Rose, Maurice B.

Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger

Date of birth:: November 26th, 1899 (Middletown/Connecticut, United States)
Date of death:: March 30th, 1945 (Paderborn, Germany)
Buried on:: Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial
Plot: C. Row: 1. Grave: 1.
Nationality:: American

Biography

The son and grandson of Orthodox Jewish rabbis, Maurice Rose was born in Connecticut in 1899, but moved to Denver with his family in 1902. From early childhood, he was drawn to military life and joined the National Guard at age 15 after finishing his studies at East High School. He was later sent home when it became known that he had falsified his age. At 17, Rose was accepted for Officers Training School, and at 18 was wounded in a World War I battle in France. He returned to work in Colorado briefly after the war, but was quickly drawn back into Army life.
In 1941 Rose was promoted to Major. By 1942 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and was assigned to the 2nd Armored Division at Fort Benning, Georgia. It was in this assignment that Rose would see combat in the North African Invasion of 1943 as the 2nd Armored Division chief of Staff and earn his first Silver Star.
In 1943 Rose was transferred to the 1st Armored Division for the Tunisian Campaign. It was in this assignment that Rose would accept the first unconditional surrender of a major Nazi force to the Americans.
By July 1943 Rose was back in the 2nd Armored Division as plans were developed for the Sicily invasion. By this time Rose was a Brigadier General and led the first U.S./Allied forces into the capital city of Palmermo. Rose won his second Silver Star here. By November 1943 Rose and his 2nd Armored troops were in England training for the invasion of France.
On June 7, 1944, 24 hours after D-Day, General Rose took an advance party across the English Channel to Omaha Beach. The next day they landed. By June 12 Rose had struck the enemy hard. Rose and his troops were sent to help the hard-pressed 101st Airborne Division near Carentan. This assault led the 2nd Armored into the hedgerows of Normandy.
Major-General Rose assumed command of the 3rd Armored Division from Major-General Leroy H. Watson who was 3rd Armored Division commander from August 1942 to August 7, 1944. General Rose was a Brigadier General when he assumed command of the 3rd Armored Division. He was an accomplished tactician and a tanker with long experience.
On the day of his death, Major-General Rose and the 3rd Armored Division made the longest ground gain of any U.S. military unit in the war. On 30th March 1945, Major-General Rose was leading the 3rd Armored Division in attacking a German tank training centre outside Paderborn, Germany. He was at the head of the column in his jeep. Turning a corner, his driver ran into the rear of a German Tiger Tank. The German tank commander about 18 years old opened his turret hatch and levelled his sub machinegun at Major-General Rose, yelling to him apparently to surrender. Rose, his driver, and his aide got out of the jeep and put their hands in the air. For some reason, the tank commander became extremely agitated and kept pointing to Major-General Rose and hollering at him while gesturing toward Rose's pistol. Rose lowered his right hand to release his web belt and thus drop his holster to the ground. Apparently, the German tank commander thought he was drawing his pistol. In a screaming rage, the German fired his weapon. Major-General Rose was hit in the head and was killed instantly. The driver and the aide managed to flee and lived to tell the story.
He was buried near Ittenbach, Germany, prior to his re-burial in Margraten, the Netherlands.
General Rose was one of two division commanders killed in ETO and was the highest ranking member of the Jewish faith in the U.S. Army at that time.

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Silver Star Medal (SSM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Colonel
Unit:: 1st Armored Division "Old Ironsides", U.S. Army
Awarded on:: 1943

Headquarters, 1st Armored Division, General Orders No. 30'

Received for actions during the battle for Tunesia, when he was temporarily submitted to the 1st Armored Division.
This award was obtained in the form of an Oak Leave to be attached on the ribbon of the first award which he had already received during the First World War.

Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Major General
Unit:: 3rd Armored Division "Spearhead", U.S. Army
Awarded on:: November 25th, 1944

"For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 3d Armored Division, in action against enemy forces from 6 to 9 September 1944. Major General Rose's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 3d Armored Division, and the United States Army."

Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 86