The first large-scale battle fought by American soldiers in
World War I begins in Belleau Wood, northwest of the Paris-to-Metz road.
In late May 1918, the third German offensive of the year penetrated
the Western Front to within 45 miles of Paris. U.S. forces under General
John J. Pershing helped halt the German advance, and on June 6 Pershing
ordered a counteroffensive to drive the Germans out of Belleau Wood.
U.S. Marines under General James Harbord led the attack against the four
German divisions positioned in the woods and by the end of the first
day suffered more than 1,000 casualties.
For the next three weeks, the Marines, backed by U.S. Army artillery,
launched many attacks into the forested area, but German General Erich
Ludendorff was determined to deny the Americans a victory. Ludendorff
continually brought up reinforcements from the rear, and the Germans
attacked the U.S. forces with machine guns, artillery, and gas. Finally,
on June 26, the Americans prevailed but at the cost of nearly 10,000
dead, wounded, or missing in action.
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