American Marines in Battle

In the spring of 1918, Germany planned a series of attacks designed to cripple the Allies before the full force of United States troops were ready to impact the war. On June 1, 1918, German forces punched a hole in the French lines near Belleau (bel-oh) Woods, France. United States forces filled in the gap to stop the Germans from advancing towards Paris. The 2nd Division, which included a brigade of Marines, and the 3rd Division fought alongside the French and British in order to stop the German drive towards Paris. 

Disregarding a French order to dig trenches further to the rear, the commander of the Marines ordered his men to "hold where they stand." The Marines waited until the Germans were within 100 yards before attacking, inflicting many casualties and forcing them to retreat into the woods. On June 6, the Marines advanced from the west into Belleau Woods as part of an Allied counterattack. In the dense woods, Marines and German infantrymen were soon engaged in heavy hand-to-hand fighting. Over the next three weeks, the Marines attacked into the woods six times before they successfully expel the Germans completely.