About Aisne-Marne American Cemetery

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Aisne-Marne American Cemetery

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Overview

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.

Dedicated

1937

Location

France

Acres

42.5 Burials

2289

Missing in Action

1060

Getting There

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

Directions

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except December 25 and January 1. It is open on host country holidays. When the cemetery is open to the public, a staff member is on duty in the visitor building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites.

Admission is FREE and does not require booking in advance.

Cimetière Américain

Belleau

France

Download the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery brochure.

Travel via car

From Paris travel via toll autoroute A-4. Take the Montreuil-aux-Lions exit (#19), then travel via N-3 (also called D1003), following the cemetery signs to “Lucy-le-Bocage” and proceed via D82 through Belleau Wood to the cemetery entrance.From Reims travel via toll autoroute A-4. The cemetery may be reached by taking the Château-Thierry exit (#20). Proceed to the center of Château-Thierry and then follow the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery signs in the direction of Meaux/ La Ferté sous Jouarre via D1003. About one mile after Château-Thierry, there will be signs for Belleau via D9 on your right, at the top of the hill. At this point you will be 10 minutes from the cemetery. Stay on the main road until you enter Belleau.

Travel via train

There is rail service from Paris (Gare de l’Est) to the train station in Château-Thierry. The journey takes about one hour. From Château-Thierry to Belleau, the trip is a 15-minute ride via taxi. No bus transportation is available. Paris is about 60 miles from the cemetery.

Travel via public transportation

Public transportation to the cemetery is not available.

Background

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

Timeline

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.

Burial Search

More than 200,000 fallen service members are honored at an ABMC site. Search the burial database.

Virtual 360

Immerse yourself in the beauty, serenity, and history at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery.

Take in a virtual 360 degree experience of the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery from home.

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.

A vintage poster was created by French artist DOZ for all ABMC cemeteries and five monuments and memorials to mark ABMC’s centennial. Inspired by the famous photographers from the 1950’s who made a point of capturing joyful, light hearted moments of life, these posters represent the most symbolic and iconic elements of each site.

At this time, we are not offering printed versions of the posters, but the high-resolution printing file for each poster is available here for personal use. Please note that the posters are copyrighted and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes. Please contact ABMC Public Affairs at publicaffairs@abmc.gov with any questions.

NEWS & EVENTS

The latest happenings at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery

Featured Event

Memorial Day 2025

May 27, 2025

Before you visit

Etiquette, FAQs, and other trip planning resources

Etiquette

Please remember that ABMC cemeteries are sacred burial grounds, honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. We ask that you conduct yourself with the utmost respect and solemnity during your visit. Kindly refrain from any behavior that might disturb the peace and dignity of this hallowed place. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.