Talk:Anthony McAuliffe/2013/April

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One of McAuliffe's subordinates (quite possibly Ross Whitehead, I did not write down the name) mentioned in a recent Belgian documentary that McAuliffe's initial reaction was "oh, nuts" because he was genuinely under the impression that the Germans wanted to surrender. Then they contemplated what would be the official response to the Germans and the subordinate suggested that McAuliffe's initial reply would be a good one. While delivering the response to the Germans they did use the F word when they said they would shoot at any Germans attempting to enter the city of Bastoigne.

I've removed the account by Ross Whitehead. The only web references to it are Wikipedia clones. There are several that back up the version that I've replaced it with. DJ Clayworth 14:37, 23 September 2005 (UTC)

In a letter to the editor of The New York Times published in the July 19, 1987 edition, Charles B. MacDonald, the author of "A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge" took exception to an essay on war written by William Manchester and published in the June 14, 1987 edition. In that essay, Mr Manchester wrote that General McAuliffe did not say "Nuts" in response to the German demand for surrender. Mr. MacDonald stated that he heard it from General McAuliffe himself and from his operations officer, Harry Kinnard, who was present, that McAuliffe did indeed say "Nuts!". Mr. MacDonald included a comment about his 1949 interview with General McAuliffe in his book. You can find it in the end notes for Chapter XXIV. Bastogne 15:47, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

Lt. Col. Kinnard is the man who decided what to say in the formal speech Gen. McAuliffe gave to the soldiers at Bastogne. This speech (as seen on HBO's Band of Brothers) might be confused by some with Col. Harper's official reply to the Germans. Kinnard was one of those around Gen. McAuliffe who encouraged the use of "Nuts!"

Reply: General McAuliffe never gave a speech to the soldiers in Bastogne. He did circulate his Christmas message. It was drafted by Lt. Col. Kinnard and after General McAuliffe's approval, was run off on a copying machine and distributed to the troops. (See reply below to Henry H. and link to view Christmas message.) Bastogne (talk) 01:46, 2 October 2010 (UTC)

''At a loss for an official reply, those around him said that his first remark summed the situation up well. The official reply: 'To the German Commander, "Nuts!"' was typed and delivered by Colonel Harper to the German delegation.''

Reply: The only person who suggested that "his first remark summed the situation up well" was Lt. Col. Kinnard. Upon hearing that suggestion, those around agreed. Bastogne (talk) 12:15, 2 October 2010 (UTC)

OK, I have seen all this discussion about what was said, many times. What I want to know is what was written down and the evidence for it. In 1947 and 1948 there was the "Freedom Train" tour. My recollection is that among other things, the train contained the document. But, I can find no mention of that,or the document. Everything else is in wiki, why not this?

Henry H. Henry H. 17:43, 4 February 2007 (UTC) 11/13/05

Reply to Henry H.: The document that was in the Freedon Train was a copy of General McAuliffe's message to the troops on Christmas 1944. It included the text of both the German surrender demand and the succinct reply of General McAuliffe. It was composed by Lt. Col. Kinnard on Christmas Eve while General McAuliffe was attending a Catholic Mass being held in Savy, where one on his artillery units was based. When he returned to the HQ, General McAuliffe agreed with what Col. Kinnard had written and it was run off and distributed to the troops. It is mentioned in the series "Band of Brothers", episode 6. A copy of that message is occasionally sold on eBay. I have added a link to a scan of my copy of the message.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t181/bastogne_kjm/1944Xmas_msg.jpg

Bastogne 15:39, 5 February 2007 (UTC)


 * The carbon copy of McAuliffe's/Kinnard's original communique to the Germans is on display in Bastogne, at what is colloquially known as the "Nuts" Museum.Solicitr (talk) 17:07, 24 December 2009 (UTC)

Reply: The only communique to the Germans was the NUTS! reply. I believe the carbon copy you are referring to is actually a copy of General McAuliffe's Christmas message to the troops. (see above for link to a copy.) To the best of my knowledge, no carbon copy of the actual typed NUTS! message exists. The original NUTS! reply sent to the Germans has never been found. Historians feel that it is held by someone in the Von Lüttwitz family. Bastogne (talk) 01:36, 2 October 2010 (UTC)