When you visit the impressive former U-boat Base of Lorient, you will come across a column at the southwest side of the Keroman 2 bunker carrying several memorial plaques. One of these plaques commemorates Chief Engineer 1st Class Jacques Stosskopf, a French naval construction specialist that was executed by the Nazi’s on the 1st of September 1944.
History
After Stosskopf joined the French navy as an educated engineer, he quickly rose to prominence during the 1930s as a highly skilled and innovative figure, which eventually earned him the rank of Chief Engineer 1st Class and head of the new construction unit at the Lorient Arsenal of the French Navy.
After the German occupation in 1940, Stosskopf being of Alsatian origin and speaking fluent German, appeared to collaborate with the Nazi’s who used his skill for the construction of the German U-boat Base on the Keroman peninsula, until his disappearance in Februari 1944.
It was only after the liberation that his fate became known. Stosskopf had used his position to gather and provide vital information about the construction of the submarine base and the movement of submarines to the French resistance. Unfortunately his efforts were discovered, leading to his arrest by the Gestapo on Februari 21st 1944. Stosskopf was questioned and tortured and finally deported to the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp where he was executed on September 1st 1944.
After the Liberation, Jacques Stosskopf was posthumously honoured for his heroism and the Keroman submarine base was renamed to Base de Sous-Marins Ingénieur Général Jacques Stosskopf.
Memorial plaque
The plaque reads in English:
STOSSKOPF Jacques Camille Louis
General Engineer of the 2nd class in Naval Engineering,
A brilliant engineer possessing the highest qualities, who never ceased to demonstrate the loftiest patriotic sentiments,
He contributed significantly to the victory by providing, during the occupation, valuable intelligence on enemy naval activity, particularly regarding the movements of submarines at the bases in Lorient.
Arrested by the Gestapo on February 21, 1944, for his activities in the Resistance, and subsequently deported, he earned admiration for his unwavering courage and indomitable energy.
Posthumously promoted to the rank of Commander in the National Order of the Legion of Honor by decree of October 25, 1945, an honor that also included the award of the War Cross with Palm.
Visit
You can visit the memorial on the Southwest corner of the Keroman 2 U-boat bunker.
