Karl von Roques was born in a German noble family of Huguenot descent.

After the armistice, Roques remained in the Reichswehr, serving in the Ministry of War, and then in staff and command roles in the army.

From 15 March 1941 to October 1941, he was commander of the rear areas of Army Group South.

As commander of the rear areas, Roques carried out extermination policies against the Soviet partisans, Slavic and Jewish population.

Moved for reasons of bad health from Landsberg Prison to a hospital in Nuremberg, he died there on 24 December 1949.