Battle of Belleau Wood

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Part of the Western Front (First World War)

American Marines in Belleau Wood (1918)

Date	1–26 June 1918
Location	Belleau Wood near Paris, France
Result	Allied Victory

Combatants

United States,

France,

Commanders

Strength

2 U.S. divisions,
French 6th Army (elements),
British IX Corps (elements)

5 German divisions (elements)

Casualties

9,777

unknown

Belleau Wood Campaign (Western Front)
Cantigny -- Chateau-Thierry -- Belleau Wood

The Battle of Belleau Wood (1-26 June 1918) happened during the German 1918 Spring Offensive in World War I, near the Marne River in France. The battle was fought between the U.S. Second (under the command of John A. Lejeune) and Third Divisions and a hodgepodge of German units including elements from the 237th, 10th, 197th, 87th, and 28th Divisions.^[1]

1 Battle
2 Importance
3 After the battle
4 Memorial
5 Notes
6 References

[edit] Battle

After their victories at Cantigny and Chateau-Thierry, the 2nd and 3rd Divisions of the U.S. Army (including the 4th Brigade of U.S. Marines attached to the 2nd Division) moved into Belleau Wood. The Marines were forced to make six sweeps into the meadows within the forest, as well as unoccupied portions of the wood. The Germans held out stubbornly and did not surrender until Prince Wilhelm ordered a general retreat of soldiers surrounding the area. The battle was characterized by the different fire superiority tactics. The Americans used sharpshooters and snipers, while the Germans attempted to rake the battlefield with machine guns.^[2]

[edit] Importance

In a battle noteworthy because of both its extremely bloody nature and its close proximity to the French capital of Paris, the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) launched a counter-attack designed to stop the German advance. The Second Division was tasked with taking the woods, and the US 4th Marine Brigade with its 5th and 6th Marine Regiments was sent forward. In order to enter and take the woods, it was necessary to advance across an open field of wheat that was continuously swept with murderous German machine gun and artillery fire. After Marines were repeatedly urged to turn back by retreating French forces, Marine Captain Lloyd Williams of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines uttered the now-famous retort "Retreat? Hell, we just got here."^[3]

On 6 June, the casualties were the highest in Marine Corps history (and remained so until the capture of Tarawa in November 1943).^[4] Overall, the woods were taken by the Marines (and the US Army 3rd Infantry Brigade) a total of six times before they could successfully expel the Germans. They fought off more than four divisions of Germans, often reduced to using only their bayonets or fists in hand-to-hand combat. In order to rally his platoon of pinned-down Marines, Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly encouraged them with what would become another famous phrase "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?"

On 26 June, a report was sent out simply stating, "Woods now U.S. Marine Corps entirely,"^[5] ending the bloodiest and most ferocious battle U.S. forces would fight in the war.

[edit] After the battle

In the end, U.S. Forces suffered a total of 9,777 casualties, 1,811 of them fatal. There is no clear information on the total number of Germans killed, although 1,600 troops were taken prisoner. Combined with the actions at Chateau Thierry, the Battle of Belleau Wood brought an end to the last major German offensive of World War I.

After the battle, the French renamed the wood "Bois de la Brigade de Marine" ("Wood of the Marine Brigade") in honor of the Marines' tenacity. The French government also later awarded the 4th Brigade the Croix de Guerre. Belleau Wood is also where the Marines got their German nickname of "Teufelhunden" or "Devil Dogs" for the ferocity with which they attacked the German lines. An official German report classified the Marines as "vigorous, self-confident, and remarkable marksmen..."^[6]

General Pershing, Commander of the AEF said, "The Battle of Belleau Wood was for the U.S. the biggest battle since Appomattox and the most considerable engagement American troops had ever had with a foreign enemy."^[6]

[edit] Memorial

In 1923, an American battle monument was built in Belleau Wood. Army General James. G. Harbord, the commander of the Marines during the battle, was made an honorary Marine. In his address, he summed up the future of the site:

"Now and then, a veteran ... will come here to live again the brave days of that distant June. Here will be raised the altars of patriotism; here will be renewed the vows of sacrifice and consecration to country. Hither will come our countrymen in hours of depression, and even of failure, and take new courage from this shrine of great deeds."^[3]

White crosses and Stars of David mark 2,289 graves, 250 for unknown service members, and the names of 1,060 missing men adorn the wall of a memorial chapel. Visitors also stop at the nearby German cemetery where 8,625 men are buried; 4,321 of them—3,847 unknown—rest in a common grave.^[3]

In New York City, a 0.197 acre triangle at the intersection of 108 Street and 54th Avenue in Queens is dedicated to Marine Pvt. William F. Moore, 47th Company, 5th Regiment, 2nd Battalion.^[7]

Multiple vessels of the U.S. Navy have been named after the battle (USS Belleau Wood).

[edit] Notes

^ Chateau-Thierry: The Battle for Belleau Wood.
^ First World War.com
^ ^a ^b ^c Kozaryn.
^ Duffy.
^ McBreen, 3.
^ ^a ^b McBreen, 4.
^ WILLIAM F. MOORE PARK. Moore attended PS 17 as a youth before enlisting in April 1917; he was killed just over a year later in the battle.