Château Thierry & Belleau Wood 1918

America’s baptism of fire on the Marne

Château Thierry & Belleau Wood 1918 cover

Château Thierry & Belleau Wood 1918

America’s baptism of fire on the Marne

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Description

In March 1918 of World War I (1914-1918), the Germans had successfully pushed the frontline to within 120km of Paris; the town of Chateau Thierry marking the tip of German advance. Nevertheless, in a daring counter-offensive on June 3, the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) reinforced the French and threw the Germans back across the Marne River.

Exhilarated by this success, the 2d Marine Division was tasked with taking the strategically significant Belleau Wood. On the Marines arrival the French were retreating in the face of the German onslaught, but the Marines defiantly declared "Retreat, hell! We just got here!" To take the wood the Marines marched through an exposed wheat field under fierce German fire, and suffered a staggering casualty rate.

The Marines, undaunted, reached the wood and bitterly struggled for 20 days, capturing and re-capturing it six times over, and finally securing the position against all odds, ending the last German offensive on the Western Front. The US forces suffered 9,777 casualties, took 1,800 German prisoners, and the wood was officially renamed Bois de la Brigade de Marine in honor of their courage and victory.

Discussing the strategy employed by the Allies and accompanied by original photographs and detailed maps, this book examines the two key battles that saw America's baptism of fire in World War I: Chateau Thierry and Belleau Wood.

Table of Contents

Origins of the Campaign

Chronology
Opposing Commanders
Opposing Armies
Opposing Plans
America Enters the War
Chateau-Thierry and Belleau Wood
Aftermath
The Battlefield Today

Bibiliography
Index

Product details

Published Jan 30 2007
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781846030345
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 72 b/w; 4 col
Dimensions 10 x 7 inches
Series Campaign
Short code CAM 177
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

David Bonk

David Bonk is a lifelong student of military histo…

Illustrator

Peter Dennis

Peter Dennis was inspired by contemporary magazine…

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