Выбор для написания следующей книги из моей новой серии "... in 100 Facts" оказался неожиданно непростой задачей - поэтому я в очередной раз изменил свой решение. На этот раз выбор окончательный - ибо я уже приступил к написанию книги и чувствую себя весьма комфортно - это именно та книга.
Книга называется "Reinhard Heydrich in 250 Facts" и выбор оказался, в общем-то, очевидным. Во-первых, потому, что это естественное продолжение мини-серии о Холокосте, которую я начал только что законченной книгой о Ванзейской конференции. Ибо Гейдрих и эту конференцию созвал (по собственной инициативе) - и вообще был СЕО "Проекта Холокост" (точнее, соответствующей неформальной Special Project Vehicle).
Во-вторых, потому, что я начал работу над биографией Гейдриха (тогда она называлась Гений на службе Зла) аж 15 лет назад - и уже давно пора эту работу закончить. Тем более, что, написав книгу о Ванзейской конференции, я фактически закончил другую свою книгу, начатую примерно в то же время (чуть позже): Road to Holocaust (она стала одной из глав в книге о Ванзейской конференции).
Как и все прочие руководители (и исполнители) "Проекта Холокост", Рейнгард Тристан Ойген Гейдрих был серийным массовым убийцей (и потому серийным убийцей), поэтому эта книга полностью соответствует теме данного форума. Однако выкладывать её я буду здесь, в разделе "История", ибо, ИМХО, это всё-таки будет более правильно.
Dozens of books have been written about Reinhard Heydrich, but still, I believe that this book will be of sufficient value to its readers to write it. First, no book (to my knowledge) about Heydrich captured and analyzed his true essence: him being a serial mass murderer (and thus a serial killer) and a national-sociopath.
Hence, no book is what it should be: a criminal profile of Reinhard Heydrich. This is, actually, a fundamental problem with all books about Holocaust: no one captures its true essence: the Shoah was a serial mass murder.
And thus, has to be not studied (using tools and techniques of the science of history) but investigated (using well-developed tools of serial homicide investigation and criminal profiling available for decades now).
Second, just about all of these books are not objective, dispassionate history – but the anti-Nazi propaganda that has nothing to do with the science of history. The latter is not about morals (science of ethics is and theology – for those, who are religious) – but about who did what when how and why. What were the intended and actual results of decision made and actions taken – and if they were different (they often are), then why.
Third, the fundamental problem of just about every history book and especially biography (unless it is a wild conspiracy theory which is not history at all) is that it quickly becomes… well, boring. Which I can not afford – this book is popular history, not an “academic” one (the latter is boring almost by definition).
Boring because readers worldwide years ago got accustomed to reading blog posts and social media posts with each post being no more than 2500 words long and telling a complete story – not chapters many dozens of pages long.
Consequently, to prevent this book from being boring, I decided to break it down into 250 or so “blog posts” with each “post” telling a complete story (a separate fact about Reinhard Heydrich) and all stories together making a coherent, comprehensive narrative of life and personality of Heydrich.
Due to its “blog post” structure, you can start reading the book pretty much anywhere and still obtain valuable knowledge. However, if you want to get a comprehensive understanding of Heydrich – and I sincerely hope you do – I strongly suggest that you read it cover to cover – from the beginning to the end.
Although I do not have a formal education or training in history, I still adhere to the following professional creed of genuine historians:
1. Our job is genuine history, not political propaganda (pro-Nazi, anti-Nazi or any other kind)
2. History as a science; consequently, we do not make moral judgements. As genuine historians, we only uncover what happened and when; who did what, when and why; what were the intended and actual consequences of historic decisions and actions and if they were different, then why
3. In genuine history, there is no such thing as “Good” or “Evil”; however, there are right and wrong (good and bad) decisions and actions
4. Therefore, a genuine historian can and must make functional judgements – whether certain decisions and actions by individuals in question were the best ones in those particular circumstances
5. Likewise, a genuine historian can and must make legal judgements – whether certain decisions and actions by individuals in question constituted a crime (i.e., a war crime or a crime against humanity – or a serial mass murder)
6. Genuine historic research must be based not on emotions (let alone stereotypes or prejudices), but strictly on indisputable facts, rock-solid logic and good old common sense
7. The objective of any genuine research is to produce a genuinely comprehensive picture of the object in question
8. Any historic research project is about knowledge management – collecting, structuring and analyzing data and subsequent mining of historical knowledge; consequently, every genuine historian must have solid training and experience in knowledge management
9. There is no such thing as “mainstream” and “revisionist” history – there is only genuine history – and political propaganda
After writing two books on business management, one non-fiction history book, one self-help, one alternative medicine and twenty fiction books, I firmly decided to stick to writing non-fiction history books… pretty much for the rest of my life (I am 58).
My training and experience in knowledge management allows me to write quality books on just about any topic in history, so I put together a list of 100 books that I intend to write.
I chose “Wannsee Conference in 100 facts” as a pilot project primarily I am very well familiar with subject matter (history of the Third Reich and the Holocaust are my key competencies as a historian).
After I completed that book (just a few days before I started working on this one), the bio of Reinhard Heydrich was the natural choice in my “mini-series” on the Holocaust as Wannsee Conference was his brainchild – and Heydrich was the CEO of the “Holocaust Project” (i.e., of its unofficial Special Project Vehicle).
And, finally, every writer (of fiction and non-fiction) always writes the book that he/she wants to read but can not find – and I am no exception. I was always interested in the enigma of Heydrich (evil genius par excellence) and always wanted to find the book that would provide all knowledge that I needed… but could not find any. So, I wrote it.
I intend to make this book the best bio of Reinhard Heydrich in existence (otherwise, why write it at all?). Why would it be the best? Because it (1) presents the comprehensive narrative of Heydrich’s life; (2) provides his comprehensive profile as a serial mass murderer; and (3) is written in an easy-to-read “blog format”.
I also fully intend to do a documentary movie on Reinhard Heydrich and the Holocaust using this book as its foundation. This book is based mostly on my own research on Wannsee Conference and the Holocaust that I conducted for my fiction books written in my native language.
This book is popular history, not academic history (the latter, frankly, is unbelievably boring). However, it is comprehensive; well-researched; provides presents the comprehensive narrative of Heydrich’s life; presents his comprehensive profile as a serial mass murderer; and is written in an easy-to-read “blog format”
Hence, it will be very useful and highly valuable to anyone studying (students from B.A. to Ph. D. programs), teaching or professionally researching history of the Holocaust – and of the Third Reich (with or without doctorate degrees), to everyone for whom this history is a hobby.
In short, to everyone interested (professionally or otherwise) in life and times of Reinhard Heydrich, history of the Holocaust and of the Third Reich.
This book is popular history, not academic history; besides, so much was written about Reinhard Heydrich – and the Holocaust – that secondary sources (books, research papers, articles, blog- and social media posts, etc.) contain just about all data and information that I need to mine knowledge on these subjects.
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.
Even a rather primitive numerological reading (profile) done by a computer (I might one day ask a professional for a full numerology report on Reinhard Heydrich) turned out to be surprisingly accurate.
Actually, it is not much of a surprise – independent studies showed that astrology and numerology readings (profiles/charts) are about 65% accurate. Mine are 100% accurate – I am a textbook Fiery Leo and Fiery Horse.
Here is the numerology reading of Reinhard Heydrich that was generated in second. To each part of the readings, I added my analysis and comments.
Life Path #: 6
Life Path Number 6 is the number of responsibility and awareness. Those with Life Path Number 6 tend to be the healers of our society. Because of his loving, compassionate, and responsible nature, he is likely to find yourself following endeavors that involve helping those who are weak, and less fortunate.
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Fits Reinhard Heydrich perfectly. He was aware of the problems and threats that Germany and Germans faced (first and foremost, the existential threat of Bolshevism) and took responsibility for protecting them (weak and less fortunate compared to him) from these threats – ultimately, by creating RSHA and becoming its Chief.
He deeply, sincerely and passionately loved his country, his nation and his people – and no less sincerely wanted to heal the German society of its real and perceived ills. Unfortunately (it happens) this burning desire ultimately made him into a mission-oriented serial killer (serial mass murderer, to be more precise).
Expression #: 22/4
Expression Number 22 is a higher vibration of the number 4, and as such is often referred to as the number of a Master Builder. The one with this Expression Number is grounded, methodical, practical and with persistence, determination, and willpower turns dreams into reality and create, build and accomplish things that last for lifetimes.
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Again, a perfect match for Reinhard Heydrich. He built RSHA – one of the most powerful security services in the world (second only to Soviet NKVD – but it was built by four individuals, not by one).
Heydrich, indeed, was grounded, methodical and practical (perfect traits for director of intelligence and chief of political police) and with persistence, determination, and willpower turned dreams (of making Greater Germany Judenrein) into reality and created, build and accomplished things that last for lifetimes (Holocaust inevitably will).
Heart’s Desire #: 7
The one with Heart’s Desire Number 7 is naturally introverted, and have a tendency to seek quiet, private environments. His inquisitive, abstract, and theoretical mind draws you towards introspection, the love of knowledge, philosophy, and deeper understandings of all things in life.
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This fits Heydrich almost one hundred percent in his capacity as chief of Gestapo, SD, SiPo and RSHA. Not sure about “all things in life” in general – but definitely all things in his professional life (he got his nickname HHhH – Himmler’s brain is called Heydrich – for a reason)
Personality #: 6
Those with Personality Number 6 are often seen as warm, compassionate, caring, self-sacrificing and willing to help others.
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Heydrich was, indeed, compassionate, self-sacrificing and always willing to help Germany and Germans (the way he perceived it). No surprise here – he was a textbook national-sociopath and these (unlike “classic” sociopaths) can be – and sometimes are – genuinely self-sacrificing.
Even a rather primitive astrology reading (profile) done by a computer (I might one day ask a professional for a full astrology report on Reinhard Heydrich) turned out to be surprisingly accurate.
Here is the astrology reading of Reinhard Heydrich that was generated in seconds (with my analysis and comments).
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You have a compassionate nature [like any national-sociopath, Heydrich felt strong compassion towards Germany and Germans]. Your intuition guides you in making decisions and navigating through life’s complexities [his did]. Your Pisces sun also suggests a strong imaginative and creative inclination, making you a natural dreamer and artist.
[Heydrich openly admitted that he was a dreamer – and was capable of making his dreams a reality… like making Greater Germany Judenrein. While he was not an artist, he was a highly gifted musician – which was close].
You focus your vital energies on deep transformation [Heydrich’s decisions and actions – especially the Holocaust – transformed the world beyond anyone’s wildest expectations]. You possess a strong desire to delve into life’s mysteries [not life in general, but his job at SD was essentially mining secret knowledge about people and organizations – which he enjoyed].
You may find yourself drawn to uncovering the hidden truths in people and situations, making you an excellent detective or investigator [in his position of director of Gestapo, SD and SiPo he undoubtedly was].
The sun square Pluto aspect, primarily focusing on the sun side. This aspect suggests that you possess a strong and intense willpower [absolutely true]. You have a desire for personal growth [which was meteoric] and self-transformation [which was fast and radical], which can sometimes manifest as a need for control [oh, yes].
You may face power struggles or encounter challenges related to authority figures [in Nazi bureaucracy all the time] or your own personal authority [happened]. However, this aspect also indicates a tremendous capacity for personal empowerment and resilience [tremendous indeed]. Your ability to rise above challenges and transform yourself is exceptional [very true].
We can see that you possess a depth of emotional understanding and intuitiveness. Your focus in life revolves around deep connections with others, whether it be through intimate relationships or collective groups. You have a natural ability to uncover hidden truths and can serve as a catalyst for personal growth and transformation in the lives of those around you. [All of the above was very true].
However, be aware that the sun square Pluto aspect can bring intensity and power struggles [all the time]. It’s crucial to be mindful of how you exert your personal authority and to avoid becoming controlling or manipulative in your interactions [Heydrich did not avoid it – never].
You have a profound ability to connect deeply with others and bring about transformation in their lives. Your creative and imaginative nature, coupled with your compassionate spirit, make you an incredible force of change. [Very true]
By harnessing your personal power and being mindful of your interactions, you have the potential to make a tremendous impact on those around you, as well as on your own personal journey of self-discovery and growth [very true as well – however, it was not always positive, to put it mildly].
The moon in Scorpio gives you a keen sense of intuition and an ability to uncover hidden truths [very helpful for director of SD, Gestapo and SiPo]. You are also very protective of your emotions and may be selective about who you allow into your inner circle [very true].
Your Ascendant in Leo gives you a vibrant and outgoing approach to life. You have a natural inclination to shine, be noticed, and make a memorable impression on others. With your Ascendant in Leo, you carry an air of confidence and authority that demands attention wherever you go. [Absolutely true].
Saturn’s energy is characterized by discipline, structure, and a sense of responsibility [key personality traits of Heydrich]. Therefore, you may find yourself inclined to approach life in a more serious and methodical manner than your Leo Ascendant alone may suggest [that’s exactly what happened].
You hold yourself to high standards and expectations [absolutely]. You have a natural ability to express your creative and emotional side with flair and enthusiasm [all the time]. You may feel the need to constantly prove your abilities and worth [he did], which can lead to unnecessary pressure and stress [it did].
You possess an innate talent for understanding others on a deep level and using your creativity to navigate social situations. This Leo influence also enhances your leadership qualities, making you a natural leader and someone others look up to for guidance and inspiration. [Perfect description of Reinhard Heydrich].
Your Ascendant in Leo adds a vibrant and confident presence to your personality, while the opposition aspect with Saturn lends an air of stability and maturity [precisely]. You have a strong drive for success [great success, actually]. You have the potential to achieve great things [he did – albeit not in a positive sense].
Communication is very important to you, and you may find yourself constantly seeking mental stimulation through interaction with others [exactly]. With Mercury in Pisces, you have a creative and intuitive mind, giving you a natural inclination towards imaginative thinking. [So imaginative, in fact, that it scared the bejesus of many officials in Nazi government].
As Mars is the ruler of Aries, your Mars in Aries in the ninth house gives you a forceful and energetic personality, which can lead to taking risks and acting impulsively at times. [This personality trait ultimately killed Heydrich, He never consulted astrologers, but he should have – it could have saved his life].
You may be highly motivated to learn and grow, which makes you an inspiring and visionary person. [Many would say, way too visionary – especially on making Germany Judenrein]. The conjunction of Mars and Jupiter can make you overconfident and take unnecessary risks [another warning], so be sure to stay grounded and practical.
The ninth house might make you overindulgent or prone to being dogmatic in your beliefs, which may cause clashes with others who hold different viewpoints [happened all the time].
The Aries Mars in the ninth house with the conjunction to Jupiter indicates that you have an exceptional drive to seek new experiences, which can lead to extraordinary achievements. [Extraordinary indeed – albeit diabolical].
Jupiter in Aries denotes a strong sense of independence and a drive to initiate new projects and take risks. You possess a natural enthusiasm for life and the ability to inspire others to share in your vision. [Absolutely true]
Your Jupiter placement suggests that you seek to expand your horizons and experiences [all the time], especially in regards to exploring new ways to assert yourself and exercise your personal freedom. [Very true – proverbial Führerprinzip and Heydrich’s genius gave him a wide autonomy in Führerstaat].
With your Jupiter in this house, you seek to broaden your perspective and understanding of the world around you. [That’s precisely what director of intelligence does for a living].
Your conjunction aspect between Jupiter and Mars in Aries further amplifies your independent spirit [true] and desire to take action [all the time]. This placement indicates a great drive [ditto] and passion for self-improvement, and a willingness to take risks to achieve your goals.
This aspect may also imply a strong, sometimes impulsive tendency towards competition or conflict [happened all the time]. You possess a powerful combination of optimism, independence, and drive [true]. You have a great ability to inspire and lead others towards your vision [always].
You find stability and meaning by pursuing your own vision, often challenging traditional norms and societal conventions [to put it mildly]. You are driven to make a positive impact on society and may seek to create lasting change in the world around you. Your approach to establishing and preserving yourself involves embracing your individuality and using it as a force for the greater good.
[All very true – but the way he perceived “positive impact on society”, “lasting change in the world” and “greater good” led to the most horrific serial mass murder in human history]
You find satisfaction and meaning through your work, and you may be dedicated to a job that aligns with your values and allows you to make a difference. [Very true – and it was a colossal difference indeed]
You possess a creative genius that allows you to think outside the box and come up with original ideas and concepts. [Very original – to put it mildly]. You are highly inventive and experimental, always looking for new ways to express yourself creatively. [Like gassing and shooting four million civilians]
Your artistic pursuits may be unconventional or non-traditional [to put it mildly], but they allow you to showcase your individuality and express your true self [of a dark, evil, diabolical genius].
You have a strong need for excitement [very strong] and change [often], and you may find yourself constantly seeking new and stimulating experiences [like flying combat missions in a Bf-109 or -110 fighter on Western or Eastern front].
You have the potential to tune into issues that concern society at large [Jewish question did – very much so] and make a positive impact on the world. [Heydrich deeply, sincerely, passionately (and erroneously) believed that by killing all Jews he was saving human civilization from destruction]. You may feel a strong urge to be a catalyst for change [he was – and it was quite a change!] and contribute to making the world a better place [according to his definition of “better”].
Potential issues to watch out for may include a tendency to be overly idealistic [he was] or too focused on your own vision [ditto – but it presented no obstacle].
You may have a tendency to attract power struggles or intense dynamics within your social circles [happened all the time]. You should be conscious of any control issues or tendencies to manipulate others in order to assert power within your social groups [he was – and used it very successfully to achieve his goals].
With your Midheaven in Aries, you are someone who possesses natural leadership qualities and a strong drive to succeed in your professional life. Aries, being a fire sign, brings forth your ambitious and determined nature, propelling you forward in your career pursuits. [All of the above was absolutely true]
You have a unique and innovative approach [to put it mildly] when it comes to reaching your goals and expressing your individuality in the professional world. You have the ability to think outside the box and tap into your creative potential. [Again, everything was one hundred percent true].
Your Uranus trine Midheaven aspect indicates that you have the potential to make breakthroughs [he did – and it was quite a breakthrough] and introduce fresh ideas in your chosen field [fresh indeed].
You possess a natural talent for embracing new technologies [like stationary and mobile gas chambers] and staying ahead of the curve in your industry. Your ability to adapt to unexpected changes or unconventional methods can give you a distinct advantage and open doors to exciting opportunities. [Very exciting – to put it mildly].
You have a strong sense of individuality and a drive to make a lasting impact in your chosen career [forever lasting, as it turned out]. Embrace your innovative spirit [he surely did] and trust in your ability to pioneer new ideas [ditto]. Your fresh perspective and trailblazing mindset can take you far in your professional journey [it did very far].
Your personal growth and life path are associated with practicality, attention to detail, organization, and a focus on service [precisely]. You have the ability to find creative solutions that allow you to express your unique self while still honoring practicality and attention to detail [that’s exactly what happened].
You have the Ascendant in Leo, which indicates that your approach to life is to shine brightly [he did – very brightly] and be at the center of attention [always]. It gives you a sense of confidence, strength, and a desire to be seen and appreciated by others [very true]. You have a natural charisma that draws people towards you, and you have the ability to leave a lasting impression [eternally lasting as it turned out].
You have a natural charm and magnetism that makes you appealing to others. You can captivate people with your ability to think outside the box [oh, yes] and see the world from a unique perspective [like killing four million people to save the world]. You possess a strong desire to pursue your dreams and use your creativity to make a positive impact on the world. [He did – according to his definition of positive impact].
You have the ability to light up a room with your charm and bring a touch of magic to everything you do. [Black, evil, diabolical magic, to be more precise]. Your Ascendant in Leo gives you a natural confidence and a desire to be seen and appreciated. The opposition aspect between your Venus in Aquarius and your Ascendant adds an original and unconventional touch to your personality [true on both counts].
Jupiter in Aries reflects your approach to growth and self-improvement as being enthusiastic, confident, and assertive. You have a strong drive to explore new horizons, take risks, and push yourself outside your comfort zone. You possess a pioneering spirit that inspires you to tackle challenges head-on with a sense of adventure and courage. [All appear to be very true]
You have a natural inclination to seek out knowledge and expand your understanding of the world [ideal traits for director of intelligence]. Your Mars in Aries reflects your assertive and courageous nature [true].
You have a strong desire to take charge, be independent, and assert your individuality. You crave action and thrive on challenges, always seeking new opportunities to express your passion and ambition. [All very true].
You lead with conviction and stand up for your beliefs, inspiring others with your fiery spirit and unwavering determination [100% true]. Your passion drives you to seek new adventures and expand your horizons, inspiring those around you [true].
Your style of thinking and communication is dreamy [Heydrich admitted that] and intuitive. You have a deep and sensitive way of processing information, often relying on your emotions and intuition to guide your thoughts [probably true]. Your mind is artistic and imaginative [ditto].
You possess a unique visionary perspective in your thinking [oh, yes]. You have a natural talent for inspiring and uplifting others with your ideas, bringing a sense of idealism and imagination to your social networks and community [true again].
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It should be noted that all personality traits presented above are by themselves neutral (neither good, nor bad). They can be used to pursue noble – or evil – purposes; unfortunately, Reinhard Tristan Eugen Heydrich chose the latter.
