On this day, December 16, in 1944 the Germans launched their last major offensive of the war. Called the Battle of the Bulge, Operation Mist, or the Ardennes Offensive this battle was the largest on the western front and lasted for several weeks. Under cover of heavy fog and the Ardennes Forest, 250,000 Germans attacked 80,000 Americans along an 80 mile long front as they attempted to cut through the allied lines to the coast of Belgium.
It was during this battle that the 101st Airborne Division was completely surrounded at the town of Bastogne. Given the opportunity to surrender or face annihilation, U.S. Major General Anthony McAuliffe sent this terse reply to the German Commander on December 22:
To the German Commander:
Nuts!
From the American Commander
The 101st held on until relieved by elements of General Patton’s 3rd Army on December 26th.
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