January 2019 January
www.abmc.gov
the men of both sides fighting here. fighting sides both of men the
ABMC commemorative sites, please visit visit please sites, commemorative ABMC
and woods these at shells gas poison and
For more information on this site and other other and site this on information more For Allied artillery fired thousands of shrapnel, high explosive, explosive, high shrapnel, of thousands fired artillery Allied
(Field Cannon) reminds us that German and and German that us reminds Cannon) (Field Feldkanone
6 5 3
commemorate the battle. The Model 1896 77mm 77mm 1896 Model The battle. the commemorate
pieces placed in Belleau Wood after World War I to to I War World after Wood Belleau in placed pieces
before the war. the before 11 This is one of the three isolated German artillery artillery German isolated three the of one is This the Imperial German Army came to Paris in 1918. in Paris to came Army German Imperial the
was a hunting preserve preserve hunting a was
Belleau Wood. Paris is only 35 miles away. This was as close as as close as was This away. miles 35 only is Paris Wood. Belleau
9
1918. grid system. Belleau Wood Wood Belleau system. grid 6 6 he open field to your right is the southern approach to to approach southern the is right your to field open he T
command and observation post by both adversaries in in adversaries both by post observation and command war, marking a surveyor’s surveyor’s a marking war,
depictions of the end of the battle. It was used as a a as used was It battle. the of end the of depictions German-held Les Brusses Farm across the valley. the across Farm Brusses Les German-held wheat at great cost on June 6, 1918. 6, June on cost great at wheat Wood. They predate the the predate They Wood.
an icon of the battle. The lodge can be seen in many many in seen be can lodge The battle. the of icon an 18, 1918, American forces used these foxholes to observe the the observe to foxholes these used forces American 1918, 18, attacked the Germans across this field through waist-high waist-high through field this across Germans the attacked found throughout Belleau Belleau throughout found
2
9 9 5 5 3 3 are the remains of their hunting lodge before it became became it before lodge hunting their of remains the are After the battle of Belleau Wood, between June 26 and July July and 26 June between Wood, Belleau of battle the After As you walk downhill, notice the wheat field. The Marines Marines The field. wheat the notice downhill, walk you As Numbered stones are are stones Numbered
+33.(0).3.23.70.70.90 Tel before the war. These These war. the before
testament to the ferocity of the battle. the of ferocity the to testament sheltered from enemy fire. enemy from sheltered
nch lines parallel to the trail. the to parallel lines nch tre France Belleau, 02400
hunting preserve here here preserve hunting
2 2 numerous shell craters among the fighting positions are a a are positions fighting the among craters shell numerous wall. Close by are the remains of foxholes where artillerymen artillerymen where foxholes of remains the are by Close wall. As you walk, notice the artillery craters, foxholes, and and foxholes, craters, artillery the notice walk, you As maintained a private private a maintained
heavy fighting throughout Belleau Wood. The remains of of remains The Wood. Belleau throughout fighting heavy here was flattened and surrounded by a six-foot earthen earthen six-foot a by surrounded and flattened was here
Countess of Belleau Belleau of Countess
703-696-6900 Tel
and still remain. still and
8 8 4 4
Along the side of the trail you can still see signs of the the of signs see still can you trail the of side the Along This clearing was a German artillery position. The land land The position. artillery German a was clearing This 10 10 Arlington, VA 22201 22201 VA Arlington, The Count and and Count The
are called “the veterans” because they witnessed the battle battle the witnessed they because veterans” “the called are
2300 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 500 Suite Boulevard, Clarendon 2300
observed the open fields. open the observed Jima Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. The oak trees here here trees oak The Virginia. Arlington, in Memorial Jima American Battle Monuments Commission Monuments Battle American
HEADQUARTERS positions where machine gunners, officers, and many others others many and officers, gunners, machine where positions sculpture by Felix de Weldon, who also created the Iwo Iwo the created also who Weldon, de Felix by sculpture
7 7 1 1 In front of you are remains of two German infantry infantry German two of remains are you of front In In this clearing, you will see the “Marine Monument,” a a Monument,” “Marine the see will you clearing, this In
Stops
Allied victory at the Battle of Belleau Wood on June 26. June on Wood Belleau of Battle the at victory Allied
Wood through most of June 1918. Their gallant actions resulted in an an in resulted actions gallant Their 1918. June of most through Wood
Infantry Regiment and 7th Machine Gun Battalion fought in Belleau Belleau in fought Battalion Gun Machine 7th and Regiment Infantry
Trail
Army’s 2nd Engineer regiment along with the Army’s 3rd Division, 7th 7th Division, 3rd Army’s the with along regiment Engineer 2nd Army’s
Bouresches that day. The 5th and 6th Marine Regiments, and the the and Regiments, Marine 6th and 5th The day. that Bouresches
beginning on June 6, 1918. The 4th Marine Brigade liberated liberated Brigade Marine 4th The 1918. 6, June on beginning
Army’s 2nd Division. The 2nd Division attacked German positions positions German attacked Division 2nd The Division. 2nd Army’s
4 1 10 8 7 11 to commemorate the actions of the 4th Marine Brigade of the U.S. U.S. the of Brigade Marine 4th the of actions the commemorate to
bayonet. The United States Marine Corps erected this monument monument this erected Corps Marine States United The bayonet.
a life-size bronze bas relief of a Marine advancing with rifle and and rifle with advancing Marine a of relief bas bronze life-size a
The Marine Monument, created by sculptor Felix de Weldon, is is Weldon, de Felix sculptor by created Monument, Marine The
On the Cover the On
with French law, metal detectors are not allowed not are detectors metal law, French with
the American men who fought in the AEF during World War I. I. War World during AEF the in fought who men American the
World War I, promised that “time will not dim the glory of their deeds.” their of glory the dim not will “time that promised I, War World superintendent or staff at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery. In accordance accordance In Cemetery. American Aisne-Marne the at staff or superintendent
American Battle Monuments Commission as a memorial to to memorial a as Commission Monuments Battle American
Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces during during Forces Expeditionary American the of commander Pershing, such ordnance, make a note of the location and report it immediately to the the to immediately it report and location the of note a make ordnance, such
behind the memorial chapel. It is maintained by the the by maintained is It chapel. memorial the behind rusting fragments can cause blood poisoning or tetanus. If you see any any see you If tetanus. or poisoning blood cause can fragments rusting vision of its first chairman, General of the Armies John J. Pershing. Pershing. J. John Armies the of General chairman, first its of vision
shells are still being found, often leaking remnants of gas. Cuts from sharp sharp from Cuts gas. of remnants leaking often found, being still are shells
and markers in 17 countries. The Commission works to fulfill the the fulfill to works Commission The countries. 17 in markers and Belleau Wood adjoins the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery Cemetery American Aisne-Marne the adjoins Wood Belleau
ordnance is extremely unstable and dangerous to handle. Unexploded gas gas Unexploded handle. to dangerous and unstable extremely is ordnance
maintains 26 American cemeteries and 30 memorials, monuments monuments memorials, 30 and cemeteries American 26 maintains
or barbed wire that may be found throughout the woods. Unexploded WWI WWI Unexploded woods. the throughout found be may that wire barbed or
This agency of the United States government operates and and operates government States United the of agency This The cemetery was dedicated on May 30, 1937. 30, May on dedicated was cemetery The
It is unsafe to pick up any “souvenirs” in the form of bullets, shells, grenades grenades shells, bullets, of form the in “souvenirs” any up pick to unsafe is It
American Battle Monuments Commission Monuments Battle American
CAUTION, WARNING & DANGER NOTICES! DANGER & WARNING CAUTION,
and other permanent military cemeteries overseas. cemeteries military permanent other and
the added responsibility of operating and maintaining this this maintaining and operating of responsibility added the
Roosevelt issued an Executive Order giving the Commission Commission the giving Order Executive an issued Roosevelt landscaped the grounds. In 1934, President Franklin D. D. Franklin President 1934, In grounds. the landscaped ENGLISH
of U.S. Armed Forces in World War I. The Commission also also Commission The I. War World in Forces Armed U.S. of AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION as part of its program of commemorating the achievements achievements the commemorating of program its of part as
constructed by the American Battle Monuments Commission Commission Monuments Battle American the by constructed Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial superintendent’s quarters, and the service area facilities were were facilities area service the and quarters, superintendent’s
The memorial chapel, the Visitor Building, the the Building, Visitor the chapel, memorial The Belleau Wood Trail Map
area in which it is located. is it which in area
permanent cemetery is named for the World War I campaign campaign I War World the for named is cemetery permanent
cemetery in perpetuity, free of charge or taxation. The The taxation. or charge of free perpetuity, in cemetery
with the government of France granting its use as a military military a as use its granting France of government the with
foreign soil. The following year, an agreement was signed signed was agreement an year, following The soil. foreign
one of eight permanent World War I military cemeteries on on cemeteries military I War World permanent eight of one
In 1921, Congress authorized retention of the cemetery as as cemetery the of retention authorized Congress 1921, In
cemetery hang in the visitor’s room in the Visitor Building. Building. Visitor the in room visitor’s the in hang cemetery
No. 1764–Belleau Wood. Photographs of the temporary temporary the of Photographs Wood. 1764–Belleau No.
Vicinity of Belleau Wood Belleau of Vicinity
Cemetery (AEF)
Expeditionary Forces’ Forces’ Expeditionary
as the American American the as
and was known known was and
Registration Service, Service, Registration escort relatives to grave and memorial sites. memorial and grave to relatives escort
in the Cemetery’s Visitor Building to answer questions and to to and questions answer to Building Visitor Cemetery’s the in the Army’s Graves Graves Army’s the
When the trail is open to the public, a staff member is on duty duty on is member staff a public, the to open is trail the When
established by by established
25. They are both open on all other U.S. and French holidays. holidays. French and U.S. other all on open both are They 25.
wartime cemeteries cemeteries wartime
The cemetery and trail are closed on January 1 and December December and 1 January on closed are trail and cemetery The
one of the temporary temporary the of one
between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. P.M. 5:00 and A.M. 9:00 of hours the between World War I, it was was it I, War World
The cemetery and trail are open daily to the public public the to daily open are trail and cemetery The HOURS:
their lives. During During lives. their
in the cemetery lost lost cemetery the in
Thierry, Meaux, Soissons and Reims. and Soissons Meaux, Thierry,
many of those buried buried those of many
Hotel accommodations are available in the cities of Château- of cities the in available are accommodations Hotel
Belleau Wood where where Wood Belleau from Paris to the site is approximately 50 miles/80 kilometers. kilometers. miles/80 50 approximately is site the to Paris from
Memorial sits below below sits Memorial following the cemetery signs to Lucy-le-Bocage. The distance distance The Lucy-le-Bocage. to signs cemetery the following
auto-route A-4 east by taking the Montreuil-aux-Lions exit and and exit Montreuil-aux-Lions the taking by east A-4 auto-route Marne Cemetery Cemetery Marne
may also reach Belleau Wood by automobile from Paris via toll toll via Paris from automobile by Wood Belleau reach also may
The 42.5 acre Aisne- acre 42.5 The
the site is available at the Château-Thierry railroad station. You You station. railroad Château-Thierry the at available is site the
in Paris to Château-Thierry takes about one hour. Taxi service to to service Taxi hour. one about takes Château-Thierry to Paris in
Belleau, Aisne, France. Travel by train from Gare de l’Est station station l’Est de Gare from train by Travel France. Aisne, Belleau,
northwest of Château-Thierry, just southwest of the village of of village the of southwest just Château-Thierry, of northwest
The site is located 6.5 miles/10.5 kilometers kilometers miles/10.5 6.5 located is site The LOCATION:
Cemetery and Memorial and Cemetery
Visitor Information Visitor Belleau Wood Trail Map Trail Wood Belleau
Aisne-Marne American American Aisne-Marne “Time will not dim the glory of their deeds.” - General of the Armies John J. Pershing June 10-17 Belleau Wood WELCOME TO BELLEAU WOOD (BOIS DE BELLEAU) On June 10, the Marines’ 6th Regiment attacked the southern half of Belleau Wood, taking back the area evacuated earlier, while the Valor Awards In April 1917, the United States entered the war on the side of 5th Regiment attacked the north half from Lucy-le-Bocage. In the France and Britain. Although it would take the United States a year broken terrain and confusion of battle, bypassed German units and to muster, train, and supply an army, the millions of American troops infiltrators attacked from behind. By June 11, after much close quarter expected to eventually arrive in France would tilt the balance of fighting, the Germans retained control of the northern half of the power. wood. On June 13, the Germans attacked the east side of Belleau The European custom of one nation decorating heroes Wood and Bouresches, but were thrown back. During this fighting, of another nation was a new experience for American Desperate to defeat the Allies before America arrived in force, Gunnery Sergeant Fred Stockham put his gas mask on a wounded Commanders. The United States, with the Medal of Honor as Germany launched a series of offensives in spring of 1918. Germany man and later died from the effects of gas himself; he posthumously its sole decoration, was unprepared for this custom. The U.S. launched the third of these offensives on May 27, 1918, in a received the Medal of Honor. previously quiet sector between Soissons and Reims. Taken by had no appropriate award to recognize heroism of a level surprise, the French army fell back to the Marne River line, 35 miles On June 16 and 17, exhausted companies of Marines were rotated less than that which would merit the Medal from Paris. out of the line and replaced with Army troops from the 7th Infantry of Honor and no decoration to reward the Sending over gas shells. (French 75) Battery B, 12th Field Artillery Regiment and 7th Machine Gun Battalion, 3rd Division. Throughout myriad acts of meritorious noncombat service Regiment, Bois de Boileau, France, 1918. France appealed to the United States for assistance, and the this period both sides shelled their enemies with explosives and gas, that the war spurred. The U.S. Army shared Americans rushed two divisions, untried in major combat, forward including attacks of mustard gas that inflicted chemical burns as it this dilemma and, with the aid of President n a month of heavy fighting, the U.S. Army’s 2nd Division, 26th Division Memorial Church (Église Saint-Étienne to the front. The U.S. Army’s 3rd Division took position on the Marne clung to the men’s skin and clothing. Woodrow Wilson and the U.S. Congress in whose 4th Infantry Brigade, composed of U.S. Marines and River at Château-Thierry. On June 1, the 2nd Division, with its Marine de Belleau). Parts of the initial church within the village of 1918, instituted its Distinguished Service commanded by Army Brigadier General James G. Harbord, Brigade (5th and 6th Regiments and 6th Machine Gun Battalion), Belleau dated from the 13th century. It was destroyed on June 22-26 Cross (DSC) and Distinguished Service Medal Iprevailed against veteran opponents under punishing conditions. July 18, 1918 as the 26th (Yankee) Division took the town. relieved French troops along the Paris-Metz Road. On that line stood Between June 22 and 24, U.S. Army machine gun battalions, units (DSM) with clear guidelines for the award of After the Americans held the line at Belleau Wood and Château- After the war, the veterans of the 26th Division raised money the Bois de Belleau, a dense forest a mile and a half long and held by of the Marines’ 5th and 6th Regiments, and the 6th Machine Gun the DSC for combat heroism and the DSM for Thierry, the tide of the war turned, leading to the Armistice five and rebuilt the church for the town. The newly restored the Germans. Control of these woods was essential to stopping the Battalion returned to Belleau Wood. After a day-long artillery barrage distinguished noncombat duty in a position of months later. church was inaugurated on October 10, 1929, which is German advance. on June 25th, the Army and Marine machine gunners attacked. great responsibility. These were available in time reflected in this image. for award during World War I. The battlefield has been largely untouched since the war and is Fighting well into the evening, they took the northern end of the woods and captured over 500 Germans. German counterattacks on the final resting place of more than 1,000 American, French, and The Battle of Belleau Wood Parallel awards were created a year later for the 26th were repulsed and Belleau Wood was firmly in Allied hands. German soldiers whose remains were never recovered. Because June 2, 1918 the Navy and Marine Corps, months after the these grounds are hallowed, visitors should not disturb the soil or The 2nd Division troops arrived to cover a front from northwest of Hill June 6-9 Armistice and amid the massive demobilization of other historical remains they encounter. 142, overlooking Belleau Wood, through the Marine 5th Regiment’s The 2nd Division, with the French 167th Division on its left, Aftermath American forces. For valorous actions during positions . At midnight, the division was ordered by their French attacked on a front from Hill 142 to Bouresches to the south of The United States suffered 9,777 casualties in the fighting at Belleau Wood. the Battle of Belleau Wood, two Marines Historical Background corps commander to hold their line at all costs. Belleau Wood. The Marines suffered heavy casualties as they Two Marines and two Navy officers were awarded the Medal of Honor, and were awarded the Medal of Honor— Gunnery Sergeant Ernest A. Janson (as By June 1914, Europe was divided into rival alliances. The advanced across a waist-high wheat field strewn with red poppies. another 152 Marines were awarded the Navy Cross. The German military June 3-5 Charles F. Hoffman) and Gunnery Sergeant assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary led During the fighting for Hill 142, Gunnery Sergeant Ernest Janson had previously doubted the qualities of the American Expeditionary Fred W. Stockham. Two Navy officers serving to mobilizations by Russia and Germany; when Germany invaded As French troops withdrew through the Marine 5th Regiment’s became the first Marine of the war to earn the Medal of Honor, and Forces, but now they had seen American soldiers, and Marines in particular, with the Marines were also awarded the neutral Belgium to attack Russia’s ally France, Great Britain joined positions, a French officer suggested to Captain Lloyd Williams that Sergeant Major Dan Daly led his men forward with the legendary display a relentless courage and dogged persistence under the most taxing Medal of Honor—Lieutenant (junior grade) the fray, and by August Europe was at war. the Marines should also retreat. Williams replied, “Retreat, hell! We cry, “Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever?” battle conditions. It was here, Marine Corps lore has it, that the Marines just got here!” The German troops of the 461st Infantry Regiment Marines also attacked Bouresches and the south corner of Belleau earned the nickname Teufel Hunden (Devil Dogs), however, the correct Weedon E. Osborne and Reserve Lieutenant Within months, the war in Belgium and France had become a strengthened their positions from Torcy north of Hill 142 through Wood, again suffering heavy casualties. The Marine brigade German is Teufelshunde, and the first claim of the nickname was actually Orlando H. Petty, as well as Army Private stalemate, with the opposing forces entrenched along the 400- Belleau Wood and Bouresches with mortars, light artillery, and suffered 1,087 killed and wounded, with more men killed in action published in American newspapers in May 1918, two months before the First Class George Dilboy. For their actions mile Western Front. Two events in 1917, however, promised to machine guns, and bombarded the Marine lines with high explosives, in one day than the Marines had lost in their previous 143-year battle, at a point when the Germans had not yet faced any Marines. Along in battle, 152 Marines were awarded the alter this balance. In March 1917, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia was shrapnel, and poison gas. On June 4, the Germans attacked the history. The Germans reported their enemy to be “Stubborn and with other American units that had preceded them in combat, the Marines Navy Cross and 16 were awarded the Army’s overthrown, and within a year the new Soviet government would Marine and Army units around Lucy-le-Bocage and Les Mares Farm, not afraid of his losses....” Patrols and probing attacks continued and soldiers of the 2nd Division inspired the French and American public Distinguished Service Cross. sign a peace treaty with Germany, freeing German troops to but were repulsed with heavy losses. On the 5th, both sides improved through the night. On June 7-9, the Marines withdrew to the edge during an anxious time for the Allies. In gratitude, the French renamed redeploy from Eastern Europe to the Western Front. their positions and harassed each other with artillery fire. of the wood, preparing for a renewed assault. Belleau Wood the “Bois de la Brigade de Marine.”
Battle of Belleau Wood, June 2–June 25, 1918 Marines with a captured mortar Marines with a Aisne-Marne Counteroffensive, June–July, 1918 Surrounding Sites 170mm German Minenwerfer (mine launcher). These rifled mortars fired 113 pound explosive or gas shells more than a half Lucy-le-Bocage Two miles south-southwest of Belleau is the Related to the Battle mile. Their destructive power was respected by Allied infantry. crossroad village of Lucy-le-Bocage. From there, lanes radiate toward Smaller than field guns, they were often brought forward Hill 142, Bouresches, Belleau Wood, and Belleau. Before the 2nd behind assault troops. They could be drawn through trenches Photo: Library of Congress Division attacked Belleau Wood, it defended Lucy-le-Bocage from or rough terrain by teams of soldiers. In forward positions, they German attacks on June 4. The Marines attacking Belleau Wood were often captured in the seesaw fighting at Belleau Wood. started from Lucy-le-Bocage. It was their brigade reserve position, supply source, and evacuation route for casualties. Lucy-le-Bocage Photo: U.S. Marine Corps was shelled with gas and high explosives daily by the Germans.
Marine Officers who led and fought at Belleau Wood Veteran officers of the 2nd Battalion of the 6th Marines on June 18, 1918. They had been rotated to the rear but would return in a few days to finish clearing Belleau Wood by the morning of June 26.
The war-torn village of Belleau, 1918 The shattered town of Belleau after the war. Belleau Wood, south of the Photo: U.S. Marine Corps village, was a focal point of the fighting here. Other nearby areas also witnessed heavy fighting, like the town of Bouresches and its surrounding fields and woods. Gas poisoned and bleached the plants and trees. Shrapnel and explosions stripped the trees, made roofs shed their tiles, and shattered doors and windows. In the village, a fountain mounted with a sculpted mastiff head has come to be known as the “Bulldog Fountain,” in honor of the Marines, although no Marines entered the village which was held by the Germans throughout Hill 142 One and one half miles west of the village of Belleau the battle. It was liberated after fierce fighting by the Army’s is Hill 142. The 5th Marines attacked this position at 3:45 a.m. on 26th Division after the 2nd Division and the Marine Brigade June 6. They seized the hill by 8:00 a.m. but took heavy casualties had left the sector. while advancing swiftly in compact formation. The Marines The Belleau Wood hunting lodge, 1918 The two-story dug in on the north side of Hill 142 and held off repeated stone hunting lodge of the Count of Belleau’s game preserve. Its German counter attacks. Reinforced by the Army’s 2nd Engineer stout walls provided cover and an elevated observation post. Regiment acting as infantry troops and Army machine gunners, Over the course of the battle, both sides used this building as an they consolidated the Hill 142 position, securing the left flank of The Village of Bouresches on the eastern observation or forward the Belleau Wood fighting. Village of Bouresches Photo: United States Navy side of Belleau Wood was attacked from the southwest on June 6 command post. by the 3rd Battalion of the 6th Marines. They were pinned down Germans and Les Mares Farm Les Mares Farm is southwest of Hill 142. by machine guns. A platoon of the Marines under Lt. Clifton Cates Americans sheltered On June 2, the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines established an skirted along Belleau Wood and rushed Bouresches, silencing the here at different times, extended position here, facing north with advanced guard machine guns. Cates’ platoon led the way until they were stopped taking cover from the posts. They were shelled through the next day. For the next by Germans in the train station. intense volume of fire two nights, German infantry probed their position. Lightly during the battle. armed Marine marksmen held their position with long range fire. On June 4, the Fifth Marines successfully defended Les Mares Farm from repeated German attacks.