The length of the frontline was 120 kilometers, three times as much as usual. The line was occupied by soldiers of the American VIII Corps of Lieutenant General Troy Middleton. The consequence of the fact that the Ardennes were considered to be a quiet sector was a long, thinly stretched front. Expecting Christmas the troops dreamed about turkey. Thanksgiving Day was celebrated with the most delicious food, at least in their soldier’s opinion. They were engaged in training, manned outposts and relaxed. Most `troops in the Ardennes had a roof over their head, contrary to the months before and felt relatively safe. Veterans went on leave in cities like Paris. Slowly replacements for the 6.000 men trickled in many of them rookies without any battle experience.

Many veterans had been continuously in action already since the invasion in Normandy and badly needed time to recover. Battalions (900 men) had become the size of companies (190 men), companies the size of platoons (40 men) and platoons the size of sections (12 men).

In only two weeks’ time 6.000 men of the division had been killed, wounded or had been missed in action there. The 28th Infantry Division was sent over here in order to recover from the heavy fighting in the Hürtgenwald. The Ardennes were considered by the Supreme Command as being a quiet sector at the front.

Battle of the bulge tank divisions