Killing of US General Rose

On page 355 of Tigers In Combat One (Fedorowicz, 1994) Wolfgang Schneider describes sPzAbt 507 fighting in the area of Hamborn, Germany on 30 March, 1945. He states that 3rd Company of sPzAbt 507 ambushed elements of 3rd US Infantry Division after which 'US division General Major Rose killed by error.'

Later Schneider writes 'US soldiers kill about 100 German POWs in retaliation for the Rose incident, violating international law.'

Anyone have more information on this?

Thanks

Tony Viste

Steven Ambrose in his book 'Citizen Soldiers' describes the death of MGen Rose on 31 Mar 98 near Paterborn. MGen Rose was at the head of a column attacking a German tank training center when his jeep rounded a corner and collided with the rear of a Tiger tank. The German tank commander ordered MGen Rose, his driver, and his aide to surrender, but then apparently panicked and killed Rose with a submachine gun burst. The driver and aide escaped. There's no reference to any retaliation against German POWs.

Jeff J.

In his book 'Hell on Wheels' which is a history of the 2nd Armored Division Donald E. Houston says on p 407 'With the arrival of the 3rd Armored Division came word that its commander, Maj Gen Maurice Rose, a former Hell-on-Wheller, had been killed outside Paderborn, while leading his column.' Rose was armor, not infantry. He is mentioned (very favorably) in Andy Rooney's book on WWII. I gather he was very popular so it is possible that his troops reacted to his death.

The action described occurred April 1st 1945. Houston mentions the 2nd and 3rd US Armored meeting in Lippstadt and cutting off 350,000 Germans.

James Graham

See Stephen Ambrose's 'Citizen Soldier'. He states that Rose's jeep rounded a corner and ran into the back of a Tiger whose teenage commander got the drop on them with his burp gun. Rose still had his pistol and when he went to very delicately remove it to hand it over, the kid panicked and opened up his burp gun in Rose's face. The kid could not have known in less than one minute that Rose was Jewish. As far as the retaliation thing goes, there is no official record of any prisoners being executed in revenge. However, Rose's men might have been a little casual in noting white flags and raised arms for the next couple of days.

Tom Smithdeal

dedicated to him at the Patton Museum at Ft. Knox, KY. The soldier who killed Gen. Rose must have known he had somebody special on his hands as his helmet had two seperate silver stars applied to the front ala' George Patton.

regards, Peter

In books by both Astor and Ambrose-killing of POWs is addressed. No written orders ever found-one or two claims that there were such. But, in both authors' books, there are several stories about such matters.

I show in a show about the AB that when they found many of their Troopers (slowly) killed in the trees, that any Germans (I think the SS) they found after that never made it to the beach.

Also, the Germans killed several groups of POWs.