In December of 1944, a German attack into Belgium threatened the allied armies that had landed after the Normandy Invasion. In what became known as the Battle of the Bulge, 250,000 Germans attacked westward heading towards Antwerp, the only deep water port that was just put into service the previous month.
To stem the flood of Germans heading west, the allies sent everyone available into the fight including the 101st Airborne which quickly became surrounded in the key town of Bastogne. The 101st was rushed to the front in trucks carrying only minimal amounts of ammunition and almost no warm winter clothing. Food and medical supplies were an afterthought. The winter weather worsened into what became the coldest European winter in 30 years. Frostbite, constant enemy artillery and death was all around.
With 7 roads in and out of Bastogne, holding the town was one of the keys to slowing the German advance. Lose the town and the Germans might just have made it to Antwerp, splitting the allied armies and perhaps changing the outcome of the war.
The General in charge of the 101st at the time was Anthony McAuliffe. McAuliffe graduated from West Point in 1918, just as World War I came to an end. He joined the artillery in 1920 and spent the next 20 years in various commands around the US. He graduated from the United States Army War College as a Lt. Colonel and entered the Supply Division of the War Department where he worked on the development of the jeep and the bazooka.
With the start of the war, he joined the 101st Airborne Division as the commander of their artillery division. He parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and landed in a glider in Holland during Operation Market-Garden. McAuliffe became the Assistant Division Commander of the 101st when Lt. General Don Pratt was killed on June 6, when Pratt’s glider crashed during the D-Day landings.
When the 101st Airborne was sent to Bastogne, McAuliffe was the acting Division Commander as his boss, General Maxwell Taylor, was in the US for meetings.
On December 24, Christmas Eve, McAuliffe distributed the document below to his troops. (scroll down for a more legible copy).
Reprinted below for easier reading:
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.
The German Commander
The German Commander received the following reply:
22 December 1944 To the German Commander:
NUTS!
The American Commander
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
McAuliffe’s response to the Germans became the stuff of legend. When the Germans received his response they had to ask the US soldier delivering the message what it meant. The soldier responded explaining that McAuliffe was declining their offer and essentially telling the Germans, “You do your worst. We’ll do our best”.
On this Christmas Eve, no matter what problems you may have, no matter that your entire 2014 year may well have been a terrible year; take a moment to reflect on something positive in your life.
When dealt a lousy deal, think about McAuliffe’s response to the Germans and just say, “N-U-T-S”.
Take Winston Churchill’s thought to heart….
“When going through hell, keep going”.
Happy Holidays!