"NUTS"

Cooking With Carlo ^ | Dec. 20, 2003 | Carlo3b Dad, Chef, Author

[carlo3b]

 

"NUTS"

Battle for Bastogne
 
Suddenly it was Hell.  Encircled since December 20, the people of the Ardennes had their mind set on the first Christmas since the liberation of Belgium, but it was not to be.. The Massive power of the German artillery weapons was unleashing destructive power on the American positions in the Belgian Ardennes. More than 250.000 soldiers, accompanied by over 1.000 tanks started their march through the Ardennes. The goal, First take Bastogne, as they headed for the Meuse river, with the intentions to push to the north of Belgium to take Antwerp and its militarily strategic harbor, with the hopes of turning the tide of the War in Europe.

What had started out as an advance to contact and destroy the enemy had now become a defensive operation out of necessity. The morning of 20 December, 1944, saw the 501st maintaining a defensive sector across Bizory, Neffe, and the small village of Mont. Enemy Artillery and flat trajectory fire was heavy, indicating strong enemy concentrations. In the biggest action of the day F Company repelled a very heavy enemy attack, consisting of a reinforced company of infantry and armor on the ground northeast of Bizory.

Specialist 5 Michael R. Fishcher 50th Military History Detachment, Bozeman Montana

The town of Bastogne had been bombed by the massive German army from the 18th of December. The town  was defended by the 101st Airborne Division under the command of General A.C. McAuliffe. During a six day period, Bastogne underwent an unimaginable siege. Nearby, neighbouring villages of Neffe, Marvie and Champs horrible battles raged during which weary soldiers from both armies fell in the cold snow in hills of the Ardennes. At 11.25 am on December the 22nd, the Germans ask the Commander at Bastogne to surrender. General McAuliffe's answer, though short, was heard loud and clear and became the rallying cry that echoed throughout the military and the world.. The message was simply "NUTS"

During the next 3 days the siege continued, until the Germans successfully overtake the Kessler farmhouse on their way to Arlon, just a stones throw from Bastogne. The city lay heavily bombarded on the eve, and throughout Christmas Day. However, during the following days the 5th Panzer division under General H.E.von Manteuffel failed to take the city, the brave "101" persisted.

The Germans demanded Bastogne's surrender. Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe's replied, "Nuts." The Germans did not understand, so the Americans explained that "Nuts" meant "go to Hell" The Germans redoubled their efforts to destroy Bastogne and its "Besieged Bastards." They did not succeed.

705th Tank Destroyer Battalion

In the meantime, help was on the way. General George Patton's, 3th Army, turned it's entire force of 250,000 men, north.  With a forced march, amid a miserable winter storm, provided the fastest and most dramatic rescue in military history. Bastogne was freed and on the 26th and 27th of December the 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne received its first reinforcements. However, on the 29th the Germans launch a new attack on the city. Thousand of soldiers hold man-to-man fights in the woods around the city. Finally, the Germans, weakened, and abandoned their positions. On January the 14th 1945 they retreated from Foy, a village 5 Km outside of Bastogne, leaving behind thousands of dead and a completely destroyed city.

"White Christmas Red Snow...
As the ground shook under the impact of the heavy shelling, the snow covered battlefield soon became an spectrum of bright flares and deafening explosions and machine-gun tracers .... The attack was on, it was Christmas Day already, lying face down in the bottom of my icy foxhole, I remember praying both in English and Spanish."

Ed Peniche, DMOR 502d Infantry 101st Abn. Division.

Let it be remembered that on that Christmas eve 1944, as the war rained terror on the city, the Lufftwaffe bombed Bastogne not once, but twice. Yet, on that unholy night, history has recorded, an unforgettable Holy mass took place in the town, as wounded Airborne soldiers shed tears as "Silent Night" was sung, and the German POWs were visited by General A.C. McAuliffe himself. When he entered, they were singing "Stille Nacht" and " O Tannenbaum".
He wished them a Merry Christmas!

GOD BLESS AMERICA, AND GOD BLESS OUR AMERICAN TROOPS

[carlo3b]

Harsh, but it was a very nasty war, and we did not start it.

So true, WAR IS HELL, why can't the liberals get that?

[VOA]

Even in what the general actually said was an "unsanitized" version of what Americans mean
by "Nuts!"...

As they say in Texas...if it ain't the truth...it oughta' be!

[LibKill]

I'd rather die fighting than be on my knees like a coward (or crawling out of a hole like a certain dictator)

You have grit, all he had was power, and it's gone.

[carlo3b]

Happy Holiday sweetie.. :)

Oh holy night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

   Fall on your knees
   Oh hear the angel voices
   Oh night divine
   Oh night when Christ was born
   Oh night divine
   Oh night divine

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend.
Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Words by Chappeau de Roquemaure
Translated by John S. Dwight
 

[LibKill]

So true, WAR IS HELL, why can't the liberals get that?

Umm, stupidity?

Perhaps we have succeeded all too well in making the USA a paradise. There are adults who have never had to break a sweat to earn their bread. And they have the vote.

[carlo3b]

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,
AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT
SHINE UPON THEM.

Sobering, humbling, and necessary for everyone to witness, so they understand.. .Thanks so much..

[HighRoadToChina]

BUMP!!!

[cyborg]

War also flies in the face of their granola crunching unitarian 'WE'RE ALL GOOD PEOPLE' philosophy.

BTW, I agree with you. America is a paradise. However, most libs are miserable and misery loves company. Right now there are libs crying their eyes out because the economy is bouncing back and a man can give his family a good christmas.

[Soaring Feather]

Back at ya!! sweetie!!

One of my favorites. Thank You Carlo.

[Cacique]

ping

[GrandMoM]

GOD BLESS AMERICA, AND GOD BLESS OUR AMERICAN TROOPS-BUMP

[in the Arena]

I've been sitting here trying to compose the perfect reply to this...and it just can't be done...'Nuts' says it all...

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the article!

[dix]

Carlo,

My Dad told me this story when I was a young boy about forty years ago. Thank you so much for reminding me.

BTW, where is the '04 cookbook? It's not going to be a Freeper Christmas without some good recipes (unfortunately we are all on Adkins). No doubt, though when it comes to the kitchen, You da man!

[jellybean]

Silent Night

On a cold Christmas Eve in 1818 pastor Joseph Franz Mohr (1792-1848) walked the three kilometers from his home in the Austrian village of Oberndorf bei Salzburg to visit his friend Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863) in the neighboring town of Arnsdorf bei Laufen. Mohr brought with him a poem he had written some two years earlier. He desperately needed a carol for the Christmas Eve midnight mass that was only hours away. He hoped his friend, a school teacher who also served as the church's choir master and organist, could set his poem to music. And one of the many amazing things about this carol is that Franz Gruber composed the "Stille Nacht" melody for Mohr in just a few hours on that December 24, 1818.

Recent flooding of the nearby Salzach river had put the church organ out of commission, so Gruber composed the music for guitar accompaniment. (The guitar pictured at the top of this page is thought to be the one Joseph Mohr played in 1818.) A few hours after Gruber finished his composition, he and Mohr stood before the altar of the St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf to perform their own work. A local choir group backed them up as the sounds of the brand new carol broke the silence of that "Stille Nacht."

continued...

[LouD]

I spent Thanksgiving at Fort Campbell, and took my son and my nephew (whose father is currently in Baghdad) to the post museum. We watched some very inspiring movies there, and saw some great displays of hardware, including one of the WWII gliders that the 101st rode into battle. The boys loved the story of McAuliffe's response to the Germans, and Patton's quote that "any man that eloquent deserves to be saved."

The mood at Ft. Campbell is somber these days, as the 101st took a lot of casualties in November. Let's keep the Screaming Eagles, 5th SF Group, and everyone else deployed in harm's way in our prayers this Christmas.

[SAMWolf]

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.

---

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."

The German major then asked, "Is the reply negative or affirmative? If it is the latter I will negotiate further."

At this time the Germans were acting in an arrogant and patronizing manner and Harper, who was starting to lose his temper, responded, "The reply is decidedly not affirmative." He then added that, "If you continue your foolish attack your losses will be tremendous."

Harper then put the German officers in a jeep and took them back to where the German enlisted men were detained. He then said to the German captain, "If you don't know what 'Nuts' means, in plain English it is the same as 'Go to Hell'. And I'll tell you something else, if you continue to attack we will kill every goddam 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." Harper then responded, "On your way Bud," he then said, "and good luck to you." Harper later told me he always regretted wishing them good luck.

[GeekDejure]

Is that anything like, Shock and awe?.. :)

Hmmm... lemme see... ewa dna kcohS

I suppose it depends on which side of the mirror you're on !!! ;-))

.

[carlo3b]

Amazing Sam, what a wonderful example of the true American spirit, Thank you for your knowledge and your willingness to share it.. :)

[carlo3b]

God Bless your son Lou, and all that sacrifice to keep us free.. Thank them for all of us.. :)