Discover the History of Aisne-Marne American Cemetery

With headstones lying in a sweeping curve, the 42.5-acre Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial in France, sits at the foot of Belleau Wood.

The cemetery contains the graves of 2,289 war dead, most of whom fought in the vicinity and in the Marne Valley in the summer of 1918. The memorial chapel sits on a hillside, decorated with sculptured and stained-glass details of wartime personnel, equipment and insignia. Inscribed on its interior wall are 1,060 names of the missing. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. In 1940 during World War II the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery chapel was damaged due to heavy fighting in the vicinity. All damage was repaired except for one shell hole in the chapel, left as a reminder of what took place.

Belleau Wood adjoins the cemetery and contains many vestiges of World War I. A monument at the flagpole commemorates the valor of the U.S. Marines who captured much of this ground in 1918.

Aisne-Marne American Cemetery lies south of the village of Belleau, France, six and a half miles northwest of Château-Thierry.

When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, the Allies and Germans all doubted the fighting capability of the Americans.

German offensives on the Western Front in spring 1918 sought to win the war before American units became operational.

When the United States entered World War I in April 1917, the Allies and Germans all doubted the fighting capability of the Americans.

In the spring of 1918, German offensives on the Western Front sought to win the war before American forces could become fully operational.

During the Aisne-Marne and Oise-Aisne Offensives, American troops played a crucial role in stopping the German advance and turning the tide of the war. Their actions at Belleau Wood, Château-Thierry, and along the Marne River solidified their reputation as a formidable fighting force. The success of these battles helped shift the momentum in favor of the Allies, leading to further victories, including the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns.

General John J. Pershing led the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) to significant successes, ultimately contributing to the Armistice on November 11, 1918.

Aisne-Marne and Oise-Aisne Offensives Historical Map

• May 27, 1918: German forces broke through French lines at the “Chemin des Dames.” Within three days, they reached Belleau Wood and the Marne River at Château-Thierry. With no reserves, France called on the American Expeditionary Forces.
• May 30, 1918: The U.S. 3rd Division arrived in Château-Thierry, blocking German forces on the north bank of the Marne throughout June.
• Early June 1918: The U.S. 2nd Division, including the 4th Marine Brigade, replaced French units in the Belleau area.
• June 6, 1918: U.S. Marines led the 2nd Division into Belleau Wood to clear out German units. The battle lasted 20 days and became an enduring symbol of the Marine Corps’ bravery. American forces proved their capability, boosting Allied confidence in a potential victory.
• July 15, 1918: German forces attempted to break through Allied lines by crossing the Marne River east of Château-Thierry. The U.S. 3rd Division held firm, earning the nickname “Rock of the Marne” from the French Army.
• July 18, 1918: The Allies launched the Aisne-Marne Offensive.
• August 6, 1918: The German salient was eliminated, and Allied forces advanced to the Vesle River. Ten American divisions, totaling 310,000 men, participated in this offensive.

Vintage Poster

Vintage posters convey the beauty, tranquility, and solemnity of the place as a sign of respect for those who fought so that we can live free today.