Reference Entry
MARINES ATTACK BELLEAU WOOD
Less than a year later, American forces were in the thick of combat in France. On June 6th, 1918, United States Marines and soldiers attacked German positions in and around Belleau Wood, a dense patch of forest near the Marne River. German offensives had driven the Allies back toward Paris, and the Americans were thrown into the line to help stop the advance.
Dated Historical Context
A RECORDED MOMENT IN HISTORY
Marines attack Belleau Wood
Less than a year later, American forces were in the thick of combat in France. On June 6th, 1918, United States Marines and soldiers attacked German positions in and around Belleau Wood, a dense patch of forest near the Marne River. German offensives had driven the Allies back toward Paris, and the Americans were thrown into the line to help stop the advance. The assault ran into machine-gun nests, artillery fire, and tangled undergrowth that broke up formations and turned progress into a series of small-unit fights. Stories from the battle, including defiant remarks about refusing to retreat and repeated attacks under fire, became part of Marine Corps legend. The fighting at Belleau Wood helped blunt the German push and showcased American willingness to suffer heavy losses to hold critical ground, influencing how allied and enemy observers viewed the United States as a combat power.
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