Karl-Heinz Rosch, a German machine gunner who served during WW2.displayed bravery and empathy.



Introducing Karl-Heinz Rosch, a German machine gunner who served during WW2. Despite a challenging upbringing, Karl displayed bravery and empathy. Following his graduation, he was drafted into the Wehrmacht Armed Forces, but fate had other plans in store for him.

In October 1944, amidst Allied artillery fire on a farm, Karl noticed two children playing in the yard, seemingly unaware of the imminent danger. Without a moment's hesitation, he dashed to their aid, leaving his rifle behind, and safely escorted the children to the basement. Tragically, as he returned to retrieve his weapon, a grenade struck him, resulting in a devastating and grisly demise.

Remarkably, for six decades, Karl's selfless act remained shrouded, concealed by his identity as an enemy soldier. Even his family remained unaware of the specifics of his sacrifice. It was only when the rescued children came forward with their testimonies that the public learned of the courage displayed by this young German soldier.

Initially, due to his affiliation with the enemy, authorities denied funding for a memorial in Karl's honor. However, in 2008, the community united, raising funds to pay tribute to Karl's memory.

This memorial stands alone in Europe and the world, being the sole one dedicated to a German soldier and supported by former adversaries. Another similar memorial exists for Friedrich Lengfeld, who lost his life while attempting to save a wounded American soldier during the Battle of Hürtgen Forest.

The inscription on Karl Heinz Rosch's memorial encapsulates the sentiment: "This statue is a tribute to him and all who do good in evil times." He passed away just three days after his 18th birthday.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

This photograph captures one of the last moments of this woman’s life.

Image
Cheng Benhua was a resistance fighter who gave her life defending her home country of China against the Japanese Imperial Army.  She has become a symbol of bravery in the face of death and unspeakable abuse.  Not long before striking this defiant pose, Cheng Benhua was repeatedly abused by her Japanese captors.  Despite the awareness that she would soon be killed, she still managed to put on a devious smile that made it seem like she was taunting the soldiers around her. Cheng Benhua's unwavering courage in the face of death has become an iconic representation of fearless resistance. A photograph, taken by a Japanese photographer shortly before she was fatally wounded in 1938, captures her unyielding spirit.  Not long before striking this defiant pose, Cheng Benhua was repeatedly abused and raped by her Japanese captors.  Despite enduring severe mistreatment at the hands of her captors, she appears to smile as she faces death, with her
Read more

American soldiers execute SS camp guards who have been lined up against a wall during the liberation of Dachau concentration camp.

Image
Following the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp, American troops felt an urge to personally punish the camp's guards. What exactly transpired still isn't known. Dachau concentration camp, located in the state of Bavaria, Germany, was the first concentration camp established by the Nazi regime. On April 29, 1945, Dachau was liberated by the U.S seventh Army’s 45th Infantry Division. Corpses of prisoners in the Dachau death trains. 1945. But it wasn’t just liberated. Reports indicated that, appalled by what they saw, members of the U.S army were driven to take revenge. They allegedly murdered the SS officers and guards who were responsible for the Holocaust horrors that took place at Dachau. The troops arrived at the Dachau concentration camp in the afternoon. They were on their way to Munich which was just over ten miles from Dachau. Though the troops passed through Dachau, it wasn’t initially a part of the attack zones they were headed for.
Read more

A U.S. marine gives a cigarette to an injured Japanese soldier, buried in the sand at the battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.

Image
A U.S. marine gives a cigarette to an injured Japanese soldier, buried in the sand at the battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. Equipped with a grenade, the soldier lay in ambush for 36 hours. Marines spotted him concealed in the dark sand and managed to dislodge the grenade out of his reach. Although he surrendered, the cautious Marines suspected potential booby traps and approached carefully. At his request, he was given a cigarette, and thereafter, they cautiously removed him from the shell hole. The 3rd and 4th Marine Divisions broke up the remaining organized resistance on March 16, 1945, the same day this photo was taken. Occasionally individual enemy soldiers armed with demolition charges and grenades raced out against tanks or groups of Marines but were shot down before they could do any great damage to personnel or equipment. Isolated pockets, totaling some 3,000 enemy soldiers, remained around the island. US V Amphibious Corps Command declared Iwo Jima secure at 1800
Read more