Rouber was born in Kassel, Germany, in 1906. After graduating from a secondary school in 1926, he studied theology in Betel, Tubing, Marburg. In 1927 he studied both medicine and painting in Marburg.

In 1933 he became a clergyman in a village of Wikhmankhauzen and continued studying medicine. In 1938 he got a scientific degree of a doctor of medicine.

He was called up in October 1938. During the Balkan company Rouber was a military doctor. From the summer of 1941 till the February of 1943 he was in Russia and served in the 16th Armoured Division of the 6th Field Army.

At the Christmas Eve in December 1942 he painted Madonna on the other side of a map. This picture was called Stalingrad Madonna. The drawing was moved out of a “pocket”. Rouber managed to deliver some pictures to his severely ill commander who left Stalingrad by one of the last transport planes. The commander handed them over to Rouber’s family in Wikhmankhauzen.

Kurt Rouber died in a prisoner-of-war camp in Elabuga in January 20, 1944.

Now Stalingrad Madonna is exhibited in the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin.

 Works of Kurt Rouber