march

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The expression march (from French marche , “gait, step, hike”, from old French marcher , from old Franconian mark , “leave a trace” or old Lower Franconian markōn , “mark”, here the rhythm) usually denotes an orderly movement of people to representative, demonstrative or military purposes. But a longer walk or excursion on foot can also be called a march.

March as a military term

Cross-country march

A battalion of the US Navy with NBC protective masks on foot

In the military , long marches that take place under difficult conditions ( express marches, forced marches and night marches ) are part of the basic training and basic tactical maneuvers of an infantry unit . The soldiers carry their baggage and the necessary provisions for the march . Often the route is known in advance and is completed in a certain time.

Marching is one of the military gaits , which primarily serves the orderly and swift movement of troops in a safe environment . Almost all armed forces in the world know marching music and marching chants, which are intended to strengthen the corps spirit and distract from the exertions during longer marches .

All tactical troop movements, on foot or with vehicles, are called marches. If there is no tactical framework, it is referred to as a "(troop) relocation". The military order “March!” Is the request that soldiers or vehicles start moving.

When deployment is called the march as redeployment of forces into designated areas (see. Staging area ), about to have any major combat (tactical) or in case of war (strategic), such as the meeting of the army at the borders before a planned invasion or to avert a such. As a rule, such a deployment in the event of mobilization was and is intensively planned and prepared in peacetime.

March past on military parades

Parade march with music, grenadiers , Rosario (Santa Fe) , Argentina, 2006
Parade march guard regiment "Friedrich Engels" of the National People's Army , East Berlin 1985

In contrast to the above-mentioned grounds march of the parent, in the stands direct or goose step performed march by members of a mostly military or paramilitary unit by roads or places. The march music often played along with it helps to keep order. The participants of such marches are often in orderly rows or columns and the march leaders greet higher-ranking superiors or dignitaries as they march past (so-called removal of the parade ).

Step type and pace

The basic measure of the step is the step length . A stride length corresponds to the distance from the heel of the left foot to the heel of the right foot at the moment of the step. A single step does not allow an accurate measurement of the stride length. It is common to measure the distance covered with ten individual steps and divide it by ten. The cadence is given in steps per minute.

A distinction is made between different types of steps and marching speeds:

  • in lockstep :
    • Fast march: Depending on the country, step between 100 and 120 steps / min with a step length of 75 cm to 100 cm (corresponds to 4.5–7.2 km / h). The following applies: 100 steps / min are quite slow, almost on the verge of walking. The usual military marching pace with light luggage is 120 steps per minute. 140 steps / min (8.4 km / h) can be achieved very quickly and without training.
    • Slow march: Very slow step at 60 steps / min (corresponds to 2.7–3.6 km / h with the above-mentioned step length), usually only used on festive occasions, (in no way corresponds to the civil term walking pace ), distance like the Rapid March.
    • March with half step (English: Half Step March or Cut the pace ): Fast march with half step length.
    • Running step ( Double March ): Very fast march of up to 200 steps / min (corresponds to 9-12 km / h with the above step length)
    • Marching on the square ( Mark Time ): March that is carried out while lingering in a square. The leg is lifted in the number of steps of the fast march, the knee is raised to hip height, the leg remains angled.
  • Without a step , in Austria without a step ( Easy March ): the soldiers walk at a brisk or fast pace (step type for the express march ) depending on the terrain. The command “Without a step!” Can or must be given if the terrain or other marching conditions do not permit or excessively hinder lock step. Such conditions can e.g. For example, potholes or water holes that have to be jumped over or overcome with a longer stride, or the transport of weapons and equipment such as heavy machine guns that are carried by several soldiers, or when transporting the wounded or on bridges (at risk of vibrations). The speed or sequence of steps is usually not affected by this command.

Memorial, protest and funeral marches

First all-German Easter March, Berlin 1990

Commemorative , protest or, for example, funeral marches are carried out for different reasons and by various groups of people and, depending on the occasion, are demonstration marches : The participants walk more or less disorderly behind a leading row or person who may be with a banner , flag (s) or precedes other symbols , or e.g. B. after a coffin .

The Easter marches , which have been taking place since the 1950s, have a special tradition as part of the peace movement , some of which are based on Christian ideals such as nonviolence .

Well-known historical marches

Participants in the sister march of the Women's March on Washington in Denver , Colorado on February 21, 2017

Further examples (selection)

See also

Web links

Commons : March  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: March  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Duden | to march | Spelling, meaning, definition, origin. Retrieved August 1, 2020 .
  2. ^ Friedrich Kluge , Alfred Götze : Etymological dictionary of the German language . 20th edition. Edited by Walther Mitzka . De Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1967; Reprint (“21st unchanged edition”) ibid 1975, ISBN 3-11-005709-3 , p. 463.