PolarBear
Major
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2007
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Battle of Belleau Wood June 1918
“Part of the 1918 German Spring Offensives, the Battle of Belleau Wood was won by American forces after twenty-six days of combat. Fought predominantly by US Marines, the battle stopped the German offensive and began a counterattack in the area. Fighting in the forest was particularly fierce, with the Marines clearing the wood six times before it was finally secured.
After the battle, the French renamed the wood "Bois de la Brigade de Marine" ("Wood of the Marine Brigade") in honor of the Marines' tenacity. The French government also later awarded the 4th Brigade the Croix de Guerre. Belleau Wood is allegedly also where the Marines got their nickname "Teufel Hunden" meaning "Devil Dogs" in poor German (actually "Teufelshunde" in proper German), for the ferocity with which they attacked the German lines. An official German report classified the Marines as "vigorous, self-confident, and remarkable marksmen..." General Pershing even said, "The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle!"
“Part of the 1918 German Spring Offensives, the Battle of Belleau Wood was won by American forces after twenty-six days of combat. Fought predominantly by US Marines, the battle stopped the German offensive and began a counterattack in the area. Fighting in the forest was particularly fierce, with the Marines clearing the wood six times before it was finally secured.
After the battle, the French renamed the wood "Bois de la Brigade de Marine" ("Wood of the Marine Brigade") in honor of the Marines' tenacity. The French government also later awarded the 4th Brigade the Croix de Guerre. Belleau Wood is allegedly also where the Marines got their nickname "Teufel Hunden" meaning "Devil Dogs" in poor German (actually "Teufelshunde" in proper German), for the ferocity with which they attacked the German lines. An official German report classified the Marines as "vigorous, self-confident, and remarkable marksmen..." General Pershing even said, "The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle!"
