Battle of the Bulge: Did McAuliffe really reply "Nuts"?

Back in high school, I had a 12th grade history teacher who chuckled
about the "Nuts" reply to the German's surrender demand. He didn't
tell us what was actually said, but implied it had to be cleaned up by the
press. 15 years later, a fellow who had been a 1st Lt. who was wounded
and recovered as a POW told me pretty much the same story. Pretty trivial
but has anyone ever heard this? I've been curious all these years...

 

Colonel Joseph Harper, who delivered the message to the Germans then told the German runner that it meant, "Go to hell!". You know, just so there wouldn't be any confusion.
Apparently, McAuliffe said, "Aw, nuts!" as his original reply. He was trying to think of something really bitter and defiant to send back. Lieutenant Colonel Harry Kinnard said, "That first crack you made would be hard to beat."
Just read about this earlier today.
Source:Delivered From Evil by Robert Leckie

 

It's fair to say that it's 99.99% certain that McAuliffe actually did say it. I've read various books where the authors have researched the question quite hard and all have concluded that this is indeed a WWII 'tall tale' which is quite true.....

 

That version (humancertainty's) makes a lot of sense and operates on several levels as well.

 

Agreed. Probably the average Joe heard the scuttlebut version as "Go to Hell!" and assumed it was cleaned up by the press.

 

General Anthony C McAuliffe "AW NUTS"..according link..

 

Evidently "Nuts" was something of a low-level expletive back then. Patton said it was the only expletive he didn't use (presumably not colorful enough).

 

I like the 'aw, nuts' possibility. Personally, I never understood why people were always so tickled when the narrator gets to the part where he talks about the reply and spits out the word "Nuts!".

 

It was used at times to refer to certain paired structures on the male anatomy.

 

At least one of his staff officer stated that McAuliffe's response was less out of spite than sheer amusement; his paratroopers had been hammering the Germans all day and he had just returned from a tour of the front, giving the talk and awarding medals to soldiers. He genuinely felt the demand for 101st's surrender was inappropriate and funny in light of the military situation. Maybe he was even offended.

 

McAuliffe's famous reply seems in keeping with his persona. He tended to present a straightforward character and didn't communicate with military formality. Another example is the moment when Bastogne was relieved ; when the 4th AD's CCR made it through, Captain William Dwight presented himself to McAuliffe and, with a brisk salute, asked : 'How are you, General ?'.

McAuliffe's recorded reply was 'Gee - I am mighty glad to see you !'

I've always personally thought that McAuliffe did a great job - the right man in the right place.

Interesting that today, Luttwitz' seeking of the Bastogne garrison's surrender is seen as probably the 'largest German psychological blunder of the campaign' ( Winton, 'Corps Commanders Of The Bulge' ). Luttwitz was under great pressure to both eliminate the defence of Bastogne and also to advance Westward - possibly thinking of the surrender at the Schnee Eifel, he was hoping for a quick, cheap victory.

 

apparently, the local town of Bastonge is quite famous for the quality of the nuts that it produces. Locals were mystified by McAuliffe's response, not being familiar with American expletives. They assumed that Gen. McAuliffe was, actually, referring to the local 'nuts'. It's difficult to say just what the response of the German Commanders may have been; they were more than likely mystified by the colorful response just as the Belgians were.

 

I read that the term was explained to the initially-mystified German commander in clear, unequivocal terms.

 

Restaurant in Bastogne on the McAuliffe Square



I just had a good steak in it on Sunday

 

That's great!

 

If McAuliffe replied with a less mundane expletive four letter word such as "f**k you", like what I would expect Gen. Patton would have said, would that get worldwide attention by the press and the great admiration of the people? Let me tell you, I bet there were many occasions during battle whereby our commanders have uttered highy expletive words to fit the occasion and I bet they were not "my heavens!" or "for goodness sake!".