On the 21 December, General Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz the German commander offered surrender terms to Gen. Anthony McAuliffe, the senior officer of the American units surrounded at Bastogne. McAuliffe's famous one word reply "Nuts!" It was actually Major Alvin Jones took the terms to General McAuliffe and Lieutenant Colonel Ned D. Moore who was acting Chief of Staff. The paper called for the surrender of the Bastogne garrison and threatened its complete destruction or else. It appealed to the "Well known American humanity" to save the people of Bastogne from further suffering. The Americans were to have two hours in which to consider. The two enemy officers would have to be released by 1400 but another hour would pass before the Germans would resume their attack.
Colonel Harper, commanding the 327th, went with Jones to Division Headquarters. The two German officers were left with Captain Adams. Members of the staff were grouped around General McAuliffe when Harper and Jones arrived.5 McAuliffe asked someone what the paper contained and was told that it requested a surrender.
He laughed and said, "Aw, nuts!" It really seemed funny to him at the time. He figured he was giving the Germans "one hell of a beating" and that all of his men knew it. The demand was all out of line with the existing situation.6
But McAuliffe realized that some kind of reply had to be made and he sat down to think it over. Pencil in hand, he sat there pondering for a few minutes and then he remarked, "Well, I don't know what to tell them." He asked the staff what they thought and Colonel Kinnard, his G-3 replied, "That first remark of yours would be hard to beat."
General McAuliffe didn't understand immediately what Kinnard was referring to. Kinnard reminded him, "You said 'Nuts!'" That drew applause all around. All members of the staff agreed with much enthusiasm and because of their approval McAuliffe decided to send that message back to the Germans.
Then he called Colonel Harper in and asked him how he would reply to the message. Harper thought for a minute but before he could compose anything General McAuliffe gave him the paper on which he had written his one-word reply and asked, "Will you see that it's delivered?" "I will deliver it myself," answered Harper. "It will be a lot of fun." McAuliffe told him not to go into the German lines.
Colonel Harper returned to the command post of Company F. The two Germans were standing in the wood blindfolded and under guard. Harper said, "I have the American commander's reply."
The German captain asked, "Is it written or verbal?"
"It is written," said Harper.
And then be said to the German major, "I will stick it in your hand."
The German captain translated the message. The major then asked, "Is the reply negative or affirmative? If it is the latter I will negotiate further."
All of this time the Germans were acting in an upstage and patronizing manner. Colonel Harper was beginning to lose his temper. He said, "The reply is decidedly not affirmative." Then he added, "If you continue this foolish attack your losses will be tremendous." The major nodded his head.
Harper put the two officers in the jeep and took them back to the main road where the German privates were waiting with the white flag.
He then removed the blindfold and said to them, speaking through the German captain, "If you don't understand what 'Nuts' means, in plain English it is the same as 'Go to hell.' And I will 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." It was then 13:50.
"On your way, Bud," said Colonel Harper, "and good luck to you.
Excerpt from the book "The last voices from the Battle of the Bulge" by Michael Collins and Martin King  The 'NUTS' cellar |  | | It was in this very "Cellar" at what is presently a Belgian Military Barracks that Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe had the Headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division. It is in this "Cellar" that the General wrote the world famous reply "NUTS" to the German ultimatum to surrender on December 22, 1944. This place ubiquitously known as the "Nuts Cellar" is a historical marker maintained and cared for by my friends who are all serving Belgian army regulars. |
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