Need help with a photo ID

I don't have time just now to be more detailed, but during the siege of Bastogne two German soldiers ( from, I think, Panzer Lehr ) approached an American outpost under the white flag, bearing a note from the local German Commander.

The note was taken to the US Commander ( General Anthony McAuliffe )'s Intelligence Officer.

The note was written in very formal military terms, requesting the surrender of the US Forces in Bastogne.

McAuliffe appeared and asked his intelligence officers what was going on. They explained and McAuliffe, who considered his position to be actually quite strong and the German request absurd, laughed it off, saying 'Aw, Nuts !'.

The IO said that of course, an official reply must be sent. McAuliffe said that this situation was new to him, what should he say ? The IO suggested that the General's first response summed it up pretty well. 'What was that ?' said McAuliffe.

And so the one word reply went back, the Germans were horrified at this disregard of military protocol ; the Americans, on the other hand, loved it and it's passed into folklore.

Nuts !

( Someone else will doubtless post with the correct names, ranks etc but basically that' the story ).

 

Admiral Yam :

Nuts, meaning got to Hell !

E

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.........HAHAHAHAHAHA....wut a comedian

 

What's so funny ? !

The German with the white flag asked the interpretor what the General meant by his statement, the interpretor also told the German F*** you !

E

 

Extra info:

McAuliffe had a formal response typed on bond paper that read: To the German Commander: Nuts! From the American Commander. The note was then delivered to the German officers waiting at the 327th by Colonel Joseph Harper. Of course, the Germans were unfamiliar with the American slang and arrogantly demanded Harper explain the note's meaning. He did, "If you don't understand what 'Nuts' means, in plain English it is the same as 'Go to hell.' I will tell you something else. If you continue to attack, we will kill every goddamn German that tries to break into this city."

Upon learning of the initial German success, Lieutenant Colonel Creighton Abrams, then a tank battalion commander in the 4th Armored Division, made the second most famous remark of the battle as his unit prepared to launch its counter-offensive, "They've got us surrounded again, the poor bastards."

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/6537/stands.htm

 

xxxx

 

It's good to be able to pull this old thread out of the archives....

The latest edition of 'After The Battle' ( #142 ) carries a 'Poteau Update' from Jean Paul Pallud.

It's a fascinating little article for anyone interested in the Ardennes '44, and returns once again to the legendary series of Waffen-SS photos taken at Poteau. Several of the soldiers have now been identified, but NOT the famous one of the smoking, Browning HP35-toting man.

Amusingly, J-P P refers to 'The name of Walter Armbust was put forward on on one web forum, but it soon became evident that this was a mix-up between a real veteran and the wrong photo...'

( These internet forums, eh....? )

As I said, a totally absorbing article for the enthusiast, which even contains the original 'dope sheet' of captions captured with the photos.

Recommended !