Highlights of Bastogne Belgium ‘Nuts’ Weekend Celebration ‘Battle of the Bulge’ 79th Anniversary

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AFN Vicenza
Video by Staff Sgt. Brandon Rickert
BASTOGNE, BELGIUM
12.16.2023

Nuts! weekend in Bastogne Belgium. Where soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) marched with WWII veterans, a local band, members of the Belgian military, Soldiers from Benelux, Belgian school children, and members of the community during a parade to celebrate the 79th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, in Bastogne, Belgium.

Followed by commemorations and wreath layings. B-roll of Nut tossing and video from inside the Bastogne War Museum. Ending with footage from the Bois Jacques Foxholes - Easy Company.

On December 22, 1944, von Lüttwitz dispatched a party, consisting of a major, a lieutenant, and two enlisted men under a flag of truce to deliver an ultimatum. Entering the American lines southeast of Bastogne (occupied by Company F, 2nd Battalion, 327th Glider Infantry), the German party delivered the following to Gen. McAuliffe

To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.

The fortune of war is changing. This time strong German armored units have encircled the U.S.A. forces in and near Bastogne. More German armored units have crossed the river Ourthe 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. 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-hour term.

All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well-known American humanity.

The German Commander.

Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe and his staff gathered inside Bastogne's Heintz Barracks for Christmas dinner on December 25, 1944. This military barracks served as the Division Main Command Post during the siege of Bastogne, Belgium during World War II.
According to those present when McAuliffe received the German message, he read it, crumpled it into a ball, threw it in a wastepaper basket, and muttered, "Aw, nuts". The officers in McAuliffe's command post were trying to find suitable language for an official reply when Lieutenant Colonel Harry Kinnard suggested that McAuliffe's first response summed up the situation well, and the others agreed. The official reply was typed and delivered by Colonel Joseph Harper, commanding the 327th Glider Infantry, to the German delegation. It was as follows:

To the German Commander.

NUTS!

The American Commander.

The German major appeared confused and asked Harper what the message meant. Harper said, "In plain English? Go to hell." The choice of "Nuts!" rather than something earthier was typical for McAuliffe. Captain Vincent Vicari, his personal aide at the time, recalled that "General Mac was the only general I ever knew who did not use profane language. 'Nuts' was part of his normal vocabulary."