ALS signed “A. C. McAuliffe,” one page, 8.5 x 11, March 7, 1972. Handwritten letter to "Mr. Bean and Friends," explaining the origin of his famous nickname. In part: "The Battle of the Bulge was the last, dying effort of Hitler, the German dictator, to avoid defeat. But the American suffered almost 80,000 casualties, the most costly battle in our history. When the German Commander demanded our surrender, I replied 'Nuts' because I thought he was bluffing and we were winning the fight for Bastogne. I was right." In fine condition.
In December 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge—part of the Allied invasion of Northwest Europe—American forces defended the small French town of Bastogne, a vital road junction, against Hitler's Ardennes offensive. Acting American divisional commander of the 101st Airborne Division, Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe, without higher orders, made the decision to hold the town against the powerful German advance. On December 22, 1944, the German commander wrote to McAuliffe, demanding that he give up: '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.' McAuliffe's fearless reply—'Nuts!'—followed by the 101st Airborne's masterful defense of Bastogne has become the stuff of legend. Even the arrival of two German reserve divisions failed to dislodge the Americans, and the 101st was finally relieved by General George S. Patton's 3rd Army on December 26, 1944. McAuliffe was subsequently promoted to Major General.
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