Nikolaus and Elisabeth Groß - the parents of the Seven - are at the centre of this page. On two chronological tables which are frequently linked and supplemented with numerous texts and pictures as well as songs from the Musical "Nikolaus Groß" you receive comprehensive biographical information about the couple and the family Groß.
Both come from Niederwenigern on the Ruhr, a small village between Essen and Hattingen. They were born around the turn of the century and attended the primary school in their home village. Nikolaus Groß learned the profession of a faceworker and worked in a coal mine for five years. During this time he continuously took part in further education courses thus laying the foundation for his later career both as a trade unionist and as a politician in the service of the Catholic working class movement. The marriage in the year 1923 marked the beginning of a joint journey through life leading Nikolaus and Elisabeth Groß from Niederwenigern via Zwickau, Bottrop and Mönchengladbach to Cologne. At the age of 29 Nikolaus Groß became the chief editor of the West German Workers` newspaper and conducted an uncompromising fight against National Socialism in the final stages of the Weimar Republic.
Elisabeth Groß has been at her husband`s side in solidarity and in the community of their Christian faith, both in good days, but also in the difficult days following the persecution by the Terror regime of National Socialism. After his execution she passed on the fundamental values to which Nikolaus Groß was committed to her children and grandchildren - until her own death in 1972.
On this page you can read more about the biographies of Nikolaus and Elisabeth Groß.
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To the chronological table Nikolaus Groß | |
To the letters from prison | |
To the chronological table Elisabeth Groß | |
To the chronological table of events | |
To the flyers |