12 September 1944. After four years of Nazi occupation, Stavelot was liberated by the 1st US Army.

Three months later, however, the small Ardennes village was at the heart of the last major German offensive.

On 18 December, discovering at Stavelot a bridge remained intact on the river Amblève, the fighting group "Peiper" of the SS 1st Armoured Division "Adolf Hitler Lifeguard" rushes to assault the city defended by the "Task Force Solis".

After several hours of fierce battle against the Tiger and Panther tanks, the GIs had to abandon the bridge and withdraw to the hill.