Posted on 12/20/2003 7:18:10 PM PST by 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.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"Specialist 5 Michael R. Fishcher 50th Military History Detachment, Bozeman Montana
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.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.705th Tank Destroyer Battalion
"White Christmas Red Snow...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".
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.
He wished them a Merry Christmas!GOD BLESS AMERICA, AND GOD BLESS OUR AMERICAN TROOPS
I always get a kick out of the scene in "The Battle of the Bulge" where the German general is handed a note with news of McAuliffe's response on it.
His question to his adjutant after reading the note is; "'Nuts'!? Vas ist 'Nuts'?"
That always cracks me up when I watch it.
From todays local paper Dec 20th,1941, Jap sub sinks ship off West Coast
Well said, back in 1944 and now, 60 years later.
Nuts to them! They had best stand back while the rest of us get on with the business of the greatest country that ever was, in all history.
Both my grandfathers served in WWI.
My father and uncle served in WWII.
My brother served in Viet Nam.
I served in Desert Storm.
One son served in Iraqi Freedom.
One son is on his way to Baghdad soon.
I can only agree . .
The Germans did not understand, so the Americans explained that "Nuts" meant "go to Hell" ... LOLOLOLOL
Tyranny, has no calender.. and the response doesn't change with time.. FIGHT, and DEFEAT!
SNOOPY'S CHRISTMAS (SNOOPY Vs. THE RED BARON)
The Royal Guardsmen - 1966
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
The news had come out in the First World War
The bloody Red Baron was flying once more
The Allied command ignored all of its men
And called on Snoopy to do it again.
Twas the night before Christmas, 40 below
When Snoopy went up in search of his foe
He spied the Red Baron, fiercely they fought
With ice on his wings Snoopy knew he was caught.
Christmas bells those Christmas bells
Ring out from the land
Asking peace of all the world
And good will to man
The Baron had Snoopy dead in his sights
He reached for the trigger to pull it up tight
Why he didn't shoot, well, we'll never know
Or was it the bells from the village below.
Christmas bells those Christmas bells
Ringing through the land
Bringing peace to all the world
And good will to man
The Baron made Snoopy fly to the Rhine
And forced him to land behind the enemy lines
Snoopy was certain that this was the end
When the Baron cried out, "Merry Christmas, my friend"
The Baron then offered a holiday toast
And Snoopy, our hero, saluted his host
And then with a roar they were both on their way
Each knowing they'd meet on some other day.
Christmas bells those Christmas bells
Ringing through the land
Bringing peace to all the world
And good will to man
GOD BLESS AMERICA, AND GOD BLESS OUR AMERICAN TROOPS
The greatest country in the world with it's continuous "GREATEST GENERATION".. :)
What is this, eternal truth time? :)
Given the choice between fight and die, and licking a jackboot, well there isn't much choice, is there?
FRee men will always fight tyranny.
Thus.. NUTS!.. :)
God Bless your boy, and his fellow soldiers.. Thank God for families such as yours..
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