On this day 81 years ago a response to a surrender message got a quite unique response....
The Battle of the Bulge has been raging for 6 days. The 101st Airborne Division was surrounded in the town of Bastogne when 4 German soldiers approached with terms of surrender. The message was as follows:
"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 Hompre-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 message was relayed to the commander of 101st Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe. His reply to the German message was just one word:
"December 22, 1944
To the German Commander,
N U T S !
The American Commander"
https://www.army.mil/article/92856/the_story_of_the_nuts_reply