Amid the unyielding battlegrounds of World War One, one particular engagement stands out as a testament to valor and strength, etching an indelible mark in the annals of warfare. The Battle of Belleau Wood, fought between the U.S. Marine Corps and the German Army from June 1st to June 26th, 1918, near the Marne River in France, remains not just a military triumph but an emblem of human resilience against overwhelming odds.

Introduction
With the German spring offensive looming large on the Western Front, the Allies faced a critical juncture. Their backs against the wall, the U.S. 2nd and 3rd Divisions, bolstered by relentless infantry and strategic maneuvering, stood firm against the German tide. This article delves into the Battle of Belleau Wood, dissecting its critical moments and unraveling the profound significance that reverberated across the landscape of World War One.

Background
Set against the backdrop of the German spring offensive, the Battle of Belleau Wood unfolded as a vital chapter in the larger narrative of the Great War. As German forces surged forward in a strategic bid to swiftly defeat the Allies before the United States could intervene with its full might, their advance brought them perilously close to Paris. Fending off troops from the 237th, 10th, 197th, 87th, and 28th Divisions, the U.S. 2nd operated alongside French and British forces to repel this formidable foe. The stakes were high; the consequences of defeat, dire.

Key Events
The piercing volleys of German artillery echoed through the wood, signaling their arrival at Belleau. Yet it was the unyielding response from the U.S. Marines that cemented the sanctity of this battleground. Led by Major General Omar Bundy, American units were thrust into the crucible of conflict, their mettle tested beyond measure. As the days bled into weeks, the lines between life and death, victory and defeat, blurred in the dense foliage of Belleau Wood.

Top photo: Georges Scott (1873-1943) illustration "American Marines in Belleau Wood (1918)" - originally published in the French Magazine "Illustrations" - retrieved from http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Georges_Scott/Scott_Belleau_Wood_01.htm. Source: Wikimedia. In the Public Domain. Click to enlarge.

Middle photo: "German machine gunners retreating, Belleau Woods," June 1918. Photograph. Joel T. Boone Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (135.00.00).  In the Public Domain. Click to enlarge.

Bottom photo: Map of Belleau Wood. James G. Harbord Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (134.00.00).  In the Public Domain. Click to enlarge.

The ferocity of the struggle cannot be overstated. In the face of entrenched German resistance, the Marines executed a series of daring assaults. Day in and day out, they advanced against a relentless barrage of machine gun fire and mustard gas, often resorting to bayonets and hand-to-hand combat. They were cut off, isolated, and yet, determined to press on.
In a battle that would see the woods change hands between the adversaries six times, U.S. forces, perpetually undeterred, fought back with an indomitable spirit that the world had not yet witnessed. Casualties mounted, and the landscape was forever altered by the courage and sacrifice displayed by these valiant soldiers.

On the night of 4 June, amidst the tumult of battle, a critical reconnaissance mission unfolded as Lieutenant William A. Eddy, the intelligence officer of the 6th Marines, along with two comrades, braved enemy lines under the veil of darkness. Their courageous foray into the German encampments revealed strategic consolidations; machine gun emplacements were being fortified and artillery units reinforced, an ominous harbinger of the enemy's growing firepower. Although this intelligence suggested that an immediate German onslaught was unlikely, the implications were clear: the German forces were entrenching themselves to launch a potentially devastating attack that could rupture the front lines and threaten Paris itself.

By 17:00 on 6 June, the next phase of the Allied offensive was set into motion. The 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (3/5) under Major Benjamin S. Berry and the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines (3/6) led by Major Berton W. Sibley, commenced their advance. Moving from the west, they entered the fray of Belleau Wood. Confronted with the grim task of traversing a waist-high expanse of wheat, the Marines were met with a hailstorm of machine gun bullets. First Sergeant Dan Daly, a battle-hardened veteran and two-time Medal of Honor recipient, rallied his troops from the 73rd Machine Gun Company with the legendary call to valor, "Come on, you sons of bitches. Do you want to live forever?" These words became the clarion call of the battle for Belleau Wood.

Yet, the initial waves of Marines, pressing forward in disciplined lines, were virtually decimated. Major Berry sustained a wound to his forearm amidst the onslaught. Concurrently, Major Sibley's 3/6 Battalion penetrated the southern bounds of Belleau Wood only to be besieged by vicious machine gun assaults, sharpshooters, and the entangling menace of barbed wire. It wasn’t long before the American Marines and German infantry were locked in desperate hand-to-hand combat. The losses sustained were unprecedented, marking this day as one of the bloodiest in the history of the Marine Corps, with a toll of 31 officers and 1,056 enlisted men. Despite the grave casualties, the Marines had managed to secure a crucial toehold within Belleau Wood, setting the stage for the iconic battle that was to follow.

The deadlock at Belleau Wood was a testament to the ferocity of the entrenched German defense and the unwavering resolve of the American Marines. On the night of June 7-8, under the cloak of darkness, German forces launched a vigorous assault intended to recapture lost ground. Nonetheless, the attack was repulsed, just as the American counter-attack on the morning of June 8 met a similar fate—each side’s resolve was met with equal measure from the other. The 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, under the command of Major Shearer, assumed the position of the battered forces of Sibley’s battalion, with injuries numbering close to 400. The landscape of Belleau Wood was transformed under the harsh light of an immense American and French artillery barrage on June 9; the charming hunting preserve now a harrowing scene of destruction, with splintered trees littering the vision of a battlefield.

In the dim light of June 10, Major Hughes' 1st Battalion, with support from elements of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion, advanced bravely into the ravaged woodland from the south. The progress, initially promising, was stymied once more by unforgiving machine gun fire that claimed the life of Major Cole, the commanding officer of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion. Captain Harlan Major, the highest-ranking officer remaining, took charge amid the chaos. Subsequently, the Germans deployed copious amounts of mustard gas, adding a layer of complexity and horror to the already brutal combat.

The following day dawned with an eerie fog through which Wise's 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, alongside supportive fire from the 23rd and 77th companies of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion and elements of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Engineers, commenced their assault. Despite the intense and pinpoint machine gun fire decimating their ranks and causing devastating losses, through misdirection and sheer courage they managed to breach the southern German defenses. The significant progress, although costly, was an embodiment of the ruthless determination noted by an anonymous German private, who held in high regard the tenacity of the American fighters.

The Marines attacked Belleau Wood six times over several weeks in a grueling testament to endurance and fighting spirit. They stood against the troops of five German divisions, often reduced to the primal instincts of close combat with bayonets and fists. Finally, on the 26th of June, the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, now commanded by Major Maurice E. Shearer and buttressed by two companies from the 4th Machine Gun Battalion and the 15th Company of the 6th Machine Gun Battalion, launched a decisive attack. With a resounding victory, Belleau Wood was entirely cleared of German forces. In a succinct report symbolizing the significance and cost of this engagement, Major Shearer’s message read, "Woods now U.S. Marine Corps entirely"—a poignant conclusion to one of the most intense and fiercely contested battles American forces encountered in World War I.

Historical Significance
The capture of Belleau Wood was much more than a tactical victory; it was a catalytic event that redefined the complexion of World War One. The indomitable spirit of the U.S. Marine Corps, exemplified by their gallant stand, marked a turning point in the conflict. It was one of the first major engagements in which the American Expeditionary Forces showcased their bravery and prowess, transforming them from a looming presence into a potent force.

The battle served as a beacon of hope, igniting the morale of the Allied forces when it was needed most. It was a validation of the sacrifices made and the conviction upheld by the soldiers on the front lines. For the Germans, the tenacity with which the Marines fought served as a stark awakening to the emergence of the United States as a formidable military power— one to be reckoned with.

The fields of Belleau Wood, consecrated by the blood of heroes, fostered a legacy that endures to this day within the lore of the U.S. Marine Corps. The battle at Belleau Wood encapsulates the very essence of the human spirit—its ability to triumph against seemingly insurmountable adversity.

Bibliography

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Zabecki, David T. "The U.S. Marines’ Mythic Fight at Belleau Wood." Marine Corps Times. Last modified August 22, 2022. https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2021/06/26/the-us-marines-mythic-fight-at-belleau-wood/.