 Throughout the week of 11 – 18 December , the 1st Parachute Battalion from the German 1st Parachute Division — with supporting units — had prepared strong defences within the Italian coastal town of Ortona . Paratroop engineers and infantry had destroyed much of Ortona itself , turning the streets into a debris @-@ filled maze . Major streets were mined , with demolition charges throughout the main piazza , and booby traps littered the town . German forces had also buried tanks in the rubble , leaving only the turrets exposed . 
 Throughout the week of 11 – 18 December , the 1st Parachute Battalion from the German 1st Parachute Division — with supporting units — <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> prepared strong defences within the Italian coastal town of Ortona . Paratroop engineers and infantry <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> destroyed much of Ortona itself , turning the streets into a debris @-@ filled maze . Major streets <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> mined , with demolition charges throughout the main piazza , and booby traps littered the town . German forces <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> also buried tanks in the rubble , leaving only the turrets exposed . 
Throughout the week of 11 – 18 December , the 1st Parachute Battalion from the German 1st Parachute Division — with supporting units — done prepared strong defences within the Italian coastal town of Ortona . Paratroop engineers and infantry done destroyed much of Ortona itself , turnin da streets into a debris @-@ filled maze . Major streets was mined , with demolition charges throughout tdamain piazza , and booby traps littered the town . German forces done also buried tanks in the rubble , leavin only the turrets exposed .