In 1939, Frank was promoted to SS Group Leader (Gruppenführer) and appointed Higher SS and Police Leader of and Secretary of State of the Reich Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia under Reich Protector Konstantin von Neurath. Although nominally under Neurath, Frank wielded great power in the protectorate due to his vast knowledge of Czech affairs and Himmler's support. As Secretary of State and leader of the police, Frank pursued a policy of harsh suppression of dissident Czechs and pushed for the arrest of Bohemia and Moravia's Prime Minister, Alois Eliáš. These actions by Frank were countered by Neurath's "soft approach" to the Czechs thereby encouraging anti-German resistance by strikes and sabotage.[1] This frustrated Frank and led to him secretly working to discredit Neurath.[2] When Neurath was dismissed by Hitler on 23 September 1941, Frank hoped to be appointed Reich Protector in his place but was passed over in favor of Reinhard Heydrich. Although the working relationship between Frank and Heydrich was initially tense, the two put aside their differences and became an efficient and effective duo. Bodies of men murdered at Lidice, a notorious crime against humanity organized by Frank and Kurt Daluege. When Heydrich was assassinated in May 1942, Frank was once again passed over for promotion when Kurt Daluege became the new Reich Protector. Daluege and Frank were instrumental in initiating the destruction of the Czech villages of Lidice and Ležáky in order to get ...