Rochus Kosak

Rochus Kosak attended elementary and middle school in Vienna, as well as the preparatory class for the teacher training college; however, he did not go on to attend the college but instead trained as a mechanic. He worked in this profession for some time before becoming unemployed. Later, he began studying at the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, which he financed by working part-time for the Greek consul and president of the Greek community, Michael Georg Koimzuglu. However, he did not complete this program either.

In 1932, Rochus Kosak was briefly a member of SS Motor Squadron II in Vienna, but evidently did not feel ideologically at home there. He soon resigned and became a member of the legitimist Reichsbund der Österreicher. There he met Karl Burian and Josef Wotyka, members of the Ottonia fraternity.

After the Third Reich’s occupation of Austria, his contacts with Karl Burian intensified. Through Michael Georg Koimzuglu, Rochus Kosak obtained documents for the wife and son of Paul Fuchs—a member of the Ottonia fraternity who had already fled via Switzerland to Argentina—so that they, too, could leave the country. The Greek consulate subsequently also became a contact point for letters from Ottonia members living abroad.

Although Rochus Kosak was not a member of the Ottonia fraternity, which had joined the resistance, he became part of the resistance group led by Karl Burian, which consisted mainly—but not exclusively—of Ottonia members. He was involved in all aspects of the resistance movement. He creates leaflets intended for distribution and is designated for various leadership roles in the development of the resistance movement.

Rochus Kosak subsequently sought contact with other legitimist opponents of National Socialism and with other legitimist groups. He was also present when Karl Burian passed on military secrets and made his camera available for spying.

Rochus Kosak was arrested by the Gestapo on October 14, 1938. He was charged with conspiracy to commit high treason and, at the trial of the People's Court held from December 7, 1943, to December 9, 1943, was sentenced to five years of penal servitude. The time he spent in protective custody and pretrial detention was credited toward his sentence, which is why he was released immediately after the verdict.

Until the end of the war, Rochus Kosak kept a low profile. He married and eventually emigrated to Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1949. There, all traces of him were lost.