Posted on Dec 22, 2016
Band Of Brothers - Response to offer of surrender: Nuts!
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German troops demand the surrender of United States troops at Bastogne, Belgium, prompting the famous one word reply by General Anthony McAuliffe: "Nuts!"
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:.[citation needed]
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.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_McAuliffe
https://youtu.be/ePCVxoWlB2g
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:.[citation needed]
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.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_McAuliffe
https://youtu.be/ePCVxoWlB2g
WWII World War Two
Military History
American History
Warfare
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 9
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SGT John " Mac " McConnell Strange how one single word can pull a group together and inspire hope and resolve. Great post my friend.
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
SGT John " Mac " McConnell - have the Band of Brothers DVD's, got them from my son one year for Christmas.
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SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
SGT John " Mac " McConnell - my son knows my taste in books, movies, tools and food.
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SGT John " Mac " McConnell, although an unrelated event and a totally different date, McAuliffe's response always reminds me of the words of BG Charles D.W. Canham. Maybe you've heard this story before, but it bears repeating.
"Brigadier General Canham was named the Assistant Division Commander of the 8th Infantry Division. It was in this capacity during the surrender of the German garrison at the Port of Brest that Canham unknowingly gave the 8th Infantry Division its motto. On 19SEP44, upon entering the headquarters of Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke, a famed leader of German paratroops, Ramcke demanded to know the lower ranking Canham's credentials as a condition of surrender. Unruffled, Canham pointed to the dirty and tired American soldiers he had brought with him to witness the surrender and said, 'These are my credentials.' The account of this event, which was reported in the New York Times, saw in this spontaneous statement of a combat leader the greatest tribute ever paid to the real power of the American Army, the individual soldier." (from Wikipedia) Maj Marty Hogan PVT James Strait SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth 1SG(P) (Join to see) SFC George Smith TSgt Joe C.
"Brigadier General Canham was named the Assistant Division Commander of the 8th Infantry Division. It was in this capacity during the surrender of the German garrison at the Port of Brest that Canham unknowingly gave the 8th Infantry Division its motto. On 19SEP44, upon entering the headquarters of Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General) Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke, a famed leader of German paratroops, Ramcke demanded to know the lower ranking Canham's credentials as a condition of surrender. Unruffled, Canham pointed to the dirty and tired American soldiers he had brought with him to witness the surrender and said, 'These are my credentials.' The account of this event, which was reported in the New York Times, saw in this spontaneous statement of a combat leader the greatest tribute ever paid to the real power of the American Army, the individual soldier." (from Wikipedia) Maj Marty Hogan PVT James Strait SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth 1SG(P) (Join to see) SFC George Smith TSgt Joe C.
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SGT John " Mac " McConnell
No sir , I haven't heard of this.. Very interesting indeed.. Thanks Stephen.. Gonna have to dig more on this....
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LTC Stephen C.
SGT John " Mac " McConnell, he was one serious soldier and an extraordinary leader. This also from Wikipedia.
"Shortly after hitting Omaha Beach, Canham was shot through the wrist, refusing evacuation, he moved his men off Omaha and inland. Sergeant Bob Slaughter (D Company, 116th) remembers Canham screaming at soldiers to move off the beach and go kill Germans. Slaughter also remembers him yelling at one lieutenant hiding in a pillbox from a German mortar barrage, 'Get your ass out of there and show some leadership!' Don McCarthy (Headquarters Company, 116th) remembers seeing Canham walking upright along the beach in the face of enemy fire, 'I got the hell out of there and moved forward. I was more afraid of Colonel Canham than I was of the Germans.'"
Who wouldn't follow this man?
"Shortly after hitting Omaha Beach, Canham was shot through the wrist, refusing evacuation, he moved his men off Omaha and inland. Sergeant Bob Slaughter (D Company, 116th) remembers Canham screaming at soldiers to move off the beach and go kill Germans. Slaughter also remembers him yelling at one lieutenant hiding in a pillbox from a German mortar barrage, 'Get your ass out of there and show some leadership!' Don McCarthy (Headquarters Company, 116th) remembers seeing Canham walking upright along the beach in the face of enemy fire, 'I got the hell out of there and moved forward. I was more afraid of Colonel Canham than I was of the Germans.'"
Who wouldn't follow this man?
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