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The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Gen. Anthony McAuliffe at Bastonge - Dec. 22nd, 2002
http://www.thedropzone.org/europe/Bulge/kinnard.html ^ | Patrick O'Donnell

Posted on 12/22/2002 12:03:28 AM PST by SAMWolf

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"NUTS!" Revisited


An Interview with Lt. General Harry W. O. Kinnard


On December 16, 1944, the Germans launched their largest offensive of the war on the Western Front. The primary goals of the offensive were to capture the Belgian port of Antwerp and to drive a wedge between the British and American armies. This offensive is often referred to as the "Battle of the Bulge." It's failure was due largely to American resistance around St. Vith, on the northern shoulder of the Bulge, and by American forces holding Bastogne on the southern shoulder of the Bulge.

The town of Bastogne is strategically located at the center of the road network of the Ardennes. The Germans referred to it as a "road octopus" since the majority of roads in that region of the Ardennes pass through the town. The town's strategic location made it vitally important to the outcome of the offensive. The Allies realized its importance and General Eisenhower dispatched the 101st Airborne Division to hold the town at all costs. This victory resulted in the first full Army Division Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation.

This interview focuses on the story surrounding the German's request for the American forces at Bastogne to surrender and the American General's response as witnessed by Lt. General Harry Kinnard, at the time of the siege of Bastogne, a Lt. Col. and Division G-3. These are some of his personal recollections.



We got into Bastogne late on the night of 18 December, 1944. We were not well equipped, having just gotten out of combat in Holland. We were particularly short of winter clothing and footwear. On the 21st of December we became completely surrounded by Germans and our field hospital was overrun by a German attack. We had put the hospital in what would normally have been a safe place, but no place is safe when you are completely surrounded. At this time, we were not able to receive air resupply because the weather was absolutely frightful. It was very, very cold and snowy. Visibility was often measured in yards. Our lack of winter gear was partially offset by the citizens of Bastogne who gave us blankets and white linens that we used for camouflage.

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.

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."

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.



TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: bastonge; bulge; freeperfoxhole; veterans; wwii
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To: AntiJen
Goodnight, Jen. See you when you finish shopping. :) My husband delivered our gifts to California when he went last week. I am glad to have that done:) I will miss the kids and my brother and sister this year. :(
201 posted on 12/22/2002 10:14:53 PM PST by MistyCA
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To: SAMWolf
LMAO! Oh yes....for as long as I have known you! LOLOL!
202 posted on 12/22/2002 10:15:39 PM PST by MistyCA
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To: SAMWolf
Yes...it would seem their inability to improvise killed the offensive.
An American account of the first days, revealed that a U.S. tank regiment had driven by the Germans..only to appear miles away in the wrong place.
had the Germans reconned this..and acted..they could have busted inland quite aways.
This was mentioned as one of the key tactical mistakes early on...and led to things backing up on the germans in that sector..as you mentioned the road system.
Is it possible the Germans felt the U.S. was fleeing..and were waiting a bit so that the roads would be availble to them..with little contact in the process?.
another Bulge website commented about the lack of German artillery activity..tapering off dramatically after the opening of the offensive.
203 posted on 12/22/2002 10:20:36 PM PST by Light Speed
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To: Light Speed
Most of the German artillery was horse drawn and Armor had priorty on the road nets. Once the front line moved artillery had a hard time redeploying.
204 posted on 12/22/2002 10:33:32 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: Light Speed
Kampfgroup Pieper actually did breakthrough early in the battle, but bridges kept getting blown up in in face, his constant detours finally led to him being bottled up in the Ambleve valley in Stoumont and La Gleize, supplies weren't able to get through and he was forced to abandon his heavy equipment and breakout on foot.

The stand at St. Vith and the holding of the northern shoulder prevented any large scale followup of his breakthrough.
205 posted on 12/22/2002 10:39:33 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: SAMWolf; AntiJen; MistyCA; E.G.C.
What an excellent tribute to the bravery that turned back the last counterattack of the Third Reich.

It has always seemed to have been an element of bold valor--witness the lone bazookaman digging the foxhole at the point where "this is as far as they get".

God Speed the Finest Fighting Force on Earth in its current mission.

Swift victory and safe return, with Saddam's head in a jar.

On behalf of Army vet Ted Maher and his friends at Free Republic, our thoughts, prayers and flag flying 24/7 lit dusk to dawn are for our men and women in uniform.

206 posted on 12/22/2002 10:49:52 PM PST by PhilDragoo
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To: SAMWolf
I guess we can only ponder on what might have been if Rommel had not been forced to commit suicide in October of that year.
207 posted on 12/22/2002 10:54:27 PM PST by Light Speed
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To: Light Speed
There was never any real chance of the Germans acheiving their objectives, the best they could hope for was to delay the inevitable. I doubt if even Rommel would have changed the outcome.
208 posted on 12/22/2002 11:04:50 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: PhilDragoo
Considering that the initial attacks feel on green untried units or units that had taken a beating in the Hurtgen Forest, the Americans did pretty well in slowing down the attack.
209 posted on 12/22/2002 11:06:28 PM PST by SAMWolf
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To: SAMWolf
Earlier this week my wife and I had the privilege of sharing a meal with an older couple, friends of ours for many years. He fought both at the Battle of the Bulge and the taking of the bridge at Remagen. He is now in the early stages of Alzheimer's, but it is always an honor to be in his presence. He has the front page of the Stars & Stripes editon detailing the taking of the Remagen Bridge framed on his living room wall (the article carries Andy Rooney's byline).
210 posted on 12/23/2002 5:46:47 AM PST by Reo
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To: PhilDragoo
BTTT!!!!!!
211 posted on 12/23/2002 7:10:13 AM PST by E.G.C.
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To: PhilDragoo
That man who said, "this is as far as they get" has the kind of spirit that we have come to admire so much of our heros. What a credit to humanity. That's the spirit that built this great country.
212 posted on 12/23/2002 8:51:02 AM PST by MistyCA
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To: SAMWolf; MistyCA; AntiJen; All
It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Be sure and
Click the Pics

J

Rock around the Christmas Tree Santa Claus is coming to town Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Deck the Halls White Christmas

Jingle Bells

213 posted on 12/23/2002 3:28:27 PM PST by Fiddlstix
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To: Fiddlstix; SAMWolf; AntiJen
OMG! Do you know how happy I am to see you????? Wow! Merry Christmas to all of us!!! YIPPEE! :)
214 posted on 12/23/2002 6:11:13 PM PST by MistyCA
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To: Reo
Next time you see him tell him I thank him for his service.

I'll have to do a Remagen Bridge thread.
215 posted on 12/23/2002 6:31:34 PM PST by SAMWolf
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