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Lot 492
McAuliffe, A.C. Autograph Letter Signed "A C McAuliffe" on engraved, personal stationery, one page, 10¾ x 7¼ in., Chevy Chase, Maryland, June 25, 1972. To "Mr. Yorio" with information on the Battle of the Bulge. In part, "The best book on Bastogne was written by S.L.A. Marshall and entitled: 'Bastogne, The First Eight Days'…A fine book on the bulge is: 'Battle, The Story of the Bulge' by John Toland and published by Random House. My reply to the surrender demand was indeed 'Nuts.'" Accompanied by a First Day Cover for the General Patton Memorial Signed 'Nuts' A C McAuliffe." With cachet of General Patton and a tank and cancelled at Brussels, Belgium on October 28, 1957. Both items very fine.
The Battle of the Bulge (Dec. 16, 1944-Jan. 25, 1945), was Germany's last, desperate offensive of World War II. It was also the largest land battle of the war in which American forces took part. The town of Bastogne was vital to the Germans, as all seven roads in the Ardennes mountains converged on the town. By noon of Dec. 21st, German troops had surrounded Bastogne and on the 22nd, the German commander, Generalleutnant Heinrich Freiherr von Lüttwitz, sent a written demand for Allied forces to surrender in order to avoid "total annihilation." McAuliffe, who was in command only because Geneal Maxwell Taylor was elsewhere, didn't hesitate, even though most of his medical supplies and personnel had been captured and artillery ammunition was restricted to ten rounds per gun per day. McAuliffe's gutsy reply of "Nuts" to the Germans raised the morale of Allied troops everywhere when word got out. On the day after Christmas, General George Patton showed up with his Third Army, bringing much-needed relief.
More than 1,000,000 men fought in the Battle of the Bulge: some 600,000 Germans, 500,000 Americans, and 55,000 British. American casualties were approximately 80,000, wih 19,000 killed; British casualties were 1400, with 200 killed; and Germans killed, wounded, or captured amounted to 100,000.
For his actions at Bastogne, General McAuliffe was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Patton on Dec. 30, 1944.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000.
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