Everything about Anthony Mcauliffe totally explained
General
Anthony Clement McAuliffe (
July 2 1898 -
August 11 1975) was the
United States Army general who commanded the defending
101st Airborne troops during the
Battle of Bastogne,
Belgium, during the
Battle of the Bulge in
World War II. He is famous for his single-word reply to a
German surrender ultimatum: "Nuts!"
History
Born in
Washington, D.C. on
July 2 1899, McAuliffe was a student at
West Virginia University from 1916-17, and graduated from
West Point in November of 1918. He rose through the ranks from
Second Lieutenant in 1918 to
General in 1955.
World War II
McAuliffe was serving as Commander of Division
Artillery of the
101st Airborne Division when he parachuted into
Normandy on
D-Day and when he entered into
Holland during
Operation Market Garden in a
glider. In December of 1944, when the German army launched their surprise offensive, General
Maxwell D. Taylor, commander of the the 101st Airborne Division, was attending a staff conference in the United States.
Battle of the Bulge
In Taylor's absence, acting command of the 101st and its attached troops fell to McAuliffe. At Bastogne the 101st was put under siege by a far-larger force of Germans under the command of General
Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz, who soon demanded that the Americans surrender. McAuliffe sent back to Lüttwitz his now-famous reply: "NUTS!" The 101st was able to hold off the German assault until the
4th Armored Division arrived to provide reinforcement. For his actions at Bastogne, McAuliffe was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross by
General Patton on December 30, 1944, followed later by the Distinguished Service Medal.
Post-war
After the Battle of the Bulge was over, McAuliffe was given command of his own division, the
103rd Infantry Division (United States) of the US 7th Army. He led the division from January 15th 1945 to July, 1945.
Following the war, McAuliffe held many positions, including the Chief Chemical Officer of the
Army Chemical Corps, and G-1, Head of Army Personnel. He returned to Europe as Commander of the
Seventh Army in 1953, and Commander-in-Chief of the
United States Army Europe in 1955. He was promoted to general on March 1, 1955.
Retirement
In 1956 he retired from the Army. He worked for
American Cyanamid Corporation from 1956-63. At American Cyanamid, he was Vice President for Personnel. He began a program to teach employees to maintain contact with local politicians. The company now requires all branch managers to at least introduce themselves to local politicians. McAuliffe also served as chairman of the
New York State Civil Defense Commission from 1960-1963.
He resided in
Chevy Chase, Maryland until his death on
August 11,
1975, age 77, and is buried along with his wife, son, and daughter in
Arlington National Cemetery.
"Nuts"
On December 22, 1944, General
Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz sent the following ultimatum to Gen. McAuliffe:
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's 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 wouldn't correspond with the well-known American humanity.
The German Commander.
According to various accounts from those present, when McAuliffe was told of the German demand for surrender he said "Aw, nuts". At a loss for an official reply, Lt. Col. Kinnard suggested that his first remark summed the situation up well, which was agreed to by the others. The official reply: "To the German Commander, NUTS!, The American Commander" was typed and delivered by Colonel Harper and Major Jones to the German delegation. Harper had to explain the meaning of the word to the Germans.
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