"Over There! Part 3: Retreat, Hell! We Just Got Here!" U.S. Marines At Belleau Wood

Watch this American Rifleman Television video segment "Over There! Part Three: Retreat, Hell! We Just Got Here!" to learn about the United States Marines Corps action at Belleau Wood during World War I.

By the summer of 1918, German forces on the Western Front were stronger than at any point prior during World War I. This was due to the fact that the Russians sought a separate peace from the other allies. With the Eastern Front no longer a concern, the Germans were no longer in the draining position of fighting a two-front war. As a result, the Germans poured all of their available resources and men into fighting the remaining allies on the Western Front.

Beginning on March 21, 1918, the German launched the "Spring Offensive" or a series of attacks and advances along the Western Front. At the time the Germans had a temporary numerical advantage over the allies, and began another push toward Paris. After a steady advance, in June the German offensive ran into the U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Division on the road running from Paris to Metz. Attached to the 2nd Infantry Division were elements of the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments. The Marines were pushed forward between June 1-26, 1918 in a series of engagements to counter the German advance.

These engagements took place near areas know as "The Triangle Farm", Hill 142 and Belleau Wood. The battle fought by the Marines at Belleau Wood would help forge the legacy and ethos of the U.S. Marine Corps that is revered to this day. At stake was France itself, as Belleau Wood was only 35 miles from Paris which was already under bombardment from German long-range artillery. If the Germans were able to take Paris, France would fall and along with it the allied war effort. The Marine riflemen of the time were expert marksmen and their skill was displayed through German casualties. The Germans were unpleasantly surprised at the skill of Marine marksmen.

U.S. Soldiers were issued with the Model 1903 Springfield bolt-action rifle chambered in .30-'06 Sprg. The M1903 was based off the sturdy Mauser 1898 action. The M1903 proved to be very accurate much like the Mauser, and had precise target-style sights. The M1903 has an adjustable rear peep sight that while not ideal for a battle sight, is excellent for pin-point shooting.

The Other rifle used was the Model 1917 bolt-action rifle produced by Eddystone, Winchester and Remington. Originally it was designed by the British as the Pattern 14 chambered in .303 British and produced under contract by American manufacturers. The design was chambered in .30-'06 Sprg. as a means of dressing the shortage of M1903 rifles.

U.S. Marines were armed with foreign-made machine guns like the French M1914 Hotchkiss heavy machine gun and M1915 Chauchat CSRG light machine gun chambered in 8 mm Lebel. The U.S. military had not focused on machine guns as a priority prior to joining the war, and production of domestic models was far behind. So, American Soldiers turned foreign examples to supplement their need for automatic weapons.

Marines also packed large-caliber handguns on the battlefield at that time. The semi-automatic, Browning-designed M1911 along with the Smith & Wesson M1917 double-action revolver were both chambered in .45 ACP. These handguns proved invaluable in the closer quarters fighting in the woods.

When Marines charged across wheat fields into Belleau Wood, they suffered heavy casualties. They advanced in their standard line formations against German positions reinforced with machine guns. These German positions were set up to cover one another throughout the woods.

The Marines engaged in intense fighting against German forces at Belleau Wood for a month. By the end of June 1918, the battle ended with the Germans unable to advance any further. Two regiments of Marines succeeded in not only taking on six German Divisions in the process, but stopping their advance and playing a key roll in halting the German "Spring Offensive" of 1918.

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