Today is the 80th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Bulge. The 101st Airborne, now essentially infantry, were surrounded a few days later, fighting the Germans in extreme weather conditions, with little in the way of provisions, received the Germans’ following message, and a response was necessary. I’ve read several books dealing with the battle, and there is more to the story, but this is the gist. I hope our history of this stays the same.
The response was a word I heard my dad repeat occasionally, but it had no meaning to me until I read several books on Bastogne’s defense. Although I never fully understood its significance because it seems tame by today’s standards, it did have a real, specific meaning, and there’s more to the story than is here.
Some interpret it as “Go to hell!” or a more colorful “F*ck you!” but the essence is clear: it was a firm and resolute “No way!” In the movie, when the German general asks for a translation, he is told, “Go to hell!” Here is the exchange between German Colonel General Alred Jodl and General Anthony McAuliffe, who was the acting division commander of the 101st Airborne Division
“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. 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 typed reply centered on a full sheet of paper. It read:
“December 22, 1944
To the German Commander,
N U T S !
The American Commander”