Bastogne is famous for the Battle of the Bulge, one of the last counteroffensives launched by the German forces, which claimed many of the American freedom forces' lives, and caused much of the town to be destroyed. When General McAuliffe received an ultimatum asking him to surrender, his famous answer was "nuts". Today, the General is honoured by a monument in Bastogne's main square, next to which one of the Sherman tanks which served in the offensive has been set up as a reminder of the battle.