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A Fixture
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General Anthony McAuliffe
101st Airborne 1944
1/10 scale resin bust
Sculpted by: Carl Reid
Box art painted by: Jason Green
Item: CR04
GENERAL ANTHONY MCAULIFFE
101ST AIRBORNE 1944
GENERAL ANTHONY CLEMENT "NUTS" MCAULIFFE (JULY 2, 1898 – AUGUST 11, 1975) WAS THE UNITED STATES ARMY GENERAL WHO COMMANDED THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION TROOPS DEFENDING 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!"
AFTER THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, MCAULIFFE WAS GIVEN COMMAND OF HIS OWN DIVISION, THE 103RD INFANTRY DIVISION OF THE US 7TH ARMY, WHICH HE LED FROM JANUARY 15, 1945, TO JULY 1945, AFTER THE WAR IN EUROPE ENDED.
MCAULIFFE WAS BORN IN WASHINGTON, D.C., ON JULY 2, 1898. HE WAS A STUDENT AT WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY FROM 1916 TO 1917. HE ENROLLED AT WEST POINT IN 1917. MCAULIFFE WAS PART OF AN ACCELERATED PROGRAM AND GRADUATED BRIEFLY AFTER THE END OF WORLD WAR I, IN NOVEMBER OF 1918. DURING THIS TIME PERIOD HE VISITED EUROPE FOR A SHORT WHILE AND TOURED THROUGH SEVERAL BATTLEFIELDS. THEN WHEN HE WAS ASSIGNED TO FIELD ARTILLERY, HE GRADUATED FROM THE ARTILLERY SCHOOL IN 1920. JUST BEFORE THE JAPANESE ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR IN DECEMBER 1941, HE WAS PROMOTED YET AGAIN, TEMPORARILY BECOMING A LIEUTENANT COLONEL WITH THE SUPPLY DIVISION OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT GENERAL STAFF. WHILE IN THIS POSITION, MCAULIFFE SUPERVISED THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH NEW TECHNOLOGY AS THE BAZOOKA AND THE JEEP.
AT THE START OF WORLD WAR II BRIGADIER GENERAL 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 BY GLIDER INTO HOLLAND DURING OPERATION MARKET GARDEN.
IN DECEMBER 1944, WHEN THE GERMAN ARMY LAUNCHED THE SURPRISE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, MAJOR GENERAL MAXWELL D. TAYLOR, COMMANDER OF THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, WAS AWAY, ATTENDING A STAFF CONFERENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. IN TAYLOR'S ABSENCE, ACTING COMMAND OF THE 101ST AND ITS ATTACHED TROOPS FELL TO MCAULIFFE. AT BASTOGNE, THE 101ST WAS BESIEGED BY A FAR-LARGER FORCE OF GERMANS UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL HEINRICH FREIHERR VON LÜTTWITZ. ON DECEMBER 22, 1944, THROUGH A PARTY CONSISTING OF A MAJOR, A LIEUTENANT, AND TWO ENLISTED MEN UNDER A FLAG OF TRUCE THAT ENTERED THE AMERICAN LINES SOUTHEAST OF BASTOGNE (OCCUPIED BY COMPANY F, 2ND BATTALION, 327TH GLIDER INFANTRY), GENERAL 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 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’.
ACCORDING TO VARIOUS ACCOUNTS FROM THOSE PRESENT, WHEN MCAULIFFE WAS TOLD OF THE GERMAN DEMAND FOR SURRENDER HE SAID "NUTS". AT A LOSS FOR AN OFFICIAL REPLY, LT. COL. HARRY KINNARD SUGGESTED THAT HIS FIRST REMARK SUMMED UP THE SITUATION WELL, WHICH WAS AGREED TO BY THE OTHERS. THE OFFICIAL REPLY WAS TYPED AND DELIVERED BY COLONEL JOSEPH HARPER, COMMANDING THE 327TH GLIDER INFANTRY, AND HIS S-3, MAJOR ALVIN JONES, TO THE GERMAN DELEGATION. IT WAS AS FOLLOWS:
‘TO THE GERMAN COMMANDER’ : NUTS!
‘THE AMERICAN COMMANDER’
Suffice it to say, the Germans were perplexed at the short reply. Harper offered an explanation of the meaning of the word to the Germans, telling them that in "plain English" it meant "Go to hell." The word choice came directly from McAuliffe and was typical for him. Vincent Vicari, his personal aide at the time, recalled that "General Mac was the only general I ever knew who did not use profane language. 'Nuts' was part of his normal vocabulary."
The threatened artillery fire did not materialize, although several infantry and tank assaults were directed at the positions of the 327th Glider Infantry. In addition, the German Luftwaffe entered the attacks on the town, bombing it nightly. The 101st was able to hold off the Germans until the 4th Armored Division arrived on December 26 to provide reinforcement.
For his actions at Bastogne, McAuliffe was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Patton on Dec. 30, 1944, followed later by the Distinguished Service Medal.
After the Battle of the Bulge, McAuliffe was given command of his own division, the 103rd Infantry Division of the US 7th Army, which he led from January 15, 1945, to July 1945
General Anthony McAuliffe
101st Airborne 1944
1/10 scale resin bust
Sculpted by: Carl Reid
Box art painted by: Jason Green
Item: CR04
GENERAL ANTHONY MCAULIFFE
101ST AIRBORNE 1944
GENERAL ANTHONY CLEMENT "NUTS" MCAULIFFE (JULY 2, 1898 – AUGUST 11, 1975) WAS THE UNITED STATES ARMY GENERAL WHO COMMANDED THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION TROOPS DEFENDING 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!"
AFTER THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, MCAULIFFE WAS GIVEN COMMAND OF HIS OWN DIVISION, THE 103RD INFANTRY DIVISION OF THE US 7TH ARMY, WHICH HE LED FROM JANUARY 15, 1945, TO JULY 1945, AFTER THE WAR IN EUROPE ENDED.
MCAULIFFE WAS BORN IN WASHINGTON, D.C., ON JULY 2, 1898. HE WAS A STUDENT AT WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY FROM 1916 TO 1917. HE ENROLLED AT WEST POINT IN 1917. MCAULIFFE WAS PART OF AN ACCELERATED PROGRAM AND GRADUATED BRIEFLY AFTER THE END OF WORLD WAR I, IN NOVEMBER OF 1918. DURING THIS TIME PERIOD HE VISITED EUROPE FOR A SHORT WHILE AND TOURED THROUGH SEVERAL BATTLEFIELDS. THEN WHEN HE WAS ASSIGNED TO FIELD ARTILLERY, HE GRADUATED FROM THE ARTILLERY SCHOOL IN 1920. JUST BEFORE THE JAPANESE ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR IN DECEMBER 1941, HE WAS PROMOTED YET AGAIN, TEMPORARILY BECOMING A LIEUTENANT COLONEL WITH THE SUPPLY DIVISION OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT GENERAL STAFF. WHILE IN THIS POSITION, MCAULIFFE SUPERVISED THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH NEW TECHNOLOGY AS THE BAZOOKA AND THE JEEP.
AT THE START OF WORLD WAR II BRIGADIER GENERAL 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 BY GLIDER INTO HOLLAND DURING OPERATION MARKET GARDEN.
IN DECEMBER 1944, WHEN THE GERMAN ARMY LAUNCHED THE SURPRISE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, MAJOR GENERAL MAXWELL D. TAYLOR, COMMANDER OF THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION, WAS AWAY, ATTENDING A STAFF CONFERENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. IN TAYLOR'S ABSENCE, ACTING COMMAND OF THE 101ST AND ITS ATTACHED TROOPS FELL TO MCAULIFFE. AT BASTOGNE, THE 101ST WAS BESIEGED BY A FAR-LARGER FORCE OF GERMANS UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL HEINRICH FREIHERR VON LÜTTWITZ. ON DECEMBER 22, 1944, THROUGH A PARTY CONSISTING OF A MAJOR, A LIEUTENANT, AND TWO ENLISTED MEN UNDER A FLAG OF TRUCE THAT ENTERED THE AMERICAN LINES SOUTHEAST OF BASTOGNE (OCCUPIED BY COMPANY F, 2ND BATTALION, 327TH GLIDER INFANTRY), GENERAL 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 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’.
ACCORDING TO VARIOUS ACCOUNTS FROM THOSE PRESENT, WHEN MCAULIFFE WAS TOLD OF THE GERMAN DEMAND FOR SURRENDER HE SAID "NUTS". AT A LOSS FOR AN OFFICIAL REPLY, LT. COL. HARRY KINNARD SUGGESTED THAT HIS FIRST REMARK SUMMED UP THE SITUATION WELL, WHICH WAS AGREED TO BY THE OTHERS. THE OFFICIAL REPLY WAS TYPED AND DELIVERED BY COLONEL JOSEPH HARPER, COMMANDING THE 327TH GLIDER INFANTRY, AND HIS S-3, MAJOR ALVIN JONES, TO THE GERMAN DELEGATION. IT WAS AS FOLLOWS:
‘TO THE GERMAN COMMANDER’ : NUTS!
‘THE AMERICAN COMMANDER’
Suffice it to say, the Germans were perplexed at the short reply. Harper offered an explanation of the meaning of the word to the Germans, telling them that in "plain English" it meant "Go to hell." The word choice came directly from McAuliffe and was typical for him. Vincent Vicari, his personal aide at the time, recalled that "General Mac was the only general I ever knew who did not use profane language. 'Nuts' was part of his normal vocabulary."
The threatened artillery fire did not materialize, although several infantry and tank assaults were directed at the positions of the 327th Glider Infantry. In addition, the German Luftwaffe entered the attacks on the town, bombing it nightly. The 101st was able to hold off the Germans until the 4th Armored Division arrived on December 26 to provide reinforcement.
For his actions at Bastogne, McAuliffe was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Patton on Dec. 30, 1944, followed later by the Distinguished Service Medal.
After the Battle of the Bulge, McAuliffe was given command of his own division, the 103rd Infantry Division of the US 7th Army, which he led from January 15, 1945, to July 1945
