{"product_id":"vintage-lidice-czech-village-world-war-2-remembrance-thorns-shield-pin-badge","title":"Vintage Lidice Czech Village World War 2 Remembrance Thorns Shield Pin Badge","description":"\u003cfont rwr=\"1\" style=\"font-family:Arial\" size=\"4\"\u003e\u003cfont rwr=\"1\" style=\"font-family:Arial\" size=\"4\"\u003e\u003cfont rwr=\"1\" style=\"font-family:Arial\" size=\"4\"\u003e\u003ctitle\u003e Antique Lidice Czech Village World War 2 Remembrance Cross \u0026amp; Thorns Pin Badge\u003c\/title\u003e \u003ctable width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"28\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd valign=\"top\"\u003e \u003ctable cols=\"1\" width=\"80%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" border=\"1\" align=\"center\"\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd height=\"36\" bgcolor=\"#ff66ff\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eVintage Lidice Czech Village World War 2 Remembrance Thorns Shield Pin Badge\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e  Product Description :  Vintage Lidice Czech Village World War 2 Remembrance Thorns Shield Pin Badge\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eThe pin features red roses of remembrance and a thorny L.\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe badge face is 2cm high, is made from a gold coloured metal and has a long stick pin style fastener to the rear. \u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003eHistorical Significance\u003c\/h3\u003e Under the codename 'Operation Anthropoid' two Czechoslovak commandos, having been trained in Britain, were parachuted into Czechoslovakia on a mission to assasinate Reinhard Heydrich, leader of the Gestapo and a valued political ally, advisor and friend to Hitler. Heydrich had also played a large part in the 'final solution' to deal with the 'Jewish Problem' \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHeydrich was travelling in an open topped car, unescorted and in broad daylight when Czech commando Gabcik attempted to shoot Heydrich only to discover the sten gun he was carrying had failed, his partner, Kubis threw a grenade at Heydrich's car and Heydrich was fatally injured by the explosion and later died in Hospital. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHitler was beside himself with rage and ordered Kurt Daluege, Heydrich's replacement, to 'wade through blood' to find Heydrich's killers. The Germans began a massive and bloody unprecedented retaliation campaign targeted against the entire Czech population. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn June 9, 1942 the decision was made to \"make up for his death\" by obliterating the village Lidice and its inhabitants. There was seemingly no logic behind the choice of Lidice, only that they were thought to have harboured resistance fighters in the past. Lidice was to serve as an example to the rest of the population the price of resistance. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMembers of German SS security police surrounded the village of Lidice, blocking all avenues of escape. The women and children were rounded up and sent to Ravensbruck death camp and 173 men and boys were lined up against the wall of Horal farm, without blindfold and executed by firing squad five at a time. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe village of Lidice was set alight and the remains of the buildings were bulldozed and every last remaining piece of evidence of the town was destroyed. Even those buried in the town cemetery were not spared. Their remains were dug up and destroyed. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHorrifyingly the entire process was filmed and would be used by the Nazis as a warning to anyone that might resist German rule, that reprisals would be swift and without mercy. The Czech population were angered and dismayed at this tragedy and to further emphasise the point the village of Lezaky met with an identical fate only two weeks later. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs the news of the towns' destruction reached England, Churchill demanded that in retaliation a German village of equal size should be be subject to obliteration by bomber command, but the logistics as well as the questionable revenge motive meant that the motion was overruled by the war office. \u003cp\u003eI have found an interesting web site with photographs of Lidice prior to its destruction. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is also an excellent film Lidice released in 2011 that received very favourable reviews. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e  Postage and Packing :\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cp\u003e  The item will be sent by airmail from The Czech Republic. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  Please allow 3-4 days delivery time to Europe and up to 7 days worldwide. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e \u003ctable width=\"60%\" border=\"1\" align=\"center\"\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd width=\"74%\"\u003eEnamel Pin Badge(s)\u003c\/td\u003e \u003ctd width=\"26%\" align=\"right\"\u003e$5.99\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable width=\"100%\" height=\"35\" border=\"0\" align=\"left\"\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd width=\"200\" align=\"left\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e  \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e  Warranty Terms :\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eThis pin is in the condition described above and as photographed. \u003cbr\u003eIf you are in any way dissatisfied I will happily discuss any problems you have via email. I always strive to provide an excellent service.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e \u003c\/td\u003e \u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003ccenter\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/pics.ebay.com\/aw\/pics\/viewitem\/fe\/imgFePowered_88x33.gif\"\u003e\u003c\/center\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Badgecrazy","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54328178868572,"sku":"EB-325613099251","price":6.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0796\/3272\/8412\/files\/57_a90c1a3c-b389-4481-b480-4ff1de65ca11.png?v=1752672481","url":"https:\/\/shop.badgecrazy.com\/products\/vintage-lidice-czech-village-world-war-2-remembrance-thorns-shield-pin-badge","provider":"Badgecrazy","version":"1.0","type":"link"}