General McAuliffe's Christmas Message in Bastogne 1944

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 of 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 impudent 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 Hombres 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

The German Commander received the following reply:

22 December 1944
To the German Commander:

NUTS!

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.

A. C. McAuliffe

It's 65th Anniversay weekend in Bastogne for Battle of the Bulge

We're hitting the road in a few minutes and I'll get some pictures up on this when I get back, but here is a schedule of events for the weekend for you local readers. Doesn't sound like his highness Obama is going to jet over from Copenhagen to apologize for our boys holding back the Germans....that should make life easier for everybody.

I will make the stop for the chocolate moelleux at the Au Coin Fleuri on Chaussée de Houffalize though.

Dec. 12


8 a.m.
32nd Historical Walk, with marches of 8, 12, 16 or 23 kilometers starting in Bastogne.

2:30 p.m.
Parade through Bastogne with commemorative ceremony including a wreath laying at Gen. Patton’s Monument and McAuliffe Square. The event will feature U.S. and Belgian World War II veterans.

4 p.m.
Traditional "Walnut Festival" with throwing of walnuts from the balcony of the Town Hall into the crowd by the mayor of Bastogne and dignitaries.

6 p.m.
Sound & Light historical re-enactment show at Vaux sur Sûre, Belgium, approximately 15 kilometers from Bastogne.

8 p.m.
Historical re-enactment show at Bastogne.

8 p.m.:
Memorial ceremony at the nearby Mardasson Memorial honoring the memory of more than 75,000 U.S. Soldiers killed or wounded during the Battle of the Bulge.

Dec. 13

11 a.m.
Paratrooper drop at the Mardasson Memorial

2:30 p.m.
Military vintage vehicle convoy through Bastogne.

Belgian boy saluting Canadian Troops

I guess their is some hope for civilization after all! A pat on the back to whomever this kids parents are. If you get out of Brussels, especially anywhere near Bastogne you'll find a great deal of respect from Belgians who value their liberty....you tend to do that when you know whats it like to have it taken away.
From the Knokke-Heist march.

Belgium wants their own "Messiah"

An article in the Wall Street Journal today "Europeans Pine for an Obama of Their Own" probably wouldn't be a bad idea for Belgium....but I'm not sure even "The Messiah" himself could get the Flemish and Walloons together. Belgium has to have the most dysfunctional politicians in the history of the planet. He should maybe start out slow by practicing on Quebec first.

Ever since Barack Obama’s election began to look secure, Europeans have dreamed of finding a charismatic post-ideological race-conciliating leader of their own.
Imitating the Obama campaign’s strategic marketing campaign, European supporters printed T-shirts, buttons and bumper stickers of their own. They organized raucous parties on election night and cocktail parties on Tuesday to watch the swearing-in.

All major European national TV networks are carrying the event live. On Tuesday, in downtown Brussels, vendors sold “Obama Belgium” T-shirts. Some residents hung American flags on their balconies, something usually seen only in the country’s south, where the Battle of the Bulge was fought. READ MORE

WW II Memorial Dedication

The city of Jumierge, a small town near Bastogne, will dedicate a memorial to the American Soldiers of the 17th Airborne Division that gave their life for the town during the Battle of the Bulge.

A group of several of the veterans will be on hand for the ceremony scheduled for December 15th at 10:30am. This is a good way to see a piece of history acknowledged and meet some of those who made it happen.

Jumierge is located about 5 miles northwest of Bastogne just off the N4.

TANKS IN TOWN

It’s not a case of tanks or nothing.
The 9th annual Tanks in Town, an annual assembly of World War II tanks in Mons, Belgium, will draw more than just the heavy armor.
There will be the ubiquitous re-enactors, period vehicles, a military flea market, parades and thousands of onlookers for the event, to be held Aug. 25-26.
“This year we may also have some (vintage) planes,” said Pierre Deghaye, president of the Royal Mons Auto Moto Club, which, along with the city of Mons, is sponsoring the event.
The gathering commemorates the Sept. 2, 1944, liberation of Mons by the 1st Infantry Division and 3rd Armored Division. The Battle of Mons led to the defeat of 30,000 German soldiers, though their comrades would soon try to undo matters by launching an offensive that came to be known as the Battle of the Bulge.
Organizers of this year’s event opted to hold their remembrance a week earlier to avoid conflict with another across the border in France, Deghaye said.
The Mons gathering ends on the afternoon of Aug. 26 with a two-prong parade, one consisting of tanks and the other World War II vehicles, including transport trucks to motorcycles. Last year, about 25,000 people lined the two parade routes, Deghaye said.
“Once all the tanks arrive (at the city square), it’s packed,” said Cis Spook, a spokeswoman for U.S. Army Garrison Benelux. “That is the highlight Sunday.”
For some visitors, it’s the day before that holds the greatest promise.
Many of the active participants in the tank and vehicle parades will offer rides to the public. A tank run is especially coveted and interested parties are encouraged to register in advance. Prices will vary depending on the vehicle.
The flea market is also scheduled for Saturday.
For more information on the rides or the weekend, go to the event Web site at: TANKS IN TOWN