Fields of Battle - Belleau Wood German guns captured by the Americans during the fighting for Belleau Wood. In May 1918 the German offensive along the Chemin des Dames threatened to break through along the valley of the Marne and thus was a direct threat to Paris. The US Marine 4th Division was rushed into the line south west of Bois de Belleau on June 1st and withstood German attacks until the 4th: on the 6th they began a series of attacks but it was not until the 25th that they cleared the wood.