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Watching Band of Brothers prompted me to investigate who might have been with the 101st in Bastogne, because in one scene there was a German attack supported be armor. In his letter McAuliffe mentions the other unites that were in Bastogne. Here is the letter I developed on that subject. My favorite source was "A Time for Trumpets" by Charles B. MacDonald who was a junior officer in the Bulge

Why General McAuliffe Could Say “Nuts”

Seventy-eight years ago, on December 16, the Germans launched the Ardennes Offensive, which proved the bloodiest American battle of WW II with 89,000 casualties including 19,000 dead. At the center of the offensive beleaguered Bastogne featured the 101st Airborne withstanding a German siege.

However, these 10,000 paratroopers did not alone forge the severe impediment presented to 500,000 Germans troops attacking with tanks. Contributions from the 9th and 10th Armored Divisions, and the 28th Division’s 109th and 687th Field Artillery Battalions provided needed firepower. Remnants of the 9th Armored CCR including the 73rd Armored Field Artillery retreated into the town. The CCB of the 10th Armored was detached and ordered to occupy Bastogne ahead of the Nazi’s. It took heavy casualties along the way but arrived with 30 tanks and the 420th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. The 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion was ordered forward and arrived with 36 powerful 76mm long cannon.

Overall General Anthony McAuliffe, acting division commander and division artillery commander, directed eleven artillery battalions and tanks from two armored divisions as well as his paratroopers. He developed a plan allowing many of the artillery units 360-degree coverage for points of attack. The paratroopers alone would probably have been annihilated and not withstood the siege. The tanks and artillery alone could not have prevailed against the combined arms of the German assault without this airborne infantry support.

No wonder at the Battle of the Bulge McAuliffe could say “nuts” when the Germans demanded his surrender.

Partial Bibliography:

A Time for Trumpets by Charles B. MacDonald

Death Traps: The Survival of an American Armored Division in WW II by Belton Y. Cooper WWII Armored Division http://xbradtc.com/2008/10/24/wwii-armored-division/

10th Armored Division (United States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._10th_Armored_Division http://www.combatreels.com/10th_Armored_Division.cfm

9th Armored Division (United States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._9th_Armored_Division

Battle of the Bulge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge

Siege of Bastogne

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Bastogne

705th Tank Destroyer Battalion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/705th_Tank_Destroyer_Battalion