Posted on 11/11/2018 6:48:52 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
The day that Allied Forces made history on the beaches of Normandy in World War II was already the anniversary of a critical World War I battle. What would befall the United States Marine Corps at Belleau Wood beginning June 6, 1918, would change the Corps forever.
In the spring of 1918, German forces launched a massive attack on France. The German Spring Offensive was a focused attempt to take France and win the war. By June, the Germans had already made significant gains.
The Marines’ orders were to counterattack the Germans who were stopped at Belleau Wood, about 50 miles outside of Paris. But Belleau Wood was no ordinary place...
The commander of the US First Division Robert Lee Bullard described the win aptly: “The Marines didn’t win the war here. But they saved the Allies from defeat. Had they arrived a few hours later I think that would have been the beginning of the end. France could not have stood the loss of Paris.”
(Excerpt) Read more at m.warhistoryonline.com ...
One hundred years later, French President Emmanuel Macron brought President Donald Trump a sapling from Belleau Wood, where, he said, “the blood of Americans was spilled to defend France.” Together, Macron and Trump planted the little tree on the grounds of the White House.
They saved it so the French could give it to the muslims.
Some years ago, I visited Belleau Woods and the trenches they fought in and around are still there. I found a long jagged fragment from an artillery round in one of those trenches and I still have it.
The Germans were also surprised by the accuracy of the marine rifle fire.
I visited Belleau Wood 4 years ago and drank from the Marine’s Devil Dog Fountain. There is a small museum in the little village and is worth a visit just for the friendliness of the people. Must visit the cemetery and chapel. Chateau Thierry is not far and a must visit as well.
I was quite impressed this morning listening to the President in Paris - never before have I ever heard speakers saying thank you to so and so - and then the speaker actually says “Thank You” to them- in every moment this morning the President not only said we wish to thank, he then actually thanked the individual - what a wonderful touch he has.
Oh - eU rah to my fellow Marines at Bellau Wood -
That was a hell of a stand, mostly by the USMC. When they arrived they met French troops on foot, heading deeper into France, and the Germans were coming behind them. The battle went on for most of the month of June, and by the time it was done, the German's had dubbed the USMC "the Devil Dogs". The Germans used weapons, tactics, and at the peak of the assault superior numbers, and discovered that American troops really don't give a good ******* about military doctrine once their blood is up.
For any historians of WW1, there are official Chemical Warfare Service/Office of the Chief Chemical Officer “Historians Background Files” which include individual reports on gas warfare at many key battles between US forces and the Germans, by LOCATION. However, most Battle histories, including Chateau Thierry (June 1918), and possibly Belleau Woods, Meuse Ardennes, etc. are found in Record Group 175,Finding Aid A1, Entry 7, Office of Chief Chemical Officer, Unclassified Central Files, 1940-62”, esp. Boxes 14 & 16 (often listed on the label as PUBLICATIONS, Misc., etc) and in other similar OCCO/CWS boxes throughout the Record Group. It is a hit or miss search if you don’t know exactly where they are).
These Yellow Covered battle histories are just thrown in a lot of these Entries/Boxes rather than being stored in separate boxes.
You will need to search not only the Gen. Correspondence files/Fed. Record Center-sized boxes), but also all the “Historian’s Background Files” in FA A1, including Entries 6- Historian’s Background Files 1922-1962”, and many of the Finding Aid PI-8 “Entries” for WW1, as well as FA UD-UP, Entry 8 “Historians Background Files 1942-54”, Entry 11 (HBF 1940-61”, Entry 12 (HBF 1917-71 and any other an archivist might suggest.
In other words, historical reports are scattered throughout RG 175, CWS/OCCO, from WW1 to later files. Good luck.
I’m in them now so if you are interested in the titles of the few reports I am finding, send me a request for information in the “Private Reply” mode. I’ll try to get them for you.
MM
On June 6, I commemorate the Battle of Belleau Wood, when the US Marines finally turned the tide of WWI. Seems a later battle fought on that day gets more attention.
They sacrificed their lives so Muslims can freely walk the streets of Paris.
Uh, no: they sacrificed their lives to keep the Germans from walking in the streets of Paris.
Then the Germans would have invited the muslims.
Street View using google earth will let you take a virtual tour through the US cemetery at Belleau Wood.
Re: “Then the Germans would have invited the Muslims.”
I was being sarcastic.
In any event, the French started inviting North African Muslims to Paris about a century before the Germans started inviting the Turks, and now other Muslims, to Berlin.
“With the Help of God and a Few Marines”: The Battles of Chateau Thierry and Belleau Wood
by Albertus W. Catlin
Really good read. Starts with Colonel Catlin as a young man in the Corps. Then progresses to the big fight.
Was it a good idea to save France twice?
5.56mm
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