After 5 days of withstanding attacks by the Germans without reinforcements or supplies, two German Officers were sent to the American Headquarters with a letter from the German Commander demanding that the 101st surrender. After hearing that the Germans wanted the 101st to surrender, the Acting Commander - BG General McAuliffe said "Nuts". Surrendering was not an option for the 101st so "Nuts" was chosen as the official response to the Germans demand for surrender.
If memory serves, the translator for the Germans struggled with the response, until he correctly translated it as "Go to hell!" LOL!
It was almost a moment of divine inspiration when the junior officer said
that he thought McAuliffe's first response was a good one to pass on to the Germans.