Belleau Wood American Memorial dans l'Aisne

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Origin and history

The American Cemetery of Bois Belleau, located in Belleau, Aisne, Hautes-de-France, was created in 1918 as a temporary cemetery (n°1764) by the American burial registration services during the First World War. It was established at the foot of the hill where Belleau Wood was the scene of violent fighting in June 1918, notably led by the 2nd American Division. In 1921, the American Congress authorized its continuation as one of the eight permanent cemeteries of the First World War on foreign soil, thanks to an agreement with France guaranteeing the perpetual and free enjoyment of the land.

The cemetery, with an area of 21.25 hectares, adopts a "T" shape, with two squares of tombs (A and B) arranged in convex arches on both sides of a central driveway. It houses 2,289 burials, including 251 unidentified soldiers, from the 48 American states of the time and the District of Columbia. The graves are marked by Latin crosses or David's stars for Israelite soldiers. The main aisle, lined with plane trees and roses, leads to a 24-metre high neo-Roman chapel, built above the trenches of the American front line.

The chapel, designed by American architects Cram and Fergusson and carved by Alfred-Alphonse Bottiau, is an architectural tribute to fallen soldiers. Its exterior walls, in limestone of Saint-Maximin, Savonnières and Massangis, carry sculptures evoking trenches and military units (in infantry, aviation, engineering, etc.). Inside, the names of 1,060 missing are engraved, while five stained glass windows and an Italian marble altar decorated with symbols (hibou pour le courage, balance pour la justice) complete the homage. The shields of the United States and France, intertwined with oak branches, underline the alliance between the two nations.

The memorial was inaugurated on May 30, 1937, Memorial Day, and has since been managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC). The site, which also includes Belleau wood (81 ha), is owned by the French state but administered by the United States. In 1934, its management was officially entrusted to the CMAB. The monument was also the scene of recent events, such as President Donald Trump's cancelled visit in 2018 due to weather conditions, or President Joe Biden's visit in June 2024.

Ranked as a Historic Monument in 2017, the memorial includes, in addition to the chapel and grave squares, built elements such as the guard's and visitor's houses, a former hunting relay, as well as the fence walls and entrance gate. The damage suffered during the Second World War has since been repaired. The interior decoration of the chapel, designed by William F. Ross and Cie, combines military symbols and allegories of virtues (wisdom, faith, charity), while the stained glass and exterior sculptures pay tribute to allied forces (French, Scottish, Russian, nurses, etc.).

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