Karl-Heinz Rosch

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Karl-Heinz Rosch
Monument voor Karl-Rosh in Riel 02.jpg
Memorial of Rosch
Born(1926-10-03)3 October 1926
Meissen, Germany
Died6 October 1944(1944-10-06) (aged 18)
Riel, Goirle Netherlands
Buried
Ysselsteyn German war cemetery
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch German Army
RankKanonier
Battles/warsWorld War II

Karl-Heinz Rosch (3 October 1926 – 6 October 1944) was a German soldier during World War II who saved the lives of two Dutch children.[1]

Background and Rescue[]

Rosch was an eighteen-year-old German soldier and along with his platoon, was stationed in a farm in Goirle when Allied forces opened fire on them. Rosch noticed that the two children of the farmer who owned the land seemed oblivious of the danger around them and continued to play in the courtyard. He ran to them, took each in his arms and brought them into the safety of the basement. He again ran outside to position himself on the other side of the courtyard when a grenade hit him right at the spot where the children were earlier. Rosch was killed instantly.[2]

Aftermath[]

Because Rosch was a German soldier, and the enemy, his story was kept private after the war. The Dutch did not show remorse towards the German soldiers that they had been under occupation for five years during the war. The story of Rosch was not brought public until 2008. Public funding for a statue was rejected, however funds were raised to created a statue as a memorial. On November 4, 2008 a bronze statue was erected on a private property in Goirle in memory of Karl-Heinz Rosch. The statue is considered to be one of the only monuments to a specific German World War II soldier in the world.[3]

Inscription at the base of the statue. The last line reads "This statue is a tribute to him and to all who do good in evil times".

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Pitogo, Heziel. "The Controversial Memorial in Honor of WWII German Soldier Karl-Heinz Rosch: "Hero with No Glory"". War History Online. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  2. ^ Burmeister, Von Thomas. "Dutch citizens honor a Wehrmacht soldier". Welt. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  3. ^ "The hero of Goirle: The untold story of Karl-Heinz Rosch". ARGunners. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
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