At dawn on 19 December , Peiper surprised the American defenders of Stoumont by sending infantry from the 2nd SS Panzergrenadier Regiment in an attack and a company of Fallschirmjäger ( paratroopers ) to infiltrate their lines .
At dawn on 19 December , Peiper attacked the American defenders of Stoumont . He sent infantry from the 2nd SS Panzergrenadier Regiment in an attack and a company of Fallschirmjäger .