did any U.S. Marines fight in Europe in W.W. 2?

Answer 1

This is a job for the Marines:

Shortly after the United States entered World War II, the Allies agreed that the European Theater would have priority in the war over the Pacific Theater. The Marine Corps' war was in the Pacific and all war plans regarding the employment of Marines reflected that. Nevertheless, because the Marine Corps was part of the naval establishment, it had responsibility also for furnishing men to parts of the Navy assigned to the European and Mediterranean theaters and to the operations conducted there.

These were not large Marine formations, but were, for the most part, individual Marines and small detachments assigned to guard duty at the barracks and naval operating bases established in the United Kingdom, or men assigned as "sea-going" Marines in the detachments of the large fighting ships. Another category was filled by those intrepid Marines who volunteered for duty with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), to undertake covert operations with the underground against the Nazis in the occupied countries of Europe and North Africa.

In April 1941, Congress stipulated that Marine Corps strength should be 20 percent of that of the Navy. Only a relatively few Marines were detailed to the Atlantic, and they were primarily assigned to the Navy to perform their traditional functions, that of security of naval installations and service afloat. Though few in number, they made a significant contribution, though largely overshadowed by the exploits of their fellow Marines in the Pacific.

The U.S. Atlantic Fleet in 1941 comprised four old battleships, New York (BB 34), Texas (BB 35), Arkansas (BB 33), and Wyoming (BB 32); one division of heavy cruisers, San Francisco (CA 38), Tuscaloosa (CA 37), Quincy (CA 39), and Vincennes (CA 44); the aircraft carrier Ranger (CV 4); and a destroyer squadron. The carrier Wasp (CV 7) would join the fleet shortly upon its commissioning. Marine detachments were assigned to these ships.

Marines have traditionally served as part of the complement of naval warships. In World War II, this service was confined mostly to the larger-sized ships — battleships (BB); cruisers, both heavy (CA) and light (CL); and carriers and light carriers (CV or CVL). Smaller ships normally carried a Marine detachment only when they served as flagships.

Marine training for sea duty before the war was provided at sea schools established in Portsmouth, Virginia, and San Diego, California. Marines selected for this program had to meet three principal criteria: age (over 18); height (at least 5'8"); and a willingness to serve. Those selected attended a course of eight weeks' duration whose curriculum included the operation of ships' guns to which they would be assigned as crewmen, naval terminology, boat drills, damage control, emergency drills, fire-fighting, gunnery practice, shipboard ceremonies, sentry duties, naval etiquette, and duties of a landing party.

The duties of the detachment consisted primarily of maintaining the internal security of the ship, manning secondary gun batteries in action, and forming landing parties as needed. Seagoing Marines were called upon to demonstrate a high degree of proficiency in their assigned duties.

Assignment to sea duty, over the years, was always highly coveted, since it satisfied a Marine's basic requirements for travel and adventure, and carried the promise of some exciting action along the way, as part of a ship's landing party on foreign shores.

A Marine officer on board ship could anticipate assignment as the legal counsel or law officer for most courts-martial held on board and duty as a shore patrol officer. He also would have an assignment at a battle station, stand quarterdeck watches when in port, and be prepared to lead his detachment ashore when called upon to protect American lives and property.

A detachment consisted of two or three officers and 100 or more enlisted Marines on a battleship, one or two officers and 80 enlisted men on a heavy cruiser or carrier, and one and 45 on a light cruiser.

During 1941, the fleet was steadily and quickly augmented as the naval ship-building program got underway in earnest. Along with a massive recruiting program, reserve forces were called up. By November, there were 3,793 Marines serving in detachments on 68 naval ships. And the Atlantic Fleet was further enlarged at that time by three more battleships, Idaho (BB 42), Mississippi (BB 41), and New Mexico (BB 40); four light cruisers, Philadelphia (CL 41), Brooklyn (CL 40), Savannah (CL 42), and Nashville (CL 43); and the carrier Yorktown (CV 10).

EDIT: PATCHES!!! No, no, no... we were called Teufelhunden (Devil Dogs) by the German forces in WWI, at the Battle of Belleau Woods, in June 1918, during the FIRST World War. If you are a Marine, then you need to get on my quarterdeck right now and give me fifty Marine Corps push-ups for botching our beloved Corps history! If you aren't, then,well, you are forgiven. Move along.

And to the dirty SOB that negative reviewed me... what the hell is your malfunction?

Answer 2

Marines served aboard ships in the European Theater but did not fight much, if any, on land there. The Corps' main assignment during WWII was in the Pacific where island landing and fighting were more appropriate to their skills and tactics.

The European Theater (ET) involved mostly land war so the Army was our main force there. The Air Corps was also under the Army so air and land missions in Europe were pretty much the Army show.

The Pacific Theater (PT) dealt much in naval and naval air battles so it was naturally a Navy domain. Since the Marines were and are a part of the Navy, any combat on land in the PT (involving island landing and fighting) was therefore handled by the Marines. Both Naval Aviation and Marines Aviation took care of the air war in the PT.

It should be pointed out that while the Army had 106 divisions in the field, the Marines had a much smaller force of only 6 divisions. Therefore, there was no way the Marines could have devided their forces between the PT and the ET. The Army could and did, especially after VE Day and many units were either sent to the PT from Europe or directly from the US. The Army Air Corps was also active in the Pacific and over Japan after VE Day.

There were some feelings, especially among Marines, that the Army had kept out the Marines in the ET in order to hoard all the credits and glory in that theater. There might have been a little bit of that but I still think the main reason was the division of theaters and missions that was deemed appropriate by our national and military leaders at the time, including FDR and Gen. Marshall.

Answer 3

Very, very few. The only action that Marines saw in Europe in World War II occurred in a couple of freak incidents. In one, a small island off of Marseilles had some artillery on it. During the invasion of the south of France in July 1944, the US Navy was tasked with destroying that artillery. The Germans on the island waved a white flag during the bombardment, so the Marines assigned to one of the bombarding ships went ashore to take the Germans prisoner and make sure the guns were silenced. Otherwise, it was the Army in Europe and North Africa and the Marines and Army in the Pacific, especially the Central Pacific. The Southwest Pacific, MacArthur's war, involving New Guinea and the Phillipines, was almost all Army.

Answer 4

Marines have fought in every major conflict in the history of this country either on land, in the air or on ships. In WW2 their main area of responsibility was the Pacific, fighting Japan. However, Marines did fight from ships involved in the European area of conflict. Marines were also embassy guards in the countries that had been liberated during the conflict.

Answer 5

Very vague in my mind, but it had something to do with the Army not giving credit to the marines in ww1 when they fought in Europe, so there was not an official marine detachment in Europe in ww2. Excellent question.

Answer 6

Only as crew members of US navy ships.

The Marines fought with great valor in France during World War One. The Germans called them "devil dogs." The French were absolutely amazed at the US Marines' performance during the battle of the "Belleau Wood" (Beautiful Woods).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Belleau_Wood

In a battle noteworthy because of both its extremely bloody nature and its close proximity to the French capital of Paris, the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) launched a counter-attack designed to stop the German advance. The Second Division was tasked with taking the woods, and the US 4th Marine Brigade with its 5th and 6th Marine Regiments was sent forward. In order to enter and take the woods, it was necessary to advance across an open field of wheat that was continuously swept with murderous German machine gun and artillery fire. After Marines were repeatedly urged to turn back by retreating French forces, Marine Captain Lloyd Williams of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines uttered the now-famous retort "Retreat? Hell, we just got here."[3]

On 6 June, the casualties were the highest in Marine Corps history (and remained so until the capture of Tarawa in November 1943).[4] Overall, the woods were taken by the Marines (and the US Army 3rd Infantry Brigade) a total of six times before they could successfully expel the Germans. They fought off more than four divisions of Germans, often reduced to using only their bayonets or fists in hand-to-hand combat. In order to rally his platoon of pinned-down Marines, Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly encouraged them with what would become another famous phrase "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?"

On 26 June, a report was sent out simply stating, "Woods now U.S. Marine Corps entirely,"[5] ending the bloodiest and most ferocious battle U.S. forces would fight in the war.

Answer 7

Actually there were a few, most of which served aboard the transport ships that supported the landings of the main bodies. He could have been used in a number of capacities, such as crewing an LMT, communications, F/O or even a courier.

Answer 8

Yes as gun crews on large warships.
Also marines originally occupied Iceland for the Allies

Answer 9

very few, mostly as gun crews on ships and Marine detachements, also on ships. Some may have participated in the activities of the OSS which was made up of all branches as well as civilians, which fought in all theatres.

Answer 10

I don't think the first four posters understood your question.

You asked about Europe and one person posted about the Pacific.

Answer 11

yes. In World War II, the Marines played a central role in the Pacific War; the Corps expanded from two brigades to two corps with six divisions, and five air wings with 132 squadrons. In addition, 20 defense battalions and a parachute battalion were set up. The battles of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa saw fierce fighting between U.S. Marines and the Imperial Japanese Army.

During the battle of Iwo Jima, photographer Joe Rosenthal took the famous photo Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima of five Marines and one Navy corpsman raising the American flag on Mt. Suribachi. Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, who had come ashore earlier that day to observe the progress of the troops, said of the flag raising on Iwo Jima, "...the raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next five hundred years." The acts of the Marines during the war added to their already significant popular reputation, and the USMC War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia was dedicated in 1954. By the war’s end, the Corps had grown to include six divisions, five air wings and supporting troops totaling about 485,000 Marines. Nearly 87,000 Marines were killed or wounded during World War II and 82 received the Medal of Honor.

Despite Secretary Forrestal's prediction, the Corps faced an immediate institutional crisis following the war. Army generals pushing for a strengthened and reorganized defense establishment also attempted to fold the Marine mission and assets into the Navy and Army. Drawing on hastily assembled Congressional support, the Marine Corps rebuffed such efforts to dismantle the Corps, resulting in statutory protection of the Marine Corps in the National Security Act of 1947. Shortly after, in 1952, the Douglas-Manfield Bill afforded the Commandant an equal voice with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on matters relating to the Marines, and established the structure of three divisions and air wings that remains today. This allowed the Corps to permanently maintain a division and air wing in the Far East and participate in various small wars in Southeast Asia—in the Tachen Islands, Taiwan, Laos, Thailand, and South Vietnam.