Maurice Rose: The Highest-Ranking American Officer to Lose His Life to Enemy Fire in Europe

After enduring the hardships of World War I, Maurice Rose found himself back on the battlefield with the outbreak of yet another global conflict. While he didn't live to witness Germany's surrender in 1945, the legacy of this Jewish major general has continued to endure, inspiring both military personnel and civilians alike.

Maurice Rose was born to serve

Born on November 26, 1899, to Samuel and Katherin "Katy" Rose, Maurice Rose demonstrated remarkable intelligence during his childhood in Denver, Colorado. Even during his high school years, his peers were aware of his enduring ambition to join the US military, a goal humorously depicted in a school newspaper cartoon showing him with a rifle.

In 1916, at just 17 years old, Rose altered his age to enlist as a private in the Colorado National Guard, eager to take part in the Pancho Villa Expedition . However, he was discharged only six weeks later when his commander discovered his real age.

Refusing to be discouraged, Rose enlisted again in 1917 with his parents' permission. He once more misrepresented his age, hoping to qualify for Officer Candidate School (OCS). He succeeded, graduating four months after the United States entered the First World War . Rose was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army Reserve and took command of a platoon in the 353rd Infantry Regiment, 89th Infantry Division.

After completing training at Camp Funston , Kansas, Rose was promoted to temporary first lieutenant. In the final 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

Continuing with the 2nd, Rose once again climbed the ranks, becoming a brigadier general. He led his unit in Combat Command A through Sicily , and, in 1944, took over as commander of the 3rd Armored Division, succeeding Maj. Gen. Leroy H. Watson. During this period, Rose also received a promotion to major general.

Following the success of Operation Overlord , Rose and his men advanced into Belgium, marking the first tank unit to cross into Germany—one of many significant milestones on the German front. During the Battle of the Bulge , the 3rd played a key role in pushing back the German offensive in the Ardennes before advancing to Cologne.

Maurice Rose's senseless death

On March 30, 1945, while navigating a wooded area near Paderborn in northeastern Germany, the 3rd Armored Division received reports that German troops were delaying their supporting units. As they tried to withdraw, they were ambushed and surrounded by the SS Panzer Brigade Westfalen .

To escape the advancing German forces, Maurice Rose and his men drove their Jeep toward a main road congested with German Tiger II tanks. The driver tried to maneuver around them, but one blocked their path, allowing only the lead Jeep to escape.

Rose and his aide, Maj. Robert Bellinger, exited their Jeep as a German tank commander opened his hatch. With their hands raised, they approached, but the commander pointed a machine pistol at Rose, who was reaching for his holster. A burst of gunfire ensued, with 14 rounds striking Rose and killing him instantly.

Bellinger and the others managed to escape and later returned to recover Rose's body. The decorated officer and brave leader died just months before the war ended. He was laid to rest at the Netherlands American Cemetery and is remembered as the highest-ranking American killed by enemy fire in Europe during the conflict.

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.

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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.