HEADQUARTERS 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION
Office of the Division Commander
24 December 1944
What’s Merry about all this, you ask? We’re fighting — it’s cold, we aren’t
home. All true but what has the proud Eagle Division accomplished with its
worthy comrades the 10th Armored Division, the 705th Tank Destroyer
Battalion and all the rest? Just this: We have stopped cold everything that
has been thrown at us from the North, East, South and West. We have
identifications from four German Panzer Divisions, two German Infantry
Divisions and one German Parachute Division. These units, spearheading the
last desperate German lunge, were headed straight west for key points when
the Eagle Division was hurriedly ordered to stem the advance. How
effectively this was done will be written in history; not alone in our
Division’s glorious history but in World history. The Germans actually did
surround us, their radios blared our doom. Their Commander demanded our
surrender in the following imprudent arrogance:
December 22nd 1944
“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 Ourthe near Ortheuville, have taken
Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompres-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 the 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 hour’s term.
All the serious civilian losses caused by this Artillery fire would not
correspond with the well known American humanity.
The German Commander”
The German Commander received the following reply:
22 December 1944
“To the German Commander:
N U T S !
The American Commander”
Allied Troops are counterattacking in force. We continue to hold Bastogne.
By holding Bastogne we assure the success of the Allied Armies. We know
that our Division Commander, General Taylor, will say: “Well Done!”
We are giving our country and our loved ones at home a worthy Christmas
present and being privileged to take part in this gallant feat of arms are
truly making for ourselves a Merry Christmas.
/s/ A. C. McAULIFFE
/t/ McAULIFFE
Commanding.
Merry Christmas my fellow deplorables. Keep your hatchet polished and your musket loaded.
We may need both.
Sirhr
Office of the Division Commander
24 December 1944
What’s Merry about all this, you ask? We’re fighting — it’s cold, we aren’t
home. All true but what has the proud Eagle Division accomplished with its
worthy comrades the 10th Armored Division, the 705th Tank Destroyer
Battalion and all the rest? Just this: We have stopped cold everything that
has been thrown at us from the North, East, South and West. We have
identifications from four German Panzer Divisions, two German Infantry
Divisions and one German Parachute Division. These units, spearheading the
last desperate German lunge, were headed straight west for key points when
the Eagle Division was hurriedly ordered to stem the advance. How
effectively this was done will be written in history; not alone in our
Division’s glorious history but in World history. The Germans actually did
surround us, their radios blared our doom. Their Commander demanded our
surrender in the following imprudent arrogance:
December 22nd 1944
“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 Ourthe near Ortheuville, have taken
Marche and reached St. Hubert by passing through Hompres-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 the 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 hour’s term.
All the serious civilian losses caused by this Artillery fire would not
correspond with the well known American humanity.
The German Commander”
The German Commander received the following reply:
22 December 1944
“To the German Commander:
N U T S !
The American Commander”
Allied Troops are counterattacking in force. We continue to hold Bastogne.
By holding Bastogne we assure the success of the Allied Armies. We know
that our Division Commander, General Taylor, will say: “Well Done!”
We are giving our country and our loved ones at home a worthy Christmas
present and being privileged to take part in this gallant feat of arms are
truly making for ourselves a Merry Christmas.
/s/ A. C. McAULIFFE
/t/ McAULIFFE
Commanding.
Merry Christmas my fellow deplorables. Keep your hatchet polished and your musket loaded.
We may need both.
Sirhr
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