frammarsch

Frammmarsch is a term from German military drill describing a forward march. It denotes the maneuver in which soldiers move in formation toward the front, maintaining marching pace, step length, and the required distance between elements. The term appears in German drill literature from the 19th and early 20th centuries and is often treated as an older or regional variant of Vorwärtsmarsch (forward march).

In practice, the command for a frammarsch is given by the drill instructor, commonly accompanied by a drum or cadence. The unit responds by stepping out in step, preserving alignment and interval, and continuing in the chosen formation—either in line or in column. Changes of direction or speed are executed through subsequent drill commands. As with other marching maneuvers, the emphasis is on uniformity, timing, and control of the tempo to suit the unit and terrain.

Modern usage and terminology: In contemporary German armed forces and in current drill manuals, frammarsch is largely supplanted by terms such as vorwärtsmarsch or allgemeiner Marsch. These reflect standardized drill commands and emphasize consistency across units. In ceremonial contexts, marching procedures resemble traditional forms, but the explicit term frammarsch is less common.

See also: Vorwärtsmarsch, Marschordnung, Drill commands, Parade.