Who was the US general who replied 'Nuts!' to the German surrender demand at Bastogne?

Anthony McAuliffe was the US general who replied “Nuts!” to the German surrender demand at Bastogne.

The demand came on December 22, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge. German forces had surrounded Bastogne, a vital Belgian road junction defended by the US 101st Airborne Division and attached units. Major General Maxwell Taylor was away, so Brigadier General McAuliffe served as the division’s acting commander.

A German delegation delivered an ultimatum demanding surrender and warning that the American forces faced destruction. McAuliffe reportedly read the message, reacted with “Aw, nuts,” and then approved the word as the official written reply. Colonel Joseph Harper delivered the response to the German officers, who needed an explanation of the slang; Harper summarized it as “Go to hell.”

The 101st Airborne continued resisting until troops from General George Patton’s 4th Armored Division reached Bastogne on December 26. McAuliffe later received the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership. A common mix-up is crediting Patton, who commanded the relief force, rather than McAuliffe, who led the besieged defenders.