{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-bastogne-december-1944-nuts-bronze-with-black-white-marble-base-1","title":"Original U.S. WWII Bastogne December 1944 NUTS Bronze with Black White Marble Base","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an original work of art. It was produced in Belgium in the 1950s. There were a few variations, and this is the single nut version. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is solid bronze cast sculpture of a single walnut mounted on top of a black and white marble base. It measures 5 inches wide by 3.5 inches deep by 2¼ inches tall and reads \u003cstrong\u003eNUTS\u003c\/strong\u003e across the top of the base with \u003cstrong\u003eBASTOGNE \/ DEC- 1944\u003c\/strong\u003e in bronze across the front of the marble. The base is marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCONTROLE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eONIG\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePATENT\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece is in great shape overall without any loss of marble. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBelow is the Transcript of The “NUTS!” Letter — Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe’s 1944 Christmas Letter to his troops:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMERRY CHRISTMAS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHEADQUARTERS 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION\u003cbr\u003eOffice of the Division Commander\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e24 December 1944\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat’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 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 imprudent arrogance:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDecember 22nd 1944\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“To the U. S. A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 Hompres-Sibret-Tillet. Libramont is in German hands.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf this proposal should be rejected the 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 hour’s term.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll the serious civilian losses caused by this Artillery fire would not correspond with the well known American humanity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe German Commander”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe German Commander received the following reply:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e22 December 1944\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“To the German Commander:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eN U T S !\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe American Commander”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAllied 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!”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\/s\/ A. C. McAULIFFE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\/t\/ McAULIFFE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCommanding.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42778549452869,"sku":"ONSV25OAC015","price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV25OAC015__03.jpg?v=1747940939","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-bastogne-december-1944-nuts-bronze-with-black-white-marble-base-1","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}