September 1944: the first Americans arrived, taken prisoner as a result of the failure of Operation Market Garden or during the advance of the U.S. Army towards Germany. 1 December 1944: the roster showed[3] 2,036 Americans, 631 Belgians, 1,416 British, 17,568 French, 1,046 Italian, 2 Polish, 1,591 Serbian, and 13,727 Soviet prisoners. December 1944: more American prisoners arrived, taken prisoner in the Battle of the Bulge.