Key Dates
27 May 1942
Reinhard Heydrich, acting governor of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia is mortally wounded by the Czechoslovak resistance as part of 'Operation Anthropoid'. Nazi intelligence falsely linked Heydrich's assassins to the village of Lidice.
10 June 1942
In retaliation for the assassination of Heydrich, Nazis entered the mining village of Lidice just after midnight, shot 173 men, removed all the women and children and razed the village to the ground.
13 June 1942
The children of Lidice are taken from their mothers. Some are selected for re-education in German families and children under one are taken to a hospital in Prague. Subsequently, 82 children are murdered at Chelmno extermination camp.
29 June 1942
Czech President Beneš made a public statement about Lidice to the nation. Watch the video here.
6 September 1942
The "Lidice Shall Live" campaign is launched at a mass meeting in the Victoria Hall, Hanley. Named in defiance of Adolf Hitler's claim that "Lidice Shall Die".
15 June 1947
Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony takes place in Lidice as part of the rebuilding efforts.
19 June 1955
The 'Garden of Peace and Friendship' is opened in Lidice.
6 September 2012
Memorandum of Understanding between Lidice, the Lidice Memorial and Stoke-on-Trent City Council is signed and exchanged in the Council Chamber.
26 October 2013
The commemorative sculpture 'Unearthed' is unveiled in the city centre. The sculpture is made up of thousands of miners' tags each etched with the initials and birth day of every member of the public who promised to share the story of Lidice with at least two other people. Read more about 'Unearthed' on the Art Uk website here.
20 February 2018
'The Messenger of Hope', a sapling taken from a pear tree - the only living thing to survive the atrocity - is planted in Hanley.
21 October 2021
Stoke-on-Trent City Council unanimously agrees a motion to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atrocity.
14 May 2022
Biker rally gathers in Hanley as part of a motorbike ride to Lidice to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Operation Anthropoid and the Lidice Shall Live campaign. Visit the Lidice Remembered Facebook page here.
10 June 2022
Friendship ceremony held at Stoke Town Hall attended by the Deputy Head of Mission of the Czech Embassy. Commemorative events were also held in Lidice, attended by the leader of the city council, Lord Mayor and Lidice Lives trustees. Read the press release here.
6 September 2022
Portrait of Sir Barnett Stross and copy of the Lidice Friendship agreement (originally signed in 2012) unveiled in the Civic Centre, Stoke as part of the commemorations for 80 years of the Lidice Shall Live campaign. Read the press release here.