Thread by @ProfPaulPoast

Let's talk about the 1918 Battle of Belleau Wood and why the American Marines who died in it were not "suckers"

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To start, why were Americans even there? Specifically, why did the US enter World War I?

That's not a simple answer to give (so I'm not going to 🤨at @realDonaldTrump for not understanding why the US entered the war on the side of the British-French-Italians)

Woodrow Wilson was conflicted on whether to enter the war at all.

On the one hand, he actually thought it was important for the US to stay OUT of the fray so that it could rebuild "white civilization" afterwards

https://twitter.com/ProfPaulPoast/status/1274678794511626246

On the other hand, German submarine warfare was a HUGE problem for the United States (both British and American ships were being sunk at an alarming amount and rate in late 1916 through early 1917)

Oh, and don't forget that Germany (through the Zimmerman Telegram) tried to form an alliance with Mexico (though I personally don't think this was critical to US entry -- it just provided a useful pretext)

So the US officially entered the war in April 1917

But while the US was now "at war" with Germany, it would take time for US forces to arrive.

In April 1917, the US didn't yet have an army to send (US army was just a little over 100,000 personnel, compared to armies with millions of troops in Europe).

army.mil/article/185229…

But by late 1917/early 1918, that changed. Substantial number of forces began to arrive in Europe and by the end of the war, nearly 5 million men would be serving in the US armed forces.

loc.gov/collections/st…

It's a good thing US troops began to arrive when they did. Why? Because, Russia, a key ally of the British-French-Italians had signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918, officially ending its participation in the war.

That freed up German soldiers from the Eastern front to move to the Western front. The stage was now set for the German "Spring Offensive" of 1918

Germany's goal was to push against the British and French forces BEFORE American forces could be fully amassed and organized.

The Battle of Belleau Wood, lasting throughout June of 1918, was a critical part of this offensive.

The battle began on June 1 when the Germany's punched through the French defense.

Reserve forces, comprising of US Marines, then responded to the German offensive to close the gap in the defense. The German offensive stalled at Belleau Woods.

The US Marine forces then led a counter offensive.

The counter-offensive/counter-counter-offensive back and forth lasted the rest of June. By June 26, the German forces were driven out of Belleau Woods.

As US Marine General Maurice Shearer reported on June 26, "Woods now U.S. Marine Corps entirely"

With 1,811 killed and over 8,000 injured, it was one of the bloodiest battles fought by American forces during the war.

Most notably, both the French and German governments recognized the tenacity and sacrifice of the Marine's who fought in this battle.

US General John Pershing viewed the battle as America's most significant since the Battle of Appomattox Court House.

The actions of American forces at Belleau Woods were critical to halting the German Spring offensive and paving the way for the Armistice signed in November 1918.

Again, one can debate why the US entered World War I (as well as debate whether the war should have happened in the first place).

But given that the war did happen and the US did intervene, what happened at Belleau Wood in June 1918 is commendable and should be honored.

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