Battle of Belleau Wood - Aftermath

Aftermath

U.S. forces suffered 9,777 casualties, included 1,811 killed. Many are buried in the nearby Aisne-Marne American Cemetery. There is no clear information on the number of Germans killed, although 1,600 Germans were taken prisoner.

After the battle, the French renamed the wood "Bois de la Brigade de Marine" ("Wood of the Marine Brigade") in honor of the Marines' tenacity. The French government also later awarded the 4th Brigade the Croix de guerre. An official German report classified the Marines as "vigorous, self-confident, and remarkable marksmen..." General Pershing—Commander of the AEF—even said, "The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle!" Pershing also said "the Battle of Belleau Wood was for the U.S. the biggest battle since Appomattox and the most considerable engagement American troops had ever had with a foreign enemy."

In spite of the legend, it is unlikely that the Germans ever used the term "Teufelshunde" for the Marines, as the term was not known in contemporary German. The closest common German term would be "Höllenhunde" which means "hellhound". Though the meanings are similar, neither of these terms has been found in any German documents of the time.