Bastogne, Germany in WW2 was not a great place to be. Strong resistance from the German Army stopped the U.S assault. The Germans thought to make the American Army surrender. "While we were still surrounded, on the morning of December 22, a German surrender party, consisting of two officers and two NCOs, and carrying a white flag, approached our perimeter in the area of our Glider Regiment, the 327th. The party was taken to a nearby platoon command post. While the enlisted men were detained the officers were blind folded and taken to the command post of the 327th where they presented their surrender ultimatum. The ultimatum in essence said the 101st's position was hopeless and that if we elected not to surrender a lot of bad things would happen."
The message was brought in to the Division Headquarters by Major Alvin Jones, the S-3, and Colonel Harper, the Regimental Commander. They brought the message to me, the G-3 and Paul Danahy, the G-2. My first reaction was that this was a German ruse, designed to get our men out of their fox holes. But be that as it might, we agreed that we needed to take the message up the line. We took it first to the acting Chief of Staff of the Division, Lt. Col. Ned Moore. With him, we took the message to the acting Division Commander General Tony McAuliffe. Moore told General McAuliffe that we had a German surrender ultimatum. The General's first reaction was that the Germans wanted to surrender to us. Col. Moore quickly disabused him of that notion and explained that the German's demanded our surrender. When McAuliffe heard that he laughed and said: "Us surrender? Aw, nuts!" the date was 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 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."

Signed: The German Commander.

But then McAuliffe realized that some sort of reply was in order. He pondered for a few minutes and then told the staff, "Well I don't know what to tell them." He then asked the staff what they thought, and I spoke up, saying, "That first remark of yours would be hard to beat." McAuliffe said, "What do you mean?" I answered, "Sir, you said 'Nuts'." All members of the staff enthusiastically agreed, and McAuliffe decided to send that one word, "Nuts!" back to the Germans. McAuliffe then wrote down: "To the German Commander, "Nuts!" The American Commander."
McAuliffe then asked Col. Harper to deliver the message to the Germans. Harper took the typed message back to the company command post where the two German officers were detained. Harper then told the Germans that he had the American commanders reply. The German captain then asked, "Is it written or verbal?" Harper responded that it was written and added, "I will place it in your hand."
WW2 Zone Forum


Nuts. What a great response. It meant : GO TO HELL! The men at Bastogne fought a determined enemy, stuck in foxholes in the middle of winter, with little supplies and were forced to conserve ammo. The 101st airborne division comprised these great Americans. It's funny that the German response reminds me of the left, thinking that we'll surrender from a war that the Germans started in the first place, and are calling us inhumane? Does that remind you of what Obama said about our troops? Bombing civilians and air raiding villages? I suggest we send Obama tons of nuts and see if he gets the idea, just like Sue said about sending pig feet to the white house for the porkulus bill. He should receive the same respect he has given our troops! I don't think he understands that our troops are our country's greatest asset!

Here is a link to Ed Piniche, who experienced Bastogne, and I thank him for fighting for our great nation! http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/peniche.html I try to talk to WW2 Vets about what they think of the new president. They wonder if they could have fought under Obama, but they'd fight for the US and its citizens anyday. I told my grandpa that we should send nuts to the whitehouse, and though my grandpa served in the pacific, he still got the joke, and readily agreed! I'd think I'd have to put NUTS on a teleprompter for Obama to get it!