Editing Reinhard Heydrich (section)

==Early life==
Reinhard Tristan Eugen Heydrich{{sfn|Dederichs|2009|p=11}} was born in 1904 in [[Halle, Saxony-Anhalt|Halle an der Saale]] to composer and opera singer [[Richard Bruno Heydrich]] and his wife, Elisabeth Anna Maria Amalia Heydrich (née Krantz). His father came from a Protestant family, but converted to Elisabeth's [[Roman Catholic]] faith upon marriage.{{sfn|Gerwarth|2011|p=21}} Reinhard was an [[altar boy]], attending evening prayers and Mass every week with his mother as part of the Catholic minority in Halle.{{sfn|Gerwarth|2011|p=22}} Two of his forenames were musical references: "Reinhard" referred to the hero from his father's opera ''Amen'', and "Tristan" stems from [[Richard Wagner]]'s ''[[Tristan und Isolde]]''. Heydrich's third name, "Eugen", was his late maternal grandfather's forename ([[Eugen Krantz]] had been the director of the [[Dresden Royal Conservatory]]).{{sfn|Gerwarth|2011|pp=14–18}}

Heydrich's family held social standing and substantial financial means. Music was a part of Heydrich's everyday life; his father founded the Halle Conservatory of Music, Theatre, and Teaching and his mother taught piano there.{{sfn|Gerwarth|2011|pp=14, 20}} As the oldest son, Reinhard was expected to inherit his father's music conservatory and was trained in music by his father. He learned the piano and violin by the time he was six years old.{{sfn|Gerwarth|2011|p=21}} Heydrich developed a passion for the violin and carried that interest into adulthood; he impressed listeners with his musical talent.{{sfn|Dederichs|2009|p=28}}

His father was a [[Pan-Germanism|German nationalist]] with loyalties to the [[Wilhelm II, German Emperor|Kaiser]], who instilled patriotic ideas in his three children but was not affiliated with any political party until after [[World War I]].{{sfn|Gerwarth|2011|p=28}} The household was strict. Heydrich, initially a frail and sickly youth, was encouraged by his parents to exercise to build up his strength.{{sfn|Gerwarth|2011|p=22}} He engaged his younger brother, [[Heinz Heydrich|Heinz]], in mock [[fencing]] duels. He excelled in his schoolwork at the secular "Reformgymnasium", especially in the sciences.{{sfn|Gerwarth|2011|pp=24, 33}} A talented athlete, he became an expert swimmer and fencer. He was shy, insecure, and was frequently bullied for his high-pitched voice and rumoured Jewish ancestry.{{sfn|Dederichs|2009|pp=23, 28}} These rumours increased after his maternal uncle Hans Krantz married a Hungarian Jew named Iza Jarmy.{{sfn|Gerwarth|2011|p=26}} His family maintained cordial relations with the Jewish community; many Jewish students attended the Halle Conservatory, and its cellar was rented out to a Jewish salesman. Heydrich was friends with Abraham Lichtenstein, son of the [[cantor]].{{sfn|Gerwarth|2011|p=27}}

In 1918, World War I ended with Germany's defeat. In late February 1919, civil unrest—including strikes and clashes between communist and anti-communist groups—took place in Heydrich's home town of Halle. Under Defense Minister [[Gustav Noske]]'s directives, a right-wing paramilitary unit was formed and ordered to "recapture" Halle.{{sfn|Gerwarth|2011|pp=28–29}} Heydrich, then 15 years old, joined Maercker's Volunteer Rifles (a paramilitary [[Freikorps]] unit). This was largely symbolic, as Heydrich was too young for military service. There is no evidence that he participated in the fighting, and when the skirmishes ended, he was part of the force assigned to protect private property.{{sfn|Gerwarth|2011|pp=29–30}} Heydrich began to form positive opinions about the [[Völkisch movement|''Völkisch'' movement]] and [[anti-communism]], as well as a distaste for the [[Treaty of Versailles]] and the positioning of the German-Polish border.{{sfn|Gerwarth|2011|pp=31–32}} Heydrich stated he joined the ''[[Deutschvölkischer Schutz- und Trutzbund]]'' (National German Protection and Shelter League), an [[antisemitic]] organisation.{{sfn|Waite|1969|pp=206–207}} However, there is very little documentation of this, beyond a single postcard he received.{{sfn|Gerwarth|2011|pp=30–31}}

As a result of the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles as well as Germany's large war debt, [[Hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic|hyperinflation]] spread across Germany and many lost their life savings. Halle was not spared. By 1921, few townspeople there could afford a musical education at Bruno Heydrich's conservatory. This led to a financial crisis for the Heydrich family.{{sfn|Gerwarth|2011|pp=32–33}}