Belleau Wood Memorial

It is not possible to gain access to the wood from the American cemetery as the gateway is locked.

If you have been visiting the cemetery, leave by the main exit and take the first road to your right leading up into the wood.

This will bring you out into the clearing at the flagpole surrounded by artillery pieces.

The wood was the scene of terrific fighting by the 4th Brigade of the US Marines as part of the US 2nd Division in June 1918.

The centre piece is the memorial to the US Marines at the base of the flagpole.

For a short note on the background to the fighting please see here.

Belleau Wood and the Second Battle of the Marne
Michael Washington 1987-2008

Within the woods just a short distance away are a number of explanatory plaques explaining the events of the period.

A direction finger post is all to revealing in just how close the Germans managed to get to Paris in what was to be their final offensive of the war.

If you walk down towards the cemetery, behind the memorial, in the woods to your left you will find a german field piece with its barel blown open by an explosion.

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If you have not already done so, you should drive down to visit the American Cemetery at the base of the wood. This will give you an opportunity to visit further memorials on the other side of the fence.

Belleau Wood Cemetery

Close to the American Cemetery is the German Military Cemetery which is also worth visiting.

Belleau Soldatenfriedhof