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Day 1
On the evening of 1 June, German forces punched a hole in the French lines -
Period: to
Battle of Belleau Wood
Location
Belleau Wood near Paris, France
Commanders and leaders
Allis Central Powers
US - John J. Pershing German - Crown Prince Wilhelm
US - James Harbord
Casualties
1,811 killed 1,600 captured
7,966 wounded Assumed high casualties -
Day 2
By the night of 2 June, the U.S. forces held a 12 miles front line north of the Paris-Metz Highway running through grain fields and scattered woods, from Triangle Farm west to Lucy and then north to Hill 142. The German line opposite ran from Vaux to Bouresches to Belleau -
Period: to
4th - 6th day
On 4 June, Maj. Gen. Bundy and the 2nd Division took command of the American sector of the front. Over the next two days, the Marines repelled the continuous German assaults. -
Dawn
At dawn, the Marines were to attack Hill 142, but only two companies were in position. The Marines advanced in waves with bayonets advanced through the wheat field that was swept with German machine gun and artillery fire, and many Marines were cut down. Later, the rest of the battalion arrived The Marines were rapidly exhausting their ammunition. By the afternoon, however, the Marines had captured Hill 142, -
3:45
At 03:45 on 6 June, the Allies launched an attack on the German forces. The Marines attacked Hill 142 to prevent fire against the French. As part of the second phase, the 2nd Division would capture the ridge overlooking Torcy and Belleau Wood, as well as occupying Belleau Wood. However, the Marines failed to scout the woods, and missed a regiment of German infantry. -
17:00
At 17:00 the Marines commanded by Major Benjamin S. Berry, and Maj. Tyler M. Meyer, advanced from the west into Belleau Wood as part of the second phase of the Allied offensive. Again, the Marines had to advance through a waist-high wheat field into murderous machine gun fire.
The first waves of Marines were slaughtered.
the Marines swept into the southern end of Belleau Wood and encountered heavy machine gun fire, sharpshooters and barbed Wire -
Period: to
24:00
The battle was now deadlocked. At midnight on 7th of June, a German attack was stopped cold and an American counter-attack in the morning of 8 June was similarly defeated -
Day 8
The fighting from day 7 continues and causes nearly 400 casualties -
Day 9
On 9 June, an enormous American and French barrage devastated Belleau Wood, turning the formerly attractive hunting preserve into a jungle of shattered trees. The Germans counter-fired into Lucy and Bouresches and reorganized their defenses inside Belleau Wood.[15] -
Day 10
In the morning of 10 June, Maj. Hughes' Marines and a Machine Gun Battalion attacked north into the wood. Although this attack seemed to be succeeding at first, it was also stopped by machine gun fire. Major Cole was mortally wounded. Captain Harlan Major took command. The Germans used great quantities of mustard gas. Wise's Marines were ordered to attack the woods from the west, while Hughes continued his advance from the south -
Day 11
At 04:00 on 11 June, Wise's men advanced through a thick morning mist towards Belleau Wood, supported by 2 Machine Gun Battalion and were cut to pieces by heavy fire. Platoons were destroyed by machine gun fire. It was discovered that the battalion had advanced in the wrong direction. Rather than moving northeast. However, they smashed the German southern defensive lines. -
Day 11
German counterattack begins supported by the artillerys and almost recaptures Bouresches.
Heavy gas casualties. -
Day 23
On June 23, the Marines launched a major attack into the forest, but were unable to gain ground. Suffering staggering losses, they required over two hundred ambulances to carry the wounded. -
Day 25
Belleau Wood was subjected to a fourteen hour bombardment by French artillery. US forces were also finally able to completely clear the forest. -
Day 26
On June 26, Allis defeated some early morning German counterattacks, Major Maurice Shearer was finally able to send the signal,
Alli Victory
