Parade step

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Knee-high exercise step at the military parade on Red Square , 2018
Waist-high goose step during the changing of the guard at the Moscow Kremlin

The parade step is a form of lockstep that was established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III in 1813 . introduced into the Prussian Army and has since been adopted by more than 70 countries worldwide. With the parade step, the stretched leg is raised either knee-high as an exercise step or waist-high as a stabbing step . The exercise step is often used in military parades , the goose step in changing the guard . It is considered a symbol of military discipline.

Emergence

The origin of the parade step goes back to the step in lock that was introduced by Prince Leopold I of Anhalt-Dessau in the Prussian army around 1725 . Under King Friedrich Wilhelm III. von Prussia created the parade step in 1813 by putting the whole foot down in the last step, in which the stretched leg is raised either knee-high or waist-high. The knee-high drill step is usually seen in military parades , the waist-high goose step with changing of the guard . In military parades, the step is only used during the march past the losing weight, and longer when the guard is changing. It was finally set at 114 steps per minute and 80 centimeters in length, which is still valid today.

In the time of the German Empire , regulations required not to exaggerate when exercising the parade step. The drill regulations of 1876 required, for example: "[...] the tip of the foot is brushed close to the ground, because this avoids the unnecessary and tiring throwing of the feet [...] or the foot would be set too hard on the ground. The latter would also have the unpleasant consequence of overtiring the soldier uselessly. ”Also in the drill regulations of 1906 it was said:“ It is incorrect to lift the foot to be set higher than is necessary to reach the stride and to put it down with excessive force [...] The arms are moved freely. "

From Germany, the parade step spread from the 19th century via Russia, Chile and China to more than 70 countries worldwide. In this country, the tradition was maintained by the Prussian Army , the German Army , the Reichswehr , the Wehrmacht and the National People's Army . The moderate form of the knee-high exercise step has been seen occasionally at Bundeswehr music festivals since 2017 .

distribution

Europe

In Europe , the Prussian parade step is practiced especially in Central and Eastern Europe . German military advisers brought it to Russia at the end of the 19th century , which in turn spread it through Soviet military advisers in the Warsaw Pact member states .

Middle East and Asia

German military advisors brought the parade step to China at the beginning of the 20th century , which in turn spread it through its own military advisors in Asia . Soviet military advisers took him to the Middle East during the Cold War . In Central Asia it is widespread in the successor states of the Soviet Union .

Africa

In Africa , the parade step is practiced above all by former German colonies , which have cultivated this Prussian tradition since the end of the 19th century, but also by former socialist states , where Soviet military advisers spread it during the Cold War.

Middle and South America

German military advisors brought the Prussian parade step to Chile at the end of the 19th century , which in turn spread it through its own military advisors in South and Central America . Soviet military advisers also brought him to Cuba during the Cold War .

reception

The parade step is clichéd from time to time linked to or limited to the Wehrmacht .

In 1938 it was introduced by Benito Mussolini as the passo romano ("Roman step") in Italy , but later abolished again.

The journalist Adelbert Weinstein wrote about a military parade in front of the outgoing NATO Commander-in-Chief Alexander Haig in Casteau in 1979 , during which the soldiers of the Bundeswehr did not march in parade step: “Almost ridiculous, the bundle of the Bundeswehr [...] the intimidated group of young soldiers who lived in Casteau represented the Bundeswehr, looked like a cartoon of the military. They struggled to keep pace [...] The lieutenant stumbled awkwardly in front of his fellow travelers. These in turn approached their commander in chief like the citizens of Calais , but not like citizens in uniform […]. "

The SPD politician Carlo Schmid wrote about a state visit with Federal Chancellor Konrad Adenauer in Moscow in 1955 , during which the soldiers of the Soviet armed forces marched in parade step: “ Bulganin and Khrushchev were waiting for us at the Vnukovo airfield with the head of the political rulers of the Soviet Union. With the bare saber in his fist, an officer reports the honorary battalion to the Chancellor: two hundred 'tall guys' in attractive blue uniforms. Their parade march - precise, firm and at the same time resilient like a storm step - could send a shiver down your spine, so much strength came from this troop. "

gallery

literature

  • Hans-Peter Stein: Symbols and ceremonial in German armed forces - from the 18th to the 20th century. Mittler Verlag, Bonn 1984. ISBN 978-3-8132-0161-1 .

Web links

Commons : Goose-step  album with pictures, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: goose step  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Hans-Peter Stein: Symbols and ceremonial in German armed forces - from the 18th to the 20th century. Mittler Verlag, Bonn 1984, ISBN 978-3-8132-0161-1 , p. 222-224 .
  2. ↑ a b c d e cf. Article “Goose step” in the English language Wikipedia
  3. ↑ cf. Music festival of the Bundeswehr on September 23, 2017 in Düsseldorf
  4. ↑ a b Hans-Peter Stein: Symbols and ceremonial in German armed forces - from the 18th to the 20th century. Mittler Verlag, Bonn 1984, ISBN 978-3-8132-0161-1 , p. 159-160 .