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Our deep appreciation extends to Michael Weber of the
village of Nordborchen, Germany on the outskirts of Paderborn,
who made this section possible. Weber, who was born in Paderborn
in 1965, is a mechanical engineer and field sales technician
in the plastics industry. In his free time he is a serious amateur
historian, writer, and photographer.
He is particularly knowledgeable with local World War II history
and the 3rd Armored Division's hard fought battles in and around
Paderborn. Together with a friend who is an amateur pilot, Weber
takes to the skies 3 to 8 times each year with his cameras "just
for fun," which includes passing over those battle areas
of so long ago.
It was our incredible luck that he contacted this website,
asking if we might like several aerial photos of where Gen. Rose
was killed. He followed up with the information that the roads
and surrounding fields in that area (south of Paderborn) were
virtually the same as they were in 1945. In fact, they were very
similar to a Prussian map dated 1838 that Weber supplied us!
Referring to the spot where Rose died, which is unofficially
called "Rose Point," Weber advised that local historians,
German WWII veterans, and the local British military knew the
spot with good precision -- that being 275 meters west of the
intersection of Dorenhagener Strasse and Querweg Strasse (plus/minus
25 meters). But there is no sign, or plaque, or anything else
to mark the spot.
Weber has contributed more than aerial photos to this section.
He has sent ground-level photos, as well as two photos of a visit
to Rose Point in 1985 by a small contingent of 3AD, British,
and West German soldiers, as well as interested civilians. We
look forward to more collaboration in the future with our trusted,
new, 3AD historian-in-the-field and "guardian" of Rose
Point.
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