Alsatian-French Artist, Author, Political Figure, and Resistance Hero under the pen name of “Hansi.” Born in Colmar, he began his career as a draftsman in a textile factory, but soon became known for his satirical cartoons of German tourists in Alsace, which had been occupied by Germany since the Franco-Prussian War. His books, such as "Professor Knatschké" (1912), "L'Histoire d'Alsace racontée aux petits enfants" (“The History of Alsace Told to Little Children”; 1912), and "Mon Village" (1913), poked fun at, among other things, the German police and system of education. The Germans were not amused; in July 1914 he was sentenced to a year in prison in Leipzig. When World War I broke out, Hansi was able to escape to Paris and served in the French Army as an interpreter and also an illustrator for many patriotic posters. Between the wars he continued to write and paint in Colmar and served as curator of the Colmar Museum, but when World War II broke out and France surrendered in May 1940, he had to leave Alsace for “Unoccupied” (southern) France. In April 1941 the Gestapo caught up with him in the town of Agen, and he was severely beaten and left for dead. He survived the attack and escaped to Switzerland, returning to Colmar in 1946. He was twice awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm, once during WWI and again during WW2 for his work with the Resistance, and was made a Commander of the Legion of Honor. He died in Colmar and was buried with national honors.
Alsatian-French Artist, Author, Political Figure, and Resistance Hero under the pen name of “Hansi.” Born in Colmar, he began his career as a draftsman in a textile factory, but soon became known for his satirical cartoons of German tourists in Alsace, which had been occupied by Germany since the Franco-Prussian War. His books, such as "Professor Knatschké" (1912), "L'Histoire d'Alsace racontée aux petits enfants" (“The History of Alsace Told to Little Children”; 1912), and "Mon Village" (1913), poked fun at, among other things, the German police and system of education. The Germans were not amused; in July 1914 he was sentenced to a year in prison in Leipzig. When World War I broke out, Hansi was able to escape to Paris and served in the French Army as an interpreter and also an illustrator for many patriotic posters. Between the wars he continued to write and paint in Colmar and served as curator of the Colmar Museum, but when World War II broke out and France surrendered in May 1940, he had to leave Alsace for “Unoccupied” (southern) France. In April 1941 the Gestapo caught up with him in the town of Agen, and he was severely beaten and left for dead. He survived the attack and escaped to Switzerland, returning to Colmar in 1946. He was twice awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm, once during WWI and again during WW2 for his work with the Resistance, and was made a Commander of the Legion of Honor. He died in Colmar and was buried with national honors.
Bio by: Doc Wilson
Inscription
Marker reads, "JEAN JACQUES WALTZ aka HANSI 1873-1951 Citizen of Honour of the city of Colmar Member corresponding with the Academy of Fine Arts Curator of the Underlinden museum in Colmar Commander of the Legion of Honour Military Cross with palms 1914-1918 1939-1945"
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Waltz memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
