Pro-German Resistance Fighter. Born in Surburg, Alsace-Lorraine, then a part of Germany, he did his doctorate on the culture of Alsace, Germany at the University of Strassburg. During World War I, he fought in the German Army and was awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd Class, for valor. At the end of the war in 1918, the French occupied Alsace-Lorraine, even though it had declared independence, but was annexed by France and subjected to centralized rule from Paris. After the annexation, he became President of the Unabhängige Landespartei (Independence Party), campaigning for the independence of Alsace-Lorraine, the end of the destruction of Alsace-Lorraine culture, and an end to the banning of the German language by the French government. In 1927 he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for treason but was acquitted. The next year he was elected to the city council of Strassburg, France. Upon the start of World War II in 1939, the French arrested him again for espionage and sentenced to death. On February 7, 1940 he was executed by firing squad. On the way to execution, he stated, "I do protest not very well; for I am not guilty. I die true to my faith, my homeland and to my friends." He was buried with a simple wooden cross with just the name “Roos.” In June 1940, Alsace was reincorporated into Germany. The occupying Germans dug up his body and reburied it in Hünenburg, Alsace, with full military honors. In late 1944, after the allies liberated Alsace, the French government removed his body and had it reburied in a secret location that remains unknown even today.
Pro-German Resistance Fighter. Born in Surburg, Alsace-Lorraine, then a part of Germany, he did his doctorate on the culture of Alsace, Germany at the University of Strassburg. During World War I, he fought in the German Army and was awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd Class, for valor. At the end of the war in 1918, the French occupied Alsace-Lorraine, even though it had declared independence, but was annexed by France and subjected to centralized rule from Paris. After the annexation, he became President of the Unabhängige Landespartei (Independence Party), campaigning for the independence of Alsace-Lorraine, the end of the destruction of Alsace-Lorraine culture, and an end to the banning of the German language by the French government. In 1927 he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for treason but was acquitted. The next year he was elected to the city council of Strassburg, France. Upon the start of World War II in 1939, the French arrested him again for espionage and sentenced to death. On February 7, 1940 he was executed by firing squad. On the way to execution, he stated, "I do protest not very well; for I am not guilty. I die true to my faith, my homeland and to my friends." He was buried with a simple wooden cross with just the name “Roos.” In June 1940, Alsace was reincorporated into Germany. The occupying Germans dug up his body and reburied it in Hünenburg, Alsace, with full military honors. In late 1944, after the allies liberated Alsace, the French government removed his body and had it reburied in a secret location that remains unknown even today.
Bio by: Freddy
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