 12:42 p.m., the person was taken to Director Karl Jantur, accompanied by translator Hron. His identify was Karel Churda.

He introduced that he was a paratrooper and promised that he wouldn’t be punished if he reported the perpetrators and people guarding them. He was afraid they might shoot him.

Jantur was assured that nothing would occur if his data led to the arrest of the perpetrators. The man mentioned he acknowledged the briefcase and handgun on show together with the bomber’s different belongings. He noticed the briefcase in Svatoš’s residence and his buddy Gabčík had it there.

Jantur knew that Berlin detectives had discovered traces of hay within the briefcase. It appeared just like the churd was telling him the reality, so he referred to as Pannwitz. He arrived, interrogated the churd, stripped him of his garments, and confiscated cyanide capsules.

He gave him a selection between 20 very comparable briefcases, and with out hesitation, the churd selected the one which match. Panwitz referred to as Gestapo commander Geschke, who ordered the interrogation within the notorious Room 400.

They have been having intercourse there. They pushed him. They requested why they did not come sooner. This is how they came upon in regards to the nameless letter despatched to Beneshov’s gendarmes. And in that spirit they interrogated him intermittently till the following day. He advised them all the pieces about himself, the names of the paratroopers on his flight and his contact handle.

Kurda didn’t know the place the opposite paratroopers have been staying. He had no prior information of the assassination. However, they obtained from him the addresses of the Moravcs and lots of different resistance fighters.One And investigators have already been in a position to try this.

Marie Moravcová dedicated suicide with a cyanide capsule on the identical time the Gestapo entered the residence, however the paratroopers’ refuge was in St. Peter’s Church. However, Cyril and Methodius have been betrayed by their son Atta throughout torture.2

Thus, Karel Churda’s betrayal led to the publicity of the resistance community and the invention of the paratroopers’ hideout. Already a day later he recognized their our bodies.

He induced the deaths of pals and supporters. And there are a whole lot of different tragedies. Without him, the investigation would have been meaningless. He acquired 500,000 German marks, 1 / 4 of the reward awarded. He then continued to collaborate with the Gestapo and, as a Heron agitator, helped expose patriots and resistance fighters.

He modified his identify to Karl Jerhot and married a German girl. He had her son together with her. But his conscience tormented him, and he grew to become hooked on alcohol.

After the struggle, he instantly volunteered, however they didn’t take him severely. He was later captured whereas on the run, sentenced to dying, and executed on April 29, 1947. His identify has turn out to be synonymous with betrayal in Czech tradition.

Pannwitz’s report and Jantur’s post-war statements differ considerably. Jantur appears to be extra dependable. Pannwitz clearly resorted to self-promotion. In the method, he induced issues as a result of he even ended up criticizing Heydrich.

One) together with the Svatoš household, who stopped collectively on their technique to the Gestapo to seek for different paratroopers.

2) According to Pannwitz and Jantur, the hideout was revealed by one other captured particular person.