CASUALTY RECORD // June 1, 1918
Battle of Belleau Wood
Estimated casualties — killed, wounded, captured, and missing — by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Casualties by side
2 sides catalogued · combined 19,777 estimated
United States
9,777
Medium-confidence figure
Germany
10,000
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of Belleau Wood was fought during the German spring offensive of World War I near the Marne River in France. U.S. 2nd and 3rd Divisions, alongside French and British forces, engaged multiple German divisions including elements of the 237th, 10th, 197th, 87th, and 28th. Combined casualties exceeded 19,000, with the United States sustaining 9,777 and Germany approximately 10,000. The engagement marked a significant test of American combat capability in the war's decisive year, placing U.S. forces directly in the path of Germany's offensive drive toward Paris. The battle demonstrated that American divisions could absorb and inflict heavy losses alongside Allied partners during a critical phase of the spring offensive.
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