Jacques Stosskopf

{{Infobox person

| honorific_prefix = Mort pour la France

| name = Jacques Stosskopf

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1898|11|27|df=y}}

| birth_place = Paris

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1944|09|01|1898|11|27|df=y}}

| death_cause = Executed by the SS

| death_place = Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp

| nationality = French

| other_names = Sea Star (pseudonym)

| alma_mater = École Polytechnique

| occupation = Naval architect

| years_active =

| known_for = Member of the French Resistance

| children = 2

| awards = {{plainlist|

}}

Jacques Camille Louis Stosskopf (27 November 1898 – 1 September 1944) was a member of the French Resistance and war hero killed by the Nazis. He held the post of deputy director of naval construction at the German-held Lorient U-boat arsenal.

Early years and military career

Born in Paris' 10th arrondissement on 27 November 1898, Jacques Stosskopf was of Alsatian origin and spoke fluent German. Mobilized in 1917 as an aspirant in the French artillery, he was awarded the Croix de Guerre. Admitted to the École polytechnique in October 1920, he graduated 23rd in his class in 1922. In 1924, he became a marine engineer at the Cherbourg arsenal. He was appointed principal engineer in 1929, then Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur the following year on July 9, 1930. In 1936, he became head of the Nantes district of the Surveillance Department. Chief Engineer 2nd class in 1937, he was promoted to Officer of the Legion of Honor on January 1, 1939. As a naval construction specialist, he was appointed in 1939 as head of the new construction unit at the Lorient arsenal and promoted to the rank of Chief Engineer, 1st Class.{{Cite web |last=Louvat |first=Marc E. |date=2022-07-01 |title=Jacques Stosskopf – Secteur Chapelle |url=https://reseaualliance.org/2022/06/30/jacques-stosskopf-secteur-chapelle/ |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=En mémoire du réseau Alliance |language=fr-FR}}

Resistance hero

In June 1940, the base fell under control of the German Kriegsmarine, who used it to repair and resupply their U-boats. Beginning in September 1940, Stosskopf pretended to collaborate with the Germans, using his position to inform Allied forces of submarine movements at Lorient. Stosskopf was denounced under torture by a captured agent of the Alliance network within the French Resistance. He was arrested by the SD in February 1944, but many French believed that the Germans had promoted him.

File:Plaque Base sous-marins Stosskopf.jpg. Stosskorpf is listed as disparu (disappeared).]]

The reality was quite different: Stosskopf was tortured by the Gestapo and deported under the Nacht und Nebel programme. He was executed at Struthof camp in Alsace on 1 September 1944, before the arrival of the Allies. Stosskopf was posthumously made a Commander of the Legion of Honour in August 1945, then received the Resistance Medal at the final date of award in 1947.{{Cite web |title=Rechercher dans les bases nominatives |url=https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/recherche-globale/rechercher-dans-les-bases-nominatives |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr |language=fr}} He was also declared Mort pour la France.{{Cite web |title=Rechercher dans les bases nominatives |url=https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/recherche-globale/rechercher-dans-les-bases-nominatives |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr |language=fr}} The submarine base at Lorient was renamed in his honour in July 1946 as Base Ingénieur Général Stosskopf.Leaflet from visitor centre at Keroman Submarine Base{{cite web|title=Jacques Stosskopf (1898–1944)|url=http://www.cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr/page/affichegh.php?idLang=en&idGH=179|publisher=Chemins de mémoire|accessdate=30 August 2009}}{{cite book | title=Top Secret Tales of World War II | publisher=Wiley | author=Breuer, William B. | author-link=Breuer, William B. | year=2000 | pages=129–130 | isbn=0-471-35382-5}} A BRF (A726) was also named in his honour.{{Cite web |last=Vavasseur |first=Xavier |date=2025-04-10 |title=French Navy’s Second BRF Supply Ship Starts Sea Trials |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/04/french-navys-second-brf-supply-ship-starts-sea-trials/ |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=Naval News |language=en-US}}

References

Category:French Resistance members

Category:French civilians killed in World War II

Category:Commanders of the Legion of Honour

Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)

Category:École Polytechnique alumni

Category:Engineers from Paris

Category:1898 births

Category:1944 deaths

Category:French people executed in Nazi concentration camps

Category:Resistance members who died in Nazi concentration camps

Category:French people who died in Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp