US Marines at Belleau Wood - Birth of a Legend? (WW1 Documentary)
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- Опубликовано: 20 сен 2024
- On 6th June 1918 across these now peaceful fields in Northern France, a legend was born. On that day, thousands of servicemen of the US Marine Corps would fix bayonets and charge into the teeth of a German defensive line bristling with machine guns. For many, it was one-way trip, but for all, it was a charge into the history books. In this video, using the latest technology, veteran testimony and hitherto unseen perspectives of the battlefield, we’ll explore the story of the ‘Devil Dogs’ at Belleau Wood.
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• Research & Script: Dan Hill
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I'm born and raised at Chateau-Thierry, and i walk into Bois Belleau time and time again, and each time it shake my guts to see all those white crosses, and the canons exposed uphill of the cimetary, or those trenches and shell holes that are still visible today.
I really want to express my deepest respect to all the marines and american soldier who fought in my town side by side with our french poilus.
We will never forget their sacrifice. 🇨🇵🇺🇲
OORAH Frenchmen
Semper fidelis
Thank you so much
Viva la France!!
And just 26 years later they came back and did it again! Not only liberating the French from the nazis and traitorous Vichy regime but allowing the French to again govern themselves. This was not the case for eastern Europe who when liberated from the tyranny of Nazism by the Red Army became slaves to the USSR by having the yoke of communism placed around their necks! WWII never really ended until November 9th 1989 when the Iron Curtain and the Berlin Wall 🧱 came down and Europe was finally liberated! I missed it by two years as I left West Germany 🇩🇪 in the fall of 1987. I served two years as a member of NATO with the 7th Corp 9th Combat Engr Bn in Aschaffenburg in northwestern Bayern.
A rare, but appreciated Army mention. Too many people have no understanding that Army units were involved at Belleau Wood, let alone that they lost 650 men killed and thousands more wounded, including two Army engineer battalions whose job it was to simultaneously dig the trenches and fight as infantry as they advanced with the Marines into the woods.
Yeah we do a lot of research to try and uncover the lesser known aspects of battles and the like and this is just one of those things we thought worth mentioning as it is often overlooked.
Credit given where credit is due!
The only reason the Marines were even there was because they were one of the few American units that had any kind of experience or training at the start of US involvement in the war. This battle here is the reason why they have been a front line fighting force ever since. I served as an infantryman from 2002-2006 deploying to the Iraq War. Up until the time of The Great War the Marines had only been used in their primary role as an armed infantry force for the Navy to be able to deploy as needed and as shipboard and Naval base security. It’s one of the reasons why you don’t hear much about the Marines during the Civil War. Belleau Wood planted the legacy of the Marine Corps firmly and ensured that they would always be “the first to fight”. (Not technically but it’s an old catchphrase the Marines used to use)
Yeah thats a fair comment. @kingjoe3rd
Army are bums
Neither legend nor disaster. It's what Marines do when the odds are against them.
I served 21 years in the Marine Corps as an infantry officer a very long time ago with 3 years in combat. I was a Marine platoon commander in the Vietnam War in 1968-69 (well over 50 years ago). Hard year. Lost a lot of good Marines killed and horribly wounded. Once they were evacuated, we saddled up and continued our missions.
Whether it's Guadalcanal, Peleliu, Tarawa, Okinawa, Iwo Jima (all far more difficult than Belleau Woods), Marines prevail against the odds.
We trained hard, fought hard, and played hard. No regrets.
It's not because we are suicidal, rather it's because we don't like losing.
Marines just shoot better! I recall there was a bunch in Iraq with bullets in their heads, and it was thought it was a war crime, nope, just Marines with M-4s making 700-meter shots. The Wood is a storied part of a Stoired History of the USMC!
And that you guys have no fucking idea what you’re doing. Stick to amphibious stuff
Semper Fidelis!!
Semper Fi!
Not counting Guadalcanal, in all the other battles the odds were massively in the Marines side.
To all my Marine brothers and sisters watching. Semper Fi brother.
When I found your channel, I binge watched the entire content about the Great War in almost one sitting. Unlike other channels who only focus on the big picture, you are showing these events from a very human perspective. With the visuals, eyewitness accounts and old photos/footage I can almost feel every time what these men were feeling and experiencing a hundred years ago. This video is no different. Keep it up!
Thanks so much... you are the viewer we are aiming for. :)
As a former Marine infantryman I am continually amazed at the times that my life was put in jeopardy by inept leadership too lazy or afraid to question plans made based on piss poor reconasence
@@jackalbright8803 Remember the motto of military intelligence, “We bet your life!!!”
That was a fairly accurate depiction of events. Such battle has been passed down via tradition to every Marine thereafter, myself included.
It took me listening to this 2x before I realized your statement about the US Army 3rd Division's involvement. Looking at my great-uncle's brief time-line of his service as an Army Private in France, my great-uncle was in the 3rd Division, 30th Infantry, Company 6, and his service record lists him being at Chateau-Thierry from June 6th to July 14, 1918. We have very little information about his involvement during the 1st World War. He came home after being stationed in Germany in December of 1918 and was admitted to a veterans Hospital in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. He was a patient there until he passed away in 1961. Thank you for this bit of history, it allows us to learn more about some of my family's past. Great video!!!!
A great book about the Marne battles is Rock of the Marne by Stephen L. Harris. Though it's primarily about the 38th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, the 30th Infantry was in the same brigade and both regiments fought together ( and their commanding officers competed against each other). You might find some information there.
You're one of the best battlefield storytellers out there.
Thank you.
@@BattleGuideVT I have researched high and low as to where the Marines' jump off point was on June 6th was. Where was it? What was the distance across the open wheat fields to Belleau Wood. I have heard all kinds of responses... anywhere from 200 yards, or 500 yards to 700 yards? Does anyone know? I would love to hear from you.
A friend of mine ,the son of a WW1 British officer , his father told him when the Americans entered the front line they set up row upon row of very neat white tents. They were advised to dismantle the tents and dig in. Advice they are gently ignored. Then German artillery shelled them during the night with great slaughter.
Easy mistake for fresh soldiers who just entered the war. I don't think anyone would deny their heroism.
Yep they thought they knew better in WW1 and 2. In WW1 they were advised by French and British generals what to do and the Americans just ignored them and they were slaughtered! Joys of turning up late
Sounds accurate. France, Britain, and Germany made the same mistakes in the early days of the war.
@@philblake1240 Ah yes, listen to the ones that sat in the same trenches ordering pointless assaults that killed millions for ego and greed. Oh yes great leaders and strategy the euros had. Ah the joys of not understanding or being deluded to the facts of where the US was economically and militarily at the onset of WW1 and WW2. After the US joined WW2 some of the largest operations argued for, planned and led by euro leaders ended up as total disasters or meatgrinders (Italy campaign, Operation Market Garden, among others). Hell, the French could have ended WW2 before their country fell if they believed what their reconnaissance units were telling them of a massive German military traffic jam in the Ardennes. French leadership literally said "that's not possible" then cue the next 6 years of war that led to millions dead thanks to more euro greed and incompetence.
Yes, then we kicked their ass😂
Your war stories are absolutely outstanding.
Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
My wife's great great Uncle died in this battle, years later his body was brought back to Hondo,TX
Thanks for this. My grandfather, my father's--father, Austin Grimes was a member of the 5th Marines at Belleau Wood. He was blinded and burned by mustard gas in the battle, but survived to eventually be a successful lawyer and the Mayor of Little Falls MN. He was awarded a ceremonial band by the French government that I still have. I appreciate this detailed account.
For anyone interested in the story of American troops in the AEF during WWI should check out the book "The Doughboys; The Story of the AEF 1917-1918" by Laurence Stallings. It's still the best book about WWI that I've ever read (except maybe for "The Guns of August") and it covers from the high command all the way down to the low level. I'm pretty sure nearly every American division which fought in the trenches of WWI has a chapter. Laurence Stallings himself was a US Marine Corps officer during the war (and he even admits that the Army did the vast majority of the fighting but the Marines just had better PR haha!). It's a great book and an exciting read for any military history fan.
PR has always been vital to my Marine Corps because its very existence has been threatened again and again by politicians (and sometimes the top Army Brass) with the Corps itself being dissolved and absorbed into the Army. In those upper level policy offices, it's about money and personality clashes aka egos.
I have searched many times trying to find a decent documentary on this subject but never found one until now. Thank you.
According to the DIvisional history from 1937, the 4th Brigade was originally to Army units assigned (in training at Gettysburg, PA) when they swapped for the Marines. What most don't appreciate was the divisional artillery and other assets were Army units. The 3rd Brigade was all Army. My grandfather was in Company E, 23rd Infantry and was in line during Belleau Wood.
According to the Divisional history, "Retreat hell, we just got here" is disputable but 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines did receive written orders to retreat from a French officer as noted in the Battalion war diary.
This area is due for a Lidar survey from the French IGN next winter, and will be made publicly available along the others on their LidarHD website. I've posted some maps over Le Hamel, the Somme, Vimy and the Chemin des Dames in the ww1 subreddit.
Great to know, thank you!
@@BattleGuideVT (tbh, Vimy and the Somme aren't public yet but soon enough, I hope)
Excellent video and a great analysis. There's a renewed interest in WWI happening in the United States and videos like this are a valuable tool for education. After studying the AEF, I'm glad this video finally addresses the myth that this battle saved Paris. The goal of splitting the Franco-British armies was a goal for the German Army for a long time, but this battle has become so wrapped up in lore for the America that we seem to forget that we tend to forget the larger picture. Still, American can take pride that the contributions of the American Expeditionary Force were vital and created a third, large military obstacle that allowed the British and French to launch the 100 days offensive that helped end the war.
I served in the Marine Corps and had the opportunity to visit Belleau Wood and the Aisne-Marne cemetery and what's striking is how small it is. I think many tend to believe the wood is a large forest, but it's actually fairly small and I believe it's no bigger than Central Park in New York. It really gives an idea to how fierce the fighting must have been.
The consistent quality of the videos you put out is staggering, I love them.
Thank you... they take a lot of work to put together but we believe it is worth it. :)
Great video. I visited this place. I was at the Somme battlefields and I got up early and drove to Belleau Wood. I hiked all around the woods. You could really see how the Germans had the high ground. The wood had a dark and sinister feel to it.
My great grandfather was there right under Daly , 73rd machine gun Co. 6th Marines
I just toured Belleau Wood and the Aisne-Marne cemetery this past June. It is an incredible area; the battlefield remains largely untouched, and the ground is hallowed and sacred. I encourage every American to get to France and see these fields and rows of crosses for themselves. It is hard to image such devastation in such a beautiful landscape, but it is absolutely worth the trip. Chateau-Theirry is a great town and it's only a 40-minute drive north to the Oise-Aisne American cemetery. Monuments and memorials to the memory of the US effort in the First World War are scattered across the countryside. As a Navy vet who served in tandem with the 6th Marines, it meant a lot to get there. Great video, you did a great job accurately representing the battle lines and movements.
My uncle, Pvt James Williams, was there, a gas casualty. He was very old when I was a little kid. He seldom spoke of it.
The Germans called the Marines, "Devil Dogs" during this battle, which became a nickname, that's what the Marines called themselves from then until now. Either it's an insult for the Marines by the Germans or kind of a good thing, either way translated it's a badass nickname.
It is a badass name, but unfortunately one of several myths of the battle.
They didnt.
Me as a Marine Lance Corporal wise-ass: Well, frankly First Sergeant, I DO want to live forever.
I’m a Big fan of the Channel. Your research is expansive. (The voice over is on point!) Well done as usual. Like another poster mentioned , it’s nice to see the inclusion of the Army’s and other units involvement. .”Semper Fi “
Thanks Stew! Glad you enjoyed it.
Another fantastic video! Have been to Belleau Wood twice, but this all helps me sort it out better in my mind before my next visit.
Thanks man - appreciate the comment.
After just finishing the not so quiet on the western front episode, this RUclips video complements it perfectly. Keep up the great work
Wow, thanks!
There is a farm near the American Cemetary. In it is a spring/fountain and the ancient figurehead at the fountain is a Devil Dog. It has become somewhat of a pilgrimage among Marines to visit this spring and drink the "sacred water" to honor our Brothers still on duty. Semper Fi!
From my knowledge about the battle, it was potentially a disaster, they couldn't coordinate enough artillery support, the Germans had a very strong defensive position, and the American logistic was being tested the first time in major modern combat, but the amount of FK IT WE BALL energy from the marines, combined with proper aggressive tactics in the appropriate situation flipped the table in the American favor
That's what marines are known for
Wrote my college exit paper on this battle. It was the only paper I actually enjoyed researching and writing, as well as the only one I got done not at the last possible moment. Two of my professors wound up asking for a copy which made me proud of all that work.
Thank you for another top quality presentation.
Thanks for watching. :)
Great topic told in amazing detail. Love the references to Dan Daly! Seeing the wheat fields in person gave me chills and appreciation for courageous sacrifices that were made
Thank you.
Excellent video, thank you. The US army and Marines had to learn the hard way what German machine guns would do to waves of infantry advancing across open ground, and lacking artillery support.
The British learned the same lesson on the Somme two years earlier! Adapt and survive, and be quick to learn.
Been waiting for this one! Your channel does these videos with extreme talent, please keep them coming!
Thank you for the kind words... we hope it was worth the wait?
@@BattleGuideVT After watching through the video, I am extremely disappointed.
That it ended so soon! Your content really is the best for visualising the battlefield as it may have been at the time, and those videos of the modern site are just 👌
@@TheIrishvolunteer Thank you. :) You had us going there for a minute.
We're born in France in '17,
In the Hell of the First World War.
With Infantry and Proud Marine,
We Bravely Fought Amidst the Cannons Roar.
The Warriors went Across the Meuse and River Marne,
Our Names and Our Fame Were Won.
We marched Home Proudly with Flags Held on High,
And They Called Us, "SECOND TO NONE"
Thank you for an in-depth overview of the fighting.
I am in amazement at how well done and informative these videos are. Your channel and everyone involved is so well done it's impressive how the videos keep me engaged and always wanting more. My hats off to you and your team that to me make this one of the absolute must watch channels so that we don't lose our past and everyone that died to protect our freedom
Thanks so much for the very kind words! We are delighted you enjoy the content.
I stayed in the village in a gite for 2 weeks and this was my first experience of a beautiful well maintained American cemetery, I had no idea it was there, but made me explore the area much farther. Very interesting yet sad at the same time.
My grandfather fought in Bella Wood, and his son, (my father), fought across the Pacific, from Tarawa to Okinawa.
Great video guys, you nailed it, It was a terrible loss of men, But the Marines learned from it That is why Best military in world USA!!
Many years ago, I went to Belleau Wood. I was travelling thru Europe with a Eurail Pass and took the train to Chateau-Thierry and then walked to Belleau Wood (It's only 10 kms away). Interesting place. There is a chapel that contains the names of all those who were killed or missing. The chapel was built during the interwar years and during the invasion of France in 1940, the chapel was damaged by a tank round next to the main entrance.
Very informative.
Glad it was helpful!
These videos are so well made. Much respect!!
Can you please do a podcast on the Territorials please? Would be a great listen and a chance for you to talk more about the Hertfordshire regiment!
Love your channel! Humble video request - Desmond Doss WW2 Okinawa Japan medic. They made a film called Hacksaw Ridge about his story. I think that would be a pretty awesome video, plus, excuse for you to fly to Japan with your drone for the video lol. Make sure to try their curry.
The photos and videos (now & then) have an amazing ability to put me on the battlefield. And they keep getting better!
Thank you very much mTk!
Semper Fidelis
The place is now known as the "Bois de la Brigade de Marine".
Thanks so much for your videos and podcasts. I very much appreciate the attention to this conflict as an American. It is very overlooked here in media and education and it is such important part of world and military history. It’s by far my favorite topic in military history and it is difficult to find such high quality content and information on it. You and Spence do a fantastic job breaking down so many topics as well. Thank you so much.
You are very welcome. Thanks for watching.
The guy in the thumbnail looks like Paulie Walnuts. FUGHEDDABOUDIT!
Fascinating details & brilliant production - cheers. The US Marines based in Camp Bastion, Helmand Afghanistan called their area of operations just outside the camp Task Force Belleau Wood & when the Taliban attacked Camp Bastion on Sept 14 2012 those Marines showed the same courage their predecessors demonstrated at the original Belleau Wood. If @BattleGuideVT would do a video on the Sept 2012 Task Force Belleau Wood area battle, I'd be very happy to provide details & photos of the area.
My dad in the early 90s served on the USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) and I have a friend who's in his mid 60s who's father served on the USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) back in WW2. I remember walking aboard the lha-3 and seeing a big painting of the devil dog mascot on the wall in the hanger deck.
Loyd Williams is from my county, Clarke in Virginia. I grew up in the same area he did. Semper Fi Marine.
Can you please do a video on Mametz and High Wood? My great great grandfather served in the 14th (Service) Battalion RWF at Mametz, and later with the 2nd Battalion RWF at High Wood. Love your work on the WW1 battles!
For sure they are on our project list. :)
@@BattleGuideVT If you or your team ever come across a Private 20109 Harry (in English, Henry) Owen during your research I would love to find out more. We think he was severally wounded at High Wood after Mametz and sadly died at Leeds Military Hospital in November 1916, aged 27. I've been researching everyone on my local war memorial at Dinas where he is buried, also visited Mametz and High Wood a few weeks ago. Placed a wreath for him at the 38th (Welsh) Division memorial.
Great channel - deeply appreciate lack of AI voice!
You forgot to include the 5th and 6th Machine Gun Battalions
Truth is the first casualty of war.
Another superb video...👍👍
Thank you for the kind words.
Excellent video! There is a ton of great information. I enjoyed this even more because it helped reinforce what I learned through the podcast (Not So Quiet on the Western Front). The maps were very helpful, as it helped me picture the battle much more. The music is superb as well.
Dan's narration, as always, is awesome. He does a nice job.
Good work again. Take care.
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@BattleGuideVT :) You do awesome work. I enjoy the podcasts and RUclips documentaries :).
Regarding thumbnail pic … Dan Daly was already a legend!!!!
Good video!
i love how the Marines act like this was the decisive battel of the war. it was a side battle in a back water
Outstanding!!! I walked those woods and the cemetary. This brought it all to life for me. Walking among the graves in the meticulously kept cemetary was very emotional. As a veteran it is hard for me to understand how Donald Trump would not have honored these interred Marines when he had the opportunity to do so.
Would recommend "At the front" by arthur impey. One of the things mentioned that ive not jeard anywhere else is German knowledge of code words of tje somme offensive. Bot earlier then American involvement properly,but worth a read.
Absolutely excellent content. thank you
Much appreciated!
Great video. Can say the same about some of the advertisements.
Yes, RUclips is in charge of the adverts being displayed. Sadly, to finance our research, battlefield visits and the production of this free content they are a necessary evil. Hopefully one day we have enough supporters through the likes of Patreon to not have to rely on YT ads interrupting your viewing. If you are interested in becoming a Patreon please check out this link. www.patreon.com/BattleGuide
The most brilliant analysis
Excellent!
Many thanks!
Good brave lads, all of them. Hot work done very well, Yank.
I have a colour photo in a 1929 issue of National Geographic that shows the wood as it was then. There was still a row of German machine guns left behind 11-years-later.
On 4 July 1918, around a thousand Americans from the Illinois National Guard were among the first troops over the top in the Battle of Hamel - the first time a major Allied battle had deviated from the discredited tactic of massive Infantry assault post Artillery support against strongly fortified German positions. These Americans formed an integral part of the Australian Corps commanded by Australia’s John Monash. Monash intergrated air support and resupply, tanks, continuous artilley, and engineer support with the Infantry advance. The battle set the pattern for future engagements that led to the Armistice. The Americans performed superbly winning more bravery awards than their numbers would have suggested. General Pershing, who had opposed this attachment of Americans to a foreign commander was quick to be part of the fully justified praise Americans received as a result of their bravery at Hamel.
5 th Marine Regiment was at Camp Pendleton in the mid 1970’s when I was stationed there. A storied group with a rich history.
Excellent documentary!
Great documentary. Good work.
It good to hear about all these little details, but for the regimental commanders it must have been tougher to make choices.
Great video
Thanks.
Didn't see any mention of the marksmanship shown by the Marines early in June.
Being a Marine we were taught the truth in boot camp. The tactics and the cost.
Good video guys. Great job!
Btw, the air support for reconnaissance and artillery support would have been the responsibility of the French, as the Americans had yet to bolster their forces. The French left them high and dry, minus a few Chauchats prone to jamming. It was the "green" US Infantry that fought without support, using methods that had been deemed ineffective by their allies. But they had no other choice. Marines opted for bayonet charges to great effect, even though the French had long since abandoned the concept as impractical. They demonstrated that a group of professional soldiers, well trained, was still superior to mass levies of conscripts.
Ian McCollum from Forgotten Weapons did an excellent video about the Chauchat, couldn't recommend it enough. As for the support thing, well you can't flex about ignoring orders to retreat and later bemoan a lack of cooperation.
The 2nd Division was equipped with its three artillery regiments (two 75mm regiments and one 155mm regiment) and were in place at the time of the June 6 attack. Not sure why they didn't use them in a rolling barrage like the 1st Infantry Division had done at Cantigny.
Semper Fi
It did seem to tie up a great number of German reserves, preventing them from being used to help defend against the allied attacks to either side of the wood.
You fail to give the Army their due praise. In this operation 6,000 Marines and 18,000 army took part. When the U.S. was preparing to go to France, Pershing did not want the Marines, saying that there would be supply problems with providing 2 separate types of armaments, uniforms and other supplies. Marines got over this by dressing in army uniforms and using army weapons. They were also part of the Army's 2nd Infantry Division. The Marines just had better PR. If you wish to see more, google "We Were There Too: the US Army at Belleau Woods."
As a regular battlefield guide of Belleau Wood, I spend most time speaking about the Army contribution, though of course this video had a marine focus and on the wood specifically, which was a predominantly marine affair, though other units of 2ID fought either side of the wood.
The US Army did the heavy work and the Marines got all the glory like in the Chosen Reservoir, Korea.
I'm not sure but I think my great-uncle Joe Opdahl who has my Grandma Goranson's brother fought here. I remember he was fighting in the area according to his obituary. He never talked about his own experiences but as I studied the war when I got older I understood why. The fighting was the worst. Seeing your buddies blown to bits or shot to pieces would have shook up anyone's mind.
I had read somewhere that in some of the first battles of American troops they would come out of their trenches shooting wildly and yelling and screaming, because all the American’s had been fighting native Americans
The only error in the video that I could find was that the Marines advanced using French tactics - this from John W. Thomason, Captain USMC - who was there. He is the great recorder of our experiences in WWI in France. I highly recoomend his book "Fix Bayonets", a book of short stories that eloquently capture the Marines’ involvment in France, China and Central America.
Captain Thomason said the Marines never used those tactics again.
Hi Jeffrey, thanks for your comment, where did we say that?
Fantastic video liked and subscribed.
It would help if people commenting actually watched this excellent video. Particularly the ignorant comments about the French , whose 167th and 10th colonial divisions pushed forward against tough resistance setting up the Marines’ second attack after their bloody first one
Our worst haters are our own allies.
I appreciate the fine video, but one quibble: @ 9:50 you state that "no reconnaissance had been performed" prior to the June 6th assault, but "On the night of the fourth Lieut. [William Alfred] Eddy, the intelligence officer of the Sixth [Regiment (Marines), 2nd Division, A.E.F.], with two [enlisted] men stole through the German lines and penetrated almost as far as Torcy." They reported that "the Germans were organizing in the woods and were consolidating their machine gun positions, so that a sortie in force seemed not unlikely." Quotes from the NY Sun newspaper, March 9, 1919, by Brig. Gen. A. W. Catlin. See also the wiki page for "Col. William Alfred Eddy".
Lieut. Eddy received the Navy Cross, Army Distinguished Service Medal, and the Silver Star for this reconnaissance (purple heart on for wounds on the 26th), so there was partial awareness of what was in the woods, and it was appreciated at the time, however terrible the ultimate cost in casualties during the battle.
Semper Fi!
"retreat? Hell, we just got here"... I think there is a bit of a misunderstanding here... the French were making fighting withdrawls... not fleeing... as such they had the perfect supply situation, while the German supply lines stretched to breaking point.... At the moment the US units entered the line, the French still had its best divisions in the area, they had not yet taken part in the battle... their role was to counter attack, not become involved in a defensive battle... if a German breakthrough was expected they would have been used, but the danger was not there. Allied commanders had already recognised that each succesive german offensive in the battle was weaker than the one before, this last one weakest of all. So by the time we get to the phase along the final line of the advance (including Belleau Wood) the Germans have stretched lines of communication,,, and no defensive positions. A visit to the wood shows the germans had not yet had time to prepare any real defences, so the Marines and Germans were both basicaslly out in the open. Tough fighting, and hats off to all, but the German division was one of the lowest rated on the western front (by the allies). A 1918 letter to a US paper by an officer of the Army Brigade of the 2nd division complains that the newspapers totally ignored their brigade although they actually made more ground. And just to make myself more unliked... The Marines are indeed "Devil Dogs"... but that name was not given to them by the Germans, A US jourrnalist had used it some time before the battle. Great fight by the marines, deserves its place in history, but lets keep the history real.
Right, agree with what you say, but I don't think we misrepresented anything here?
@@BattleGuideVT Nope, good video, just a collection of thoughts to add to the pot. My Wifes Great grandfather was on the other side a few KM to the north fighting a french colonial division so the push is something thats intrests me
Whatever you do - don’t even hint that anyone else but Americans fought the Germans in WW1. We told the Brits and French to head back to Paris and we took shotguns and handheld machine guns and won the whole thing in 2 days. Two days because we stopped to have a BBQ partway through. That’s right - we all showed up with cowboy boots on, shotguns in our hands, bald eagles on our shoulders, and cannons in our top hats. Ye-haw! More that growing up here in the states, history books only tell the heroic tales of how USA saved the world over and over again. I’m learning more and more that we didn’t do much of the most serious fighting in either world war.
Literally no one believes that, American history classes are absolutely terrible, but mostly because they do jot cover stuff like this at all... they do focus mostly on America's participation in events because that is what is pertinent to people in America... but everyone knows these were European wars before America was involved.
Yup,we came in late and used that advantage to get a ton of money from our allies and the enemy to bolster our economy and our military forces. We did it in both world wars. I bet our assistance wasn’t needed in the First World War, they were winning battles and taking ground back without us and we had to intervene to line our pockets with blood money. The truth is coming out slowly but we will be shown that we are not the greatest country in the world and we are a country that now creates war to enrich our military industrial complex because that’s the basis of our economy now.
😂😂😂
"Do an expose on the Harlem Hell raisers."
I gather from dictionaries 'LEGEND' refers to a story which NEVER happened about events that never existed.
Surely you know that meanings of words evolve over time?
That battle ensured that there would always be a USMC
The novel, and novels being novels aren’t always very accurate, however ‘to the last man’ by Jeff Sheere gives a good account of about the fight
This a horrifying story about unprepared troops being thrown into a battlefield whose commanders had no understanding of. The British and particularly the Australians under Monash, the Canadians under Currie and the New Zealanders under Godley, terrible as he had been at Gallipoli, were well seasoned in the manoeuvre warfare required at this stage of the war. The Americans were deployed in a 19th century style campaign by their commanders and suffered awful casualties as a result, because the US government would not allow their expeditionary force to be placed under foreign command, although they had been offered otherwise . If they had they would likely have been trained and deployed more effectively with far fewer casualties.
High level naivety and hubris cost so many young lives.
Almost excusable amongst the commands of all sides nearer the beginning of the war. Totally unforgivable given that the Americans had the benefit of the experience of their allies….and chose to ignore it. Something they would choose to repeat in the skies over Europe in 1943…with similar consequences.
Well, they didn't exactly ignore it, they just didn't have too many options. The French did not give the Americans at Belleau any artillery or air support, as they were very much in disarray and desperate themselves. It was impossible for the Marines to use combined arms advanced tactics. So relying on nothing but unsupported infantry, the Marines stormed the wood, and took it. That was virtually unprecedented, which is why it is heralded as such an amazing feat. The Marines were set up for failure by their own allies, yet managed to conquer with nothing but flesh and blood.
I think communication wasn't made easier by the fact that French officers, after 1871, were trained in speaking German rather than English.
I am going to be visiting the belleau wood battlefield in mid September 2024. I am thinking of hiring a local guide. Does anyone know such a guide that they could recommend parting you have personal knowledge. I don’t speak French so would need a guide fluent in English. Thank you
The Marines were not known as Doughboys. That was the U.S. Army. So the nickname doesn’t apply to a combined Army and Marine force.
Yes they were, they were all known as Doughboys, Marines and officers included. It was a catch-all for US troops