# In WWII, did the US Marines fight at all in Europe?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-wwii-did-the-us-marines-fight-at-all-in-europe/510355>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 16, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-wwii-did-the-us-marines-fight-at-all-in-europe/510355 "2009-09-16T20:18:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-wwii-did-the-us-marines-fight-at-all-in-europe/510355/1 "2009-09-16T20:18:30Z")

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Recognizing the Marines’ outstanding record in so many amphibious operations in the Pacific, I wondered if they particpated at all in any European theatre. If not, am I correct in assuming it was simply because of their insufficient numbers?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![davekhps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-wwii-did-the-us-marines-fight-at-all-in-europe/510355/2 "2009-09-16T20:36:56Z")

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Yes, they did, but usually only in small numbers on shipboard duty, or distributed among other forces in order to provide them with amphibious knowledge and training.

[A good link](http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003125-00/index.htm).

BTW, one of my favorite World War II factoids, somewhat related: the largest navy in World War II [belonged to the U.S. Army](http://patriot.net/~eastlnd2/Army.htm)!

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**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-wwii-did-the-us-marines-fight-at-all-in-europe/510355/3 "2009-09-16T23:58:13Z")

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> [@davekhps](#):
>
> BTW, one of my favorite World War II factoids, somewhat related: the largest navy in World War II [belonged to the U.S. Army](http://patriot.net/~eastlnd2/Army.htm)!

They also had the largest _air force_ in WWII.

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-wwii-did-the-us-marines-fight-at-all-in-europe/510355/4 "2009-09-16T23:59:07Z")

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> [@Sailboat](#):
>
> They also had the largest _air force_ in WWII.

Well, that’s cheating, since the USAF was not technically a separate arm. 🙂

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**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-wwii-did-the-us-marines-fight-at-all-in-europe/510355/5 "2009-09-17T00:44:55Z")

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Thanks everyone. Indeed, a terrific link **davekhps**!

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**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-wwii-did-the-us-marines-fight-at-all-in-europe/510355/6 "2009-09-17T02:00:48Z")

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Except for Sicily, the ETO was not really the Marines forte, instead of taking a single island, the amphibious operations in the ETO were to establish a beachhead whereby forces could move inland. Indeed in the only operation of this type in the Pacific, the Phillipines Campaign of '44-45, the Marines did not participate.