After facing the hardships of World War I, Maurice Rose returned to military service and became a highly respected leader during World War II. Even though he was killed in action before Germany’s surrender in 1945, his contributions left a powerful mark. As a Jewish major general, Rose’s legacy continues to inspire both military personnel and everyday people, serving as a reminder of the commitment and sacrifice that come with serving in wartime.
Maurice Rose was born to serve
Maurice Rose was born on November 26, 1899, to Samuel and Katherin “Katy” Rose and grew up in Denver, Colorado. From a young age, he showed sharp intelligence and a strong determination to join the military. His classmates even poked fun at his ambition in the school newspaper, where a cartoon showed him proudly holding a rifle.
At just 17 years old, Rose altered his age so he could enlist as a private in the Colorado National Guard and join the Pancho Villa Expedition. But his commander soon discovered his real age, and Rose was discharged just six weeks later.
Still determined, he enlisted again in 1917, this time with his parents’ approval. Once again, he adjusted his age, this time to qualify for Officer Candidate School (OCS). His persistence paid off, and shortly after the U.S. entered the First World War, Rose graduated and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. He was assigned to lead a platoon in the 353rd Infantry Regiment, 89th Infantry Division.
After training at Camp Funston in Kansas, Rose was temporarily promoted to first lieutenant. By late May 1918, with the war entering its final months, his division shipped out to France, ready for action.
Maurice Rose’s service during World War I
Maurice Rose’s division completed additional training in Europe before taking up position near Metz, preparing for the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. During a German artillery barrage, Rose was hit by shrapnel, suffering injuries. Although he experienced a concussion, he refused evacuation. Eventually, he was removed from the field after collapsing from exhaustion.
After only a few days in the hospital, Rose departed against medical advice to rejoin his unit. Medical officials, unsure of his location, mistakenly marked him as killed in action (KIA) and sent a letter to his parents reporting his death. This error was corrected once Rose was located.
Rose continued to serve with the 353rd Infantry Regiment for the remainder of the war and remained in Germany following the Armistice. He returned home in 1919 and worked as a traveling salesman until he was recalled to active duty as a first lieutenant. The following day, he was promoted to captain, serving with several regiments at Fort Douglas, Utah, before becoming the adjutant of the 38th Infantry.
Throughout the 1920s and early 1930s, Rose served as an instructor for the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and the New Mexico National Guard. He was promoted to major in 1936, and in 1939, he 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
Starting as a second lieutenant, Rose steadily climbed the ranks to become a brigadier general. He led Combat Command A during the Sicily campaign and, in 1944, took over command of the 3rd Armored Division, succeeding Maj. Gen. Leroy H. Watson. Around this time, he was promoted to major general.
After the success of Operation Overlord, Rose and his troops pushed into Belgium, making his division the first tank unit to enter German territory—an important milestone on the German front. During the Battle of the Bulge, the 3rd Armored Division played a key role in stopping the German offensive in the Ardennes before continuing its advance toward Cologne.
Maurice Rose’s senseless death
On March 30, 1945, while moving through a wooded area near Paderborn in northeastern Germany, the 3rd Armored Division received reports that German forces were delaying their supporting units. As they attempted to pull back, they were ambushed and encircled by the SS Panzer Brigade Westfalen.
To evade the advancing German troops, Maurice Rose and his men drove their Jeep toward a main road crowded with German Tiger II tanks. The driver tried to maneuver around them, but one tank blocked their way, 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 aimed a machine pistol at Rose, who was reaching for his holster. A burst of gunfire followed, with 14 rounds striking Rose, killing him instantly.
Bellinger and the others managed to escape and later returned to retrieve Rose’s body. The decorated officer and courageous leader lost his life just months before the war’s end. 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 war.
Rose’s legacy after the war
The death of Maj. Gen. Maurice Rose sparked outrage among U.S. leadership, leading to a short investigation into whether his killing might have been a war crime. Witness accounts conflicted—some said he may have been reaching for his pistol to surrender, others believed he intended to resist. There was also no indication that the German tank crew knew he was a general. Without clear evidence, the case was closed.
Rose left behind a wife and two sons, both of whom were named in his memory. Maurice “Mike” Rose went on to serve in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, continuing the family’s military tradition. His other son, Maurice Roderick “Reece” Rose, chose a different path and became a law enforcement officer.