"Hangman Heydrich" Reinhard Tristan Eugen Heydrich was born on March 7, 1904 in Halle an der Salle, Germany. His father, Bruno, and mother, Elizabeth, were both heavily involved in music. His father founded the Halle Conservatory of Music and was an accomplished opera singer, but he was also an anti-Semite. His mother was a pianist and young Tristan had seriously studied the violin. He became an accomplished violinist and had a lifelong passion for the violin. As a boy, Heydrich grew up in a large house and his family enjoyed high social status. Heydrich suffered from bullying at school due to his devout Catholic faith in a predominantly Protestant community. It was also said to have Jewish origins, but this is disputed by scholars today. He was persistently teased because of his extremely high-pitched voice. He had a natural talent for athletics and was academically independent. He was sullen and withdrawn due to frequent beatings from his mother and teasing from his peers. At the age of 16, Heyrich joined a local anti-Semitic organization and became involved in violent opposition to the communists. Because he was tall, blond, and blue-eyed, he subscribed to the increasingly popular theory that he was racially superior to all other races. This also made him an excellent candidate for the next Nazi party. When he turned 18, he joined the small but elite German Navy. He had to enroll to take advantage of the free education that would be provided to him because his family had lost all its wealth in the economic depression following Germany's defeat in the First World War. He was still teased because of his high-pitched voice and passion for classical music. His appearance was also lanky and awkward because he was now over six feet tall, and he was thin and not well built. An intense drive pushed Heydrich, who was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant in 1926. He served as a signals officer under the famous Admiral Wilhelm Canaris. At this time, Heydrich developed a deep interest in women and pursued them with enormous vigor. After numerous affairs, he was accused of having had sexual relations with the daughter of a shipyard manager. He was forced to resign his naval commission in 1931 for "conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman"..