The Inspiring, Yet Tragic, Story of the Highest-Ranking American Officer Lost to Enemy Fire In Europe During WWII

Having endured the horrors of the First World War, Maurice Rose returned to the battlefield when the world was once again pulled into conflict. Although he did not live to witness Germany's surrender in 1945, this Jewish major general's legacy still persists, inspiring both military members and civilians.

Maurice Rose was born to serve

Born on November 26, 1899, to Samuel and Katherin "Katy" Rose, Maurice Rose exhibited intelligence beyond his years while growing up in Denver, Colorado. Even in high school, his classmates knew of his lifelong aspiration to serve in the US military, with a school newspaper cartoon portraying him carrying a rifle.

In 1916, at the age of 17, Rose falsified his age to enlist as a private in the Colorado National Guard, with the desire of participating in the Pancho Villa Expedition . However, six weeks into his service, he was discharged upon his commander discovering his true age.

Undeterred, Rose enlisted once again in 1917, this time with parental consent. Again misrepresenting his age, he aimed to qualify for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and successfully graduated four months after the United States entered the First World War . Commissioned as a US Army Reserve second lieutenant of infantry, he assumed command of a platoon within the 353rd Infantry Regiment, 89th Infantry Division.

Following training at Camp Funston , Kansas, Rose earned a promotion to temporary first lieutenant. In the waning months of the war, in late May 1918, the 89th Infantry Division arrived in France.

Maurice Rose's service during World War I

Maurice Rose's division underwent further training in Europe before positioning near Metz in anticipation of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive . During a German artillery barrage, Rose was hit by shrapnel and sustained injuries. Despite suffering a concussion, he refused evacuation. However, he was eventually removed from the battlefield after collapsing from exhaustion.

After only a few days in the hospital, Rose left against medical advice to rejoin his unit. Medical officials, confused about his whereabouts, mistakenly marked him as killed in action (KIA) and sent a letter to his parents informing them of his death. This mistake was corrected once Rose was found.

Rose remained with the 353rd Infantry Regiment for the rest of the war and stayed in Germany after the Armistice . He returned home in 1919 and worked as a traveling salesman until he was readmitted to active duty as a first lieutenant. The next day, he was promoted to captain and served with several regiments at Fort Douglas, Utah, before becoming the adjutant of the 38th Infantry.

During the rest of the 1920s and early 1930s, Rose served as an instructor for the Reserve Officers' Training Corps and New Mexico National Guard. He was promoted to major in 1936 and, in 1939, was assigned to Fort George G. Meade , Maryland, as an instructor at the Third Corps Area Command and Staff School.

Rising up the military ladder during World War II

Maurice Rose was stationed at Fort Knox , Kentucky when the United States entered the Second World War in 1941. Promoted to lieutenant colonel, he commanded the 3rd Battalion, 13th Armored Regiment, before assuming the role of executive officer of the 1st Armored Brigade, 1st Armored Division. A newspaper reporter spotted Rose during brigade training and dubbed him as " probably the best-looking man in the army ."

In 1942, Rose deployed to North Africa with the 2nd Armored Division and quickly rose to the rank of colonel. The Americans achieved victory over German forces in Tunisia , where Rose played a significant role in negotiating the terms of the German unconditional surrender alongside Generalmajor Fritz Krause.

Rose achieved the rank of major general after Operation Husky

Still with the 2nd, Rose moved up the ladder once more to become a brigadier general. He led his team in Combat Command A through Sicily , and, in 1944, succeeded Maj. Gen. Leroy H. Watson as commander of the 3rd Armored Division. Rose also earned a promotion to the rank of major general during this time.

After the success of Operation Overlord , Rose led his men to Belgium, where they became the first tank unit to enter Germany - the first in many notable accomplishments along the German front. During the Battle of the Bulge , the 3rd helped to beat back the German offensive in the Ardennes, before moving on to Cologne.

Maurice Rose's senseless death

While navigating a forested area outside of Paderborn in northeastern Germany on March 30, 1945, the 3rd Armored Division received reports that the units behind them were being held up by German troops. As they turned around, they were gunned down and surrounded by the SS Panzer Brigade Westfalen .

In an attempt to escape the encroaching Germans, Maurice Rose and his men turned their Jeep toward the main road, which was occupied by even more German Tiger II tanks. The driver tried to maneuver around the tanks, but one cut them off while the lead Jeep managed to escape.

Rose and his aide, Maj. Robert Bellinger, got out of the Jeep as the German tank commander opened his hatch. Approaching the armored vehicle with their arms raised, the commander aimed a machine pistol at Rose, who was reaching toward the holster on his hip. A spray of shots rang out, with 14 striking the major general, killing him on the spot.

Bellinger and the others managed to escape, and they later returned to retrieve Rose's body. The decorated serviceman and heroic leader died within months of the war's end. He was buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery with the distinction of being the highest-ranking American killed by enemy fire in Europe during the course of the war.

Rose's legacy after the war

US leaders were outraged over the senseless death of such a decorated commander, and a brief investigation was opened to determine if he was the victim of a war crime. However, it was impossible to determine if Rose had been reaching for his pistol to surrender or retaliate. The German tank crew also had no idea he was a high-ranking officer. As such, the case was ultimately dismissed.

Want War History Online 's content sent directly to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter here!

Maurice Rose was survived by his wife and two sons, both of whom were named after the career military man. Maurice "Mike" Rose followed in his father's steps, serving in World War II, Korea and during the Vietnam War, while Maurice Roderick "Reece" Rose opted to pursue a career in law enforcement.