Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe

"NUTS!"

On this day 71 years ago, the 101st Airborne was surrounded and cut off from any supplies during the Siege of Bastogne, otherwise known as "The Battle of the Bulge."
Since December 19th, the 101st Airborne Division had been fighting off German attacks and bombings. They were running short of ammunition, supplies and energy. Morale was at an all time low.

The Germans, running out of options for defeating the strong Americans, sent a message directed to the General in command of the American forces in Bastogne: Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe.

Here is what it said:

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 Our near Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompre-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.
The German Commander

Upon reading this, the General said to his messenger:
"Us, surrender? Aw, nuts!"

In response to the letter written by Lieutenant General Lüttwitz, Brig. Gen. McAuliffe responded:

To the German Commander.
NUTS!
The American Commander

At first, the Germans didn't understand the message, until the General in command of the 327th GIR translated it to them as:
"Go to hell!"

Brig. Gen. McAuliffe (left) and Lt. Col. Harry Kinnard stand behind the entrance sign to Bastogne. Source:Wikipedia

The next day, despite the threats of a barrage, the Germans did not bomb the divisions in the forests. However, they did conduct nightly bombings on hospitals within the town of Bastogne.

When the men of the 101st Airborne learned of General McAuliffe's message, it encouraged them to stand firm and keep fighting.

Here is the "Band Of Brothers" depiction of this moment: NUTS!

The 101st held strong until December 26th when Gen. Patton brought up his 3rd Army led by the 4th Armored division to support the Paratroopers in their defense of Bastogne.

Aftermath

The Battle of the Bulge was the turning point of the Second World War. When the surrounded Americans were offered an honorable surrender, their leader spoke for all of his men with his pugnacious response of defiance. Instead of giving up, they got tougher and fought harder. The result was a clear victory for the Americans, as they stopped the German advance in the Ardennes forest dead in its tracks. Despite the high casualty numbers for the 101st Airborne they'd held strong and fought off the Germans' last great push of the war. The Germans' failure to break through in the Ardennes marked the beginning of the end of war. This change in the path of history can be traced to General McAuliffe's single word: "Nuts!"

Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe died on August 11th, 1975. He rests in eternal peace in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Source: Find a Grave

Hope for the future

In a time when America is suffering from such a terrible lack of leadership, I dream of a future when maybe even someone from my generation will lead with the same strength, courage and spirit as General Anthony Clement McAuliffe.

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