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Röth was badly wounded while serving with an artillery regiment. He transferred to the German Air Force after recovering from his wounds but was injured in a flying accident during training. In and out of hospitals for nearly two years, Röth eventually scored his first three victories on 25 January 1918. On that day, he shot down 3 enemy balloons in less than ten minutes. On 30 July 1918, he scored his 17th victory, shooting down a Bristol Fighter flown by Irish ace John Cowell. Röth was wounded in action on 14 October 1918. By the end of the war, he was Germany's highest scoring balloon buster. Of his 28 confirmed victories, 20 of them were balloons. Extremely depressed that Germany had lost the war, Röth committed suicide. His Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Max-Joseph was awarded posthumously in 1919. His Albatros DV was finished in yellow varnished plywood, with all metal cowling panels, wheel covers and struts being painted grey and the spinner white.
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