Mac Auliffe cave in danger!!!

Ardennenfan · #1 (**permalink**) November 4th, 2009, 08:03 AM

In Belgium, the Secretary of Defense, Pieter De Crem, has the intention to shut down some 30 military facilities. Among them, the famous "Heinz Barracks" in Bastogne. It was there that generaal Mac Auliffe had his CP during the famous Battle of the Bulge.

Today, the cave has changed into a little museum, were many visitors come to see, where the general spoke his famous "Nuts" an an answer to the german ultimatum to surrender the town of Bastogne.

What is going to happen with the cave? Will it be the end of his existence? This may not happen, never and never. For us Belgians, it is a sign of gratitude to all those brave jung men who came to fight here and to give there lives for our freedom. Help us to protect this place.

Martin Bull · #2 (**permalink**) November 4th, 2009, 08:52 AM

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Ardennenfan. If the military facility is to be closed, I'm sure that all of us here have an interest in seeing that this historic site is somehow preserved.....

kevindistel · #3 (**permalink**) November 5th, 2009, 11:00 PM

I was there a few years ago, it was quite an experience. Here is an update I received today from Reg Jans and Filip Willems who are guides around the Bastogne area.
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Dear Friends ,

We are all still doing our best to “SAVE the NUTS! CAVE” , to preserve the 101st Div HQ in Bastogne ! So far the road is still open to negotiate . Fingers crossed !!!
A petition is organized to gather as much as signatures as possible . These signatures will go with your letters to the office of the Belgian Minister of Defense .

If you support our cause to save this historical marker from destruction , please sign it ….

Here’s the link to the petition :

La Petition.be - Sauvons la cave McAuliffe.

After you signed it you’ll receive a mail where you have to validate your signature !

You can also follow the updates on : Brig.Gen. Anthony McAuliffe's 101st Div HQ in Danger ! | Facebook

Please forward this link to your inbox or put it on your websites .

Best regards as always

Yours sincerely and thank you so much for your support .

Reg Jans

Slipdigit · #4 (**permalink**) November 6th, 2009, 03:51 AM

What was the cave/bunker originally? A Belgian military installation?

kevindistel · #5 (**permalink**) November 6th, 2009, 05:33 AM

Yes,

Prior to the war it had been a Belgian military installation located generally toward the center of town.

The "cave" as it referred to, is not really a cave but the basement of the barracks on the military installation. A.C. McAuliffe and his staff were located there when the German soldiers came through the lines of the glider troops at Kessler farm to demand the surrender. They were then blindfolded and brought to the "cave." It was from this room that McAuliffe issued his "nuts" reply. (despite what it says in several history books, it has been attested to that "nuts," and not some more colorful language truly was his reply).

Since the war the installation has been used by the Belgian military, I believe the 1st Artillery Field Regt. is based there now but they are in Afghanistan at present (or were last I knew).

Those soldiers who are stationed there today are quite familiar with the importance of this site so they've built a small museum in the space in the basement complete with mannequins and other artifacts so that it closely resembles what it looked like in December of 1944. They are proud of the place and have welcomed vets who have visited the site in the past couple of years.

There is also a famous photo of the brass having a Christmas eve dinner in Bastogne (complete with an XMas tree), that room is also in the same barracks building.

I hope something can be done to preserve this site.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slipdigit

What was the cave/bunker originally? A Belgian military installation?

Slipdigit · #6 (**permalink**) November 6th, 2009, 03:15 PM

Thanks for the good explanation.

You were confusing me a bit using the word "cave." Usually, when we use the word "cave" we are referring to something along the lines of this:

And I didn't remember McAullife having his command post in a something like this.

Please don't think I am being critical. Your English is a heck of lot better than my Belgian.

kevindistel · #7 (**permalink**) November 7th, 2009, 02:02 PM

Quote:

And I didn't remember McAullife having his command post in a something like this.

Yes now THATS a cave!! When I was younger I remember reading something about a reference to McAuliffe being in a "cave" during the siege so I thought it was a real cave (not knowing anything about the geography of the Bastogne area I didn't think too much about it) Years later when I finally got to visit the area I was expecting to be taken to a Batman-like cave. Not quite, but I guess it provided some pretty good protection from the shellings an bombings that they had to endure.

That just may be the first example of a "man-cave," although I'm sure he wouldn't have had much time to watch the wide screen TV. :-)

Quote:

Please don't think I am being critical. Your English is a heck of lot better than my Belgian.

Well, I'm from New Jersey so I'm definitely challenged when it comes to English