Rosa was born in Wien, Austria. She worked as a member of the Social Democratic Party until the Gestapo arrested her for her resistance activities in 1939.

Rosa was taken to Ravensbrück in 1940, and became block elder of Barrack One. In 1943, she was placed in the punishment bunker because she had "organized" food for other prisoners.

After the camp was liberated by the Russian Army, Rosa organized a transport to help the Austrian prisoners return home. After World War II, she was again active in the Social Democratic party and was a member of the senate for many years.

Inside her ring were carved her and her lover's numbers as nazi prisoners. She died in Wien.