On Dec 22, 1944 the Germans demanded a full surrender of the 101 Airborne. Acting Div commander Gen Anthony C. McAuliffe rejected the demand. His one word answer to the enemy "NUTS"
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This Day in History - NUTS!
- Thread starter Salty
- Start date
A great day. Without the 101st's tenacity, the Germans may well have succeeded in reaching the Meuse, but they couldn't, because Bastogne was a vital crossroads in the Ardennes. I shall certainly be toasting the 'Battered B*st*rds of Bastogne' today!
:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
The US 101st airborne was always a fighting force. I remember them first-hand from Korea and fought alongside them for almost three years. The airborne units are always the first into action. Most times we were dropped behind enemy lines and had to fight our way backward to our own lines.
Cheers to the 101st, and bravo indeed.
Cheers,
Jim
Cheers to the 101st, and bravo indeed.
Cheers,
Jim
Jim, are you saying that you jumped out of a perfectly working airplane? :BangHead:
raying:
Some more info on that glourious day for the Allies!
The tanks and soldiers of the German Army, however, completely surrounded the U.S. forces in Bastogne and laid siege to the town. It was one of the coldest winters on record.
On Dec. 22, three days before Christmas, the Germans sent a party of four -- a major, a captain and two enlisted men -- up the road to Bastogne carrying a large white flag, bringing a demand from the Nazi commander for the Allied troops to surrender. They were met on the road by U.S. troops, were blindfolded, and taken to one of the U.S. command posts.
The acting U.S. commander, Gen. Anthony McAuliffe, replied to the demand with just one word: “Nuts.”
Two days later, on Christmas Eve, McAuliffe issued this message to his men:
“Headquarters 101st Airborne Division
“Office of the Division Commander
“24 December 1944
“What’s merry about all this, you ask? We’re fighting, it’s cold, we aren’t home. All true, but what has the proud Eagle Division accomplished with its worthy comrades of the 10th Armored Division, the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion and all the rest? Just this: We have stopped cold everything that has been thrown at us from the North, East, South and West. We have identifications from four German Panzer Divisions, two German Infantry Divisions and one German Parachute Division. These units, spearheading the last desperate German lunge, were headed straight west for key points when the Eagle Division was hurriedly ordered to stem the advance. How effectively this was done will be written in history; not alone in our Division’s glorious history but in World history. The Germans actually did surround us. Their radios blared our doom. Their Commander demanded our surrender in the following impudent arrogance:
‘December 22nd 1944
To the U.S. A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.
‘The fortune of war is changing. This time the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. More German armored units have crossed the river Ourthe near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hombres Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands.
There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note.
‘If this proposal should be rejected one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A.A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. Troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hours term.
‘All the serious civilian losses caused by this Artillery fire would not correspond with the well known American humanity.
(signed) ‘The German Commander’
“The German Commander received the following reply:
‘22 December 1944
’To the German Commander:
‘NUTS!
(signed) ‘The American Commander’
McAuliffe continued:
“Allied Troops are counterattacking in force. We continue to hold Bastogne. By holding Bastogne we assure the success of the Allied Armies. We know that our Division Commander, General Taylor, will say: Well Done!
“We are giving our country and our loved ones at home a worthy Christmas present and being privileged to take part in this gallant feat of arms are truly making for ourselves a Merry Christmas. A.C. McAuliffe”
“Major Alvin Jones took the terms to General McAuliffe and Lieutenant Colonel Ned D. Moore, who was acting Chief of Staff. The paper called for the surrender of the Bastogne garrison and threatened its complete destruction otherwise.
“It appealed to the ‘Well known American humanity’ to save the people of Bastogne from further suffering. The Americans were to have two hours in which to consider. The two enemy officers would have to be released by 1400 but another hour would pass before the Germans would resume their attack.
“Colonel Harper, commanding the 327th, went with Jones to Division Headquarters. The two German officers were left with Captain Adams. Members of the staff were grouped around General McAuliffe when Harper and Jones arrived. McAuliffe asked someone what the paper contained and was told that it requested a surrender.
“He laughed and said, ‘Aw, nuts!’ It really seemed funny to him at the time. He figured he was giving the Germans ‘one hell of a beating’ and that all of his men knew it. The demand was all out of line with the existing situation.
“But McAuliffe realized that some kind of reply had to be made and he sat down to think it over. Pencil in hand, he sat there pondering for a few minutes and then he remarked, ‘Well, I don't know what to tell them.’ He asked the staff what they thought and Colonel Kinnard, his G-3 [third in command] replied, "That first remark of yours would be hard to beat."
“General McAuliffe didn't understand immediately what Kinnard was referring to. Kinnard reminded him, ‘You said 'Nuts!’ That drew applause all around. All members of the staff agreed with much enthusiasm and because of their approval McAuliffe decided to send that message back to the Germans.
“Then he called Colonel Harper in and asked him how he would reply to the message. Harper thought for a minute but before he could compose anything General McAuliffe gave him the paper on which he had written his one-word reply and asked, ‘Will you see that it's delivered?’ ‘I will deliver it myself,’ answered Harper. ‘It will be a lot of fun.’ McAuliffe told him not to go into the German lines.
“Colonel Harper returned to the command post of Company F. The two Germans were standing in the wood blindfolded and under guard. Harper said, ‘I have the American commander's reply.’
“The German captain asked, ‘Is it written or verbal?’
“‘It is written,’ said Harper. And then he said to the German major, ‘I will stick it in your hand.’
“The German captain translated the message. The major then asked, ‘Is the reply negative or affirmative? If it is the latter I will negotiate further.’
“All of this time the Germans were acting in an upstage and patronizing manner. Colonel Harper was beginning to lose his temper. He said, ‘The reply is decidedly not affirmative.’ Then he added, "If you continue this foolish attack your losses will be tremendous." The major nodded his head.
“Harper put the two officers in the jeep and took them back to the main road where the German privates were waiting with the white flag.
“He then removed the blindfold and said to them, speaking through the German captain, ‘If you don't understand what “Nuts” means, in plain English it is the same as “Go to hell.” And I will tell you something else -- if you continue to attack we will kill every g*#@am German that tries to break into this city.’
“The German major and captain saluted very stiffly. The captain said, ‘We will kill many Americans. This is war.’ It was then 1350.10
“‘On your way, Bud,’ said Colonel Harper, ‘and good luck to you.’
“The four Germans walked on down the road. Harper returned to the house, regretting that his tongue had slipped and that he had wished them good luck.”
censored by Salty
The tanks and soldiers of the German Army, however, completely surrounded the U.S. forces in Bastogne and laid siege to the town. It was one of the coldest winters on record.
On Dec. 22, three days before Christmas, the Germans sent a party of four -- a major, a captain and two enlisted men -- up the road to Bastogne carrying a large white flag, bringing a demand from the Nazi commander for the Allied troops to surrender. They were met on the road by U.S. troops, were blindfolded, and taken to one of the U.S. command posts.
The acting U.S. commander, Gen. Anthony McAuliffe, replied to the demand with just one word: “Nuts.”
Two days later, on Christmas Eve, McAuliffe issued this message to his men:
“Headquarters 101st Airborne Division
“Office of the Division Commander
“24 December 1944
“What’s merry about all this, you ask? We’re fighting, it’s cold, we aren’t home. All true, but what has the proud Eagle Division accomplished with its worthy comrades of the 10th Armored Division, the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion and all the rest? Just this: We have stopped cold everything that has been thrown at us from the North, East, South and West. We have identifications from four German Panzer Divisions, two German Infantry Divisions and one German Parachute Division. These units, spearheading the last desperate German lunge, were headed straight west for key points when the Eagle Division was hurriedly ordered to stem the advance. How effectively this was done will be written in history; not alone in our Division’s glorious history but in World history. The Germans actually did surround us. Their radios blared our doom. Their Commander demanded our surrender in the following impudent arrogance:
‘December 22nd 1944
To the U.S. A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.
‘The fortune of war is changing. This time the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled by strong German armored units. More German armored units have crossed the river Ourthe near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hombres Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands.
There is only one possibility to save the encircled U.S.A. troops from total annihilation: that is the honorable surrender of the encircled town. In order to think it over a term of two hours will be granted beginning with the presentation of this note.
‘If this proposal should be rejected one German Artillery Corps and six heavy A.A. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. Troops in and near Bastogne. The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hours term.
‘All the serious civilian losses caused by this Artillery fire would not correspond with the well known American humanity.
(signed) ‘The German Commander’
“The German Commander received the following reply:
‘22 December 1944
’To the German Commander:
‘NUTS!
(signed) ‘The American Commander’
McAuliffe continued:
“Allied Troops are counterattacking in force. We continue to hold Bastogne. By holding Bastogne we assure the success of the Allied Armies. We know that our Division Commander, General Taylor, will say: Well Done!
“We are giving our country and our loved ones at home a worthy Christmas present and being privileged to take part in this gallant feat of arms are truly making for ourselves a Merry Christmas. A.C. McAuliffe”
* * *
“The United States Army in World War II,” the official history published by the U.S. Army Center of Military History on the U.S. Army Heritage Web site, reports what happened at Bastogne on Dec. 22 this way: “Major Alvin Jones took the terms to General McAuliffe and Lieutenant Colonel Ned D. Moore, who was acting Chief of Staff. The paper called for the surrender of the Bastogne garrison and threatened its complete destruction otherwise.
“It appealed to the ‘Well known American humanity’ to save the people of Bastogne from further suffering. The Americans were to have two hours in which to consider. The two enemy officers would have to be released by 1400 but another hour would pass before the Germans would resume their attack.
“Colonel Harper, commanding the 327th, went with Jones to Division Headquarters. The two German officers were left with Captain Adams. Members of the staff were grouped around General McAuliffe when Harper and Jones arrived. McAuliffe asked someone what the paper contained and was told that it requested a surrender.
“He laughed and said, ‘Aw, nuts!’ It really seemed funny to him at the time. He figured he was giving the Germans ‘one hell of a beating’ and that all of his men knew it. The demand was all out of line with the existing situation.
“But McAuliffe realized that some kind of reply had to be made and he sat down to think it over. Pencil in hand, he sat there pondering for a few minutes and then he remarked, ‘Well, I don't know what to tell them.’ He asked the staff what they thought and Colonel Kinnard, his G-3 [third in command] replied, "That first remark of yours would be hard to beat."
“General McAuliffe didn't understand immediately what Kinnard was referring to. Kinnard reminded him, ‘You said 'Nuts!’ That drew applause all around. All members of the staff agreed with much enthusiasm and because of their approval McAuliffe decided to send that message back to the Germans.
“Then he called Colonel Harper in and asked him how he would reply to the message. Harper thought for a minute but before he could compose anything General McAuliffe gave him the paper on which he had written his one-word reply and asked, ‘Will you see that it's delivered?’ ‘I will deliver it myself,’ answered Harper. ‘It will be a lot of fun.’ McAuliffe told him not to go into the German lines.
“Colonel Harper returned to the command post of Company F. The two Germans were standing in the wood blindfolded and under guard. Harper said, ‘I have the American commander's reply.’
“The German captain asked, ‘Is it written or verbal?’
“‘It is written,’ said Harper. And then he said to the German major, ‘I will stick it in your hand.’
“The German captain translated the message. The major then asked, ‘Is the reply negative or affirmative? If it is the latter I will negotiate further.’
“All of this time the Germans were acting in an upstage and patronizing manner. Colonel Harper was beginning to lose his temper. He said, ‘The reply is decidedly not affirmative.’ Then he added, "If you continue this foolish attack your losses will be tremendous." The major nodded his head.
“Harper put the two officers in the jeep and took them back to the main road where the German privates were waiting with the white flag.
“He then removed the blindfold and said to them, speaking through the German captain, ‘If you don't understand what “Nuts” means, in plain English it is the same as “Go to hell.” And I will tell you something else -- if you continue to attack we will kill every g*#@am German that tries to break into this city.’
“The German major and captain saluted very stiffly. The captain said, ‘We will kill many Americans. This is war.’ It was then 1350.10
“‘On your way, Bud,’ said Colonel Harper, ‘and good luck to you.’
“The four Germans walked on down the road. Harper returned to the house, regretting that his tongue had slipped and that he had wished them good luck.”
censored by Salty
North Carolina Tentmaker
New Member
There was a poster I remember seeing years ago. I thought it was the 101st, but looking online, it looks like it was a quote from the 82nd.
Dec.23, 1944 - "Battle of the Bulge"
An entire U.S. armored division is retreating from the Germans in the Ardennes forest when a sergeant in a tank destroyer spotted an American digging a foxhole. The GI, PFC Martin, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, looked up and asked, "Are you looking for a safe place?" "Yeah," answered the tanker. "Well, buddy," he drawled, "Just pull your vehicle behind me...
I'm the 82nd Airborne, and this is as far as the b*****ds are going."
That quote, and the story of the 101st have always reminded me of the story of Shammah in II Sam 23:11-12. If we would all simply stand our ground where we are, what a victory the Lord could send.
Dec.23, 1944 - "Battle of the Bulge"
An entire U.S. armored division is retreating from the Germans in the Ardennes forest when a sergeant in a tank destroyer spotted an American digging a foxhole. The GI, PFC Martin, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, looked up and asked, "Are you looking for a safe place?" "Yeah," answered the tanker. "Well, buddy," he drawled, "Just pull your vehicle behind me...
I'm the 82nd Airborne, and this is as far as the b*****ds are going."
That quote, and the story of the 101st have always reminded me of the story of Shammah in II Sam 23:11-12. If we would all simply stand our ground where we are, what a victory the Lord could send.
NaasPreacher (C4K)
Well-Known Member
I was in Bastogne recently. There is an amazing sense of history there
The 506th was commanded by legendary Captain Richard(Dick) Winters
www.majordickwinters.com
The famed "Easy Company" was commanded by LT. Norman Dyke at the time of Bastogne who was relieved of duty and replaced by LT Ronald Spiers by command of Captain Winters during the attack on the city of Foy, France
Last edited by a moderator:
Small correction: Foy is in Belgium and is more of a village.
My bad!!! My bad!!!
I said Foy, France----when I should have had Foy, Belgium!!!
I guess this means I don't get the historical scolarship???:tonofbricks:
Greektim
Well-Known Member
And Winters was not the commander of the 506th. I believe he was the ex. off. of 2nd battalion (506th reg.) at this time. But he was never the commander of the regiment. That was Col. Sink.
Just a little more historical accuracy
BTW... loved reading all the BoB books, especially Winter's book. He died this month if I am not mistaken.
Okay, who was Commadner-in-Chief?
Lets seeeeeeeeeee!! Eisenhower was Commander of the ETO
:1_grouphug:
:1_grouphug:
Obama???????????
raying:I'm right on this one!!!!
Lets seeeeeeeeeee!! Eisenhower was Commander of the ETO
At the time it would have been FDR
Goodness gracious alive!!!! What ever made me think it was Obama???:smilewinkgrin:
And that Gore had anything to do with secret devices????:type:
Must have something to do with being a moderator. In fact, didnt AlGore invent the moderator?