The Battle of Ortona ( 20-28 December 1943 ) was a small , yet extremely fierce , battle fought between a battalion of German Fallschirmjäger ( paratroops ) from the German 1st Parachute Division under Generalleutnant Richard Heidrich , and assaulting Canadian forces from the Canadian 1st Infantry Division under Major General Chris Vokes .
The battalion of German paratroops were from the German 1st Parachute Division under Generalleutnant Richard Heidrich .