A military parade is a formation of soldiers whose movement is restricted by close-order manoeuvering known as drilling or marching. Large military parades are today held on major holidays and military events around the world. Massed parades may also hold a role for propaganda purposes, being used to exhibit the apparent military strength of a country.

History

A military parade is a formation of soldiers whose movement is restricted by close-order manoeuvering known as drilling or marching. The terminology comes from the tradition of close order formation combat, in which soldiers were held in very strict formations as to maximise their combat effectiveness. Formation combat was used as an alternative to mêlée combat, and required strict discipline in the ranks and competent officers. Close order formation combat has been phased out by advances in military equipment and tactic, and modern infantry now use skirmish formation and order. However, foot drill is an important part of military education and training to instill pride and discipline among personnel.

In ancient times, drilling increased in importance when men stopped fighting as individuals and began to fight together as units. Drilling as a vital component of a war machine further increased with the increases in the size of armies, for example, when Philip II of Macedon disciplined his army so they could swiftly form the phalanxes that were so critical to his successes as a general. Military drilling later was used by the Roman Army to maximise efficiency and deadliness throughout their long history.

Modern armies use parades for ceremonial purposes, encouragement and show of discipline and to instill confidence in the country's military forces.^[1]

The U.S. drill is based on the contributions of Baron von Steuben, a Prussian Army officer who served in the Continental Army.^[2] During the winter quarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, von Steuben taught a model company of 100 soldiers musket drill. These soldiers, in turn, taught the remainder of the Continental Army.

The oldest, largest and most famous regular military parade in Europe is the Bastille Day Military Parade which is held each 14 July, on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, during France's national day celebrations.^[3][4]

Rationale

A military drill is memorizing certain actions through repetition until the action is instinctive to the soldiers being drilled. Complex actions are broken down into simpler ones which can be practiced in isolation so when the whole is put together the desired results are achieved. Such is necessary for a fighting force to perform at maximum efficiency in all manner of situations. However, depending on the army and the drills it adopts, drilling may destroy flexibility and initiative in exchange for predictability and cohesion.

Recruits in most modern militaries are taught drill to teach them how to work and move as a team. In addition, formations are still used in riot control, where mêlée combat is still the norm.

Types of military parades

• Flypast
• Victory parade
• Naval parade
• Pass in review

Current era

Drill is today used to demonstrate discipline and cohesion in a modern military force. Large military parades are today held on major holidays and military events around the world. It usually held on occasions of national importance such as a country's independence day, and therefore is presided over by the head of state who, in most cases, is the commander in chief of the combined national military forces of that country. Today, military parades include all aspects of military drill, from an exhibition drill of precision drill teams and military bands (in addition to the occasional corps of drums, fanfare band, pipe band and/or drum and bugle corps), as well as an exhibition of military weapons such as a mobile column, the occasional mounted cavalry column (led by a mounted band), a naval parade, and a fly past by the country's air force. When on parade, most of the participating soldiers wear their ceremonial uniforms and carry the standards/colours of their respective battalions/regiments/corps/academies. In many countries, the military contingent is joined by contingents from youth cadet organizations, personnel from the police and fire services, civil defense and emergency services and by occasion jail and border services, youth police and fire cadets, veterans and personnel of the civil service with occasional participation by civilian organizations, educational institutions, cultural groups and athletes.

By country

Albania

Albania has long been influenced by Greek and Italian influences and even Soviet/Russian tradition. During the era of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, Liberation Day, which then the main national holiday, was celebrated with a military parade of the Albanian People's Army on Tirana's Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard. These parades have been held in 1954,^[5] 1959,^[6] 1964, 1974,^[7] 1984^[8] and 1989. They usually consist of veterans, schoolchildren, militiamen alongside regular force personnel.^[9][10]

Today, military parades of the Albanian Armed Forces are held on Albanian Flag Day and Constitution Day on 28 November. One of the more notable modern military parades was held on the 100th Anniversary of the Independence of Albania, in which a special unit of 65 soldiers from the Kosovo Security Force, as well as other foreign contingents, participated. The other took place on 4 December 2007 in honor of the 95th anniversary of the Albanian Armed Forces.^[11]

Argentina

Argentina's long history of military parades are a heritage inherited from the times of the Spanish colonial Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata, with influences from Germany, France, Britain, and Italy. Today the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, together with the paramilitary Argentine National Gendarmerie and Argentine Naval Prefecture hosts massive military parades featuring armed companies, cadets, and military bands on the following days (national events unless otherwise noted):

• January 24 - anniversary of the beginning of the Crossing of the Andes (local commemoration)
• February 3 - anniversary of the Battle of San Lorenzo (local commemoration)
• April 2 - Malvinas War Veterans' Day
• May 10 - anniversary of Air Force baptism of fire in the Falklands War
• May 17 - Navy Day, anniversary of the victory at the Battle of Buceo
• May 25 - First National Government Anniversary Day
• May 29 - Army Day
• June 17 - General Martín Miguel de Güemes Memorial Day (local commemoration)
• June 20 - Flag Day
• June 30 - Naval Prefecture Day
• July 9 - Independence Day
• July 28 - National Gendarmerie Day
• August 10 - Air Force Day
• September 24 - Battle of Tucuman Day (local commemoration)
• November 20 - National Sovereignty Day

Australia and New Zealand

As both Commonwealth realms, Australia and New Zealand share the customs and traditions of parades of the British Armed Forces. The friendship and cooperation of the defence services of both countries can be seen in the annual Anzac Day parades every 25 April, in memory of the namesake Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, which was heavily involved in the long Battle of Gallipoli and were the first Allied forces to land there on that day in 1915. On this day, in many major cities in these two countries, parades are held involving personnel of both the Australian Defence Force and the New Zealand Defence Force, veterans' organizations, cadet organizations, and other youth uniformed groups and personnel of the police and fire services, as well as students of schools and universities honoring many of their fallen alumni of the long campaign.

Parades are also held jointly in these two countries on 11 November, Remembrance Day.

Aside from these two days, the schedule of annual military and civil parades held in these two countries is as follows:

• For parades in Australia:
  • National level parades are held on:
    • 26 January, Australia Day
    • The second Monday of June, the King's Birthday, marked in most of Eastern Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory
      • typically the last Monday of September or the first Monday of October, King's Birthday Holiday for Western Australia
      • 1st Monday in October, King's Birthday Holiday for Queensland
  • Local parades involving armed forces, police and fire personnel are held on:
    • 2nd Monday in March in the ACT, Canberra Day
    • 6 June in Queensland, Queensland Day
    • first Monday in June in Western Australia, Western Australia Day
    • first working day after Christmas Day, Proclamation Day in South Australia
  • Parades are also held in the following cases:
    • during change of command, retirement and recruit and cadet passing out parades and regimental anniversaries within the service branches of the ADF and all military academies
    • During holiday parades held in major cities as can be permitted by the commander of the unit taking part, including:
      • the AFL Grand Final Parade in Melbourne
• For parades in New Zealand:
  • National level parades are held on:
    • 6 February, Waitangi Day
    • on the 1st Monday in June, the King's Birthday
  • Local parades involving armed forces, police, and fire personnel are held within the anniversary days of the former Provinces of New Zealand, which were abolished in 1876, the days of which are as set by their respective district and city governments.
  • Change of command, retirement, and recruit and cadet graduation parades, together with regimental anniversary parades, are also held occasionally within the service branches of the NZDF and its training institutions.

Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Armed Forces parade tradition was inherited from both the Pakistan and British Armed Forces as its first infantry unit, the East Bengal Regiment, was raised in then East Pakistan 1948 from Bengali servicemen who served in the former British Indian Army, whose drills were similar to those in the rest of the Commonwealth. Today the Armed Forces, together with Border Guards Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Jail, Bangladesh Ansar, Bangladesh Fire Service & Civil Defence and the youth cadets under the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps, marches on ceremonial parades held on the following occasions:

• 26 March, Independence Day
• 21 November, Armed Forces Day
• 16 December, Victory Day
• On the occasion of change of command and passing out parades in all academies, cadet colleges and training institutions of the uniformed organizations

Bolivia

Uniquely, the parade tradition of the Bolivian Armed Forces is similar to those of Prussia and the German Empire but with the difference that the current march step is at slow time, to enable a knee-high goose step when on the march for most units (others, including recruit battalions and civilian students of the Military Engineering School, march in quick time without the goosestep and following the Bundeswehr practice). The Prussian tradition was introduced to the country in the early 1900s thanks to German and Chilean instructors and officers. Today, alongside the Bolivian National Police Corps, the Armed Forces marches in public parades in the following holidays:

• January 22, Plurinational State of Bolivia Anniversary
• January 29, La Paz Liberation Day
• March 23, Day of the Sea
• May 25, anniversary of the Chuquisaca Revolution
• July 17, anniversary of the La Paz revolution
• August 6, Independence Day
• August 7, Armed Forces Day
• September 14, anniversary of the Cochabamba Revolution of 1810
• September 24, anniversary of the Santa Cruz revolution of 1810
• October 12, Air Force Day
• November 6, Navy Day
• November 10, Army Day
• On the occasion of the inaugurations of the President of Bolivia

Brazil

As a former Portuguese colonial possession till independence in 1822, Brazil has almost identical traditions of military parades with the Portuguese Armed Forces with added Spanish and Dutch elements due to the long history of the lands that would become the present day country, with additional influences from France, Germany and Italy. For many years from the Imperial era till today Brazil has witnessed parade after parade held on major national and regional holidays, a tradition maintained till today by the Brazilian Armed Forces. Since the 1960s high-stepping has been a prominent part of parades hosted by the armed forces, a tradition carried over from Portugal, Turkey and Uruguay.

Today major parades by the Armed Forces and its veterans are held on the following occasions:

• Federal holidays and service holidays marked by the Armed Forces as well as anniversaries of service arms
  • April 10, Corps of Engineers Day
  • April 12, Army Logistics Support Day
  • April 19, Army Day
  • April 21, Tiradentes Day (also Brasilia Foundation Day and Minas Gerais Day)
  • May 5, Signal Corps Day
  • May 10, Cavalry Day
  • May 24, Infantry Day
  • June 10, Artillery Day
  • June 11, Navy Day
  • August 23, Air Force Logistics Day
  • August 25, Day of the Brazilian Soldier
  • August 28, Naval Aviation Day
  • September 7, Independence Day^[12]
  • October 23, Aviators' Day
  • November 15, Day of the Proclamation of the Republic
  • November 19, Flag Day
  • December 13, Day of the Brazilian Sailor
• State and territorial holidays
  • January 4, Rondônia Day
  • March 6, anniversary of the beginning of the Pernambucan revolt
  • March 25, Ceara Slavery Abolition Day
  • April 23, Saint George's Day (in Rio de Janeiro state only)
  • June 15, Acre State Anniversary Day
  • July 2, Bahia Independence Day
  • July 8, Sergipe Political Emancipation Day
  • July 9, anniversary of the outbreak of the 1932 São Paulo Constitutionalist Revolution
  • July 28, Maranhão Admission Day
  • August 5, Paraíba Day
  • August 7, Rio Grande de Norte Day
  • August 11, Santa Catarina Day
  • September 5, Amazonas State Anniversary Day
  • September 13, Amapá Day
  • September 16, Alagoas Day
  • September 20, Day of the Gauchos of Rio Grande do Sul
  • October 5, Roraima Day and Tocantis Day (within the aforementioned states)
  • October 11, anniversary of the establishment of Mato Grosso do Sul
  • October 19, Piauí State Anniversary
  • October 23, Goias State Anniversary
  • December 19, Paraná State Anniversary
• During unitwide anniversaries and remembrance days of important battles of the Armed Forces
• During change of command, retirement and recruit and cadet graduation parades within the service branches of the armed forces and all military academies and high schools
• During anniversaries and holidays marked by the cities and towns of Brazil
• On January 1, day of the presidential inauguration ceremony
• During inauguration ceremonies of state governors, city and municipal chief executives

Alongside the armed forces the following uniformed organizations, together with representatives from educational institutions and athletes, also participate in every parade:

• National Public Security Force
• Federal Police of Brazil
• Federal Highway Police
• Federal Railroad Police
• National Prison Department
• all state Military Police formations
• all state Military Firefighters Corps
• All state Civil Police formations
• All Municipal Guards formations of cities and towns
• State, city and municipal civilian fire services and volunteer fire units

Brunei

The Bruneian parade tradition shares in the general traditions of the Commonwealth, and it is without any doubt that the British Armed Forces helped develop the parade and ceremonial traditions of the nation, which are today held in high esteem by the country's uniformed organizations combined with later Malaysian influence. Today, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Royal Brunei Police Force host public parades on the following dates:

• 18 January, Police Day
• 23 February, National Day^[13]
• 31 May, Armed Forces Day
• 15 July, Birthday of HM the Sultan

Extraordinary parades are held on Accession Day, 27 October.

Parades held on February 23 and July 15 also feature service personnel of British Forces Brunei including elements of the Brigade of Gurkhas and the following:

• Brunei Fire and Rescue Department
• Brunei Prisons Department
• Brunei Immigration and Registration Department
• Royal Department of Customs and Excise
• Armed Forces Military Cadet Corps
• Police Force Cadet Corps
• Fire and Rescue Cadets
• Brunei Scout Association
• Girl Guides Association of Brunei Darussalam
• Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society
• National Service Programme cadets

Canada

Within Canada, the now tri-service Ceremonial Guard performs the marchpast for senior dignitaries of the Canadian Armed Forces during change of command ceremonies and state arrival ceremonies, typically held in Ottawa, the national capital. The two Primary Reserve Canadian Army regiments that typically provide personnel for the guard, the Governor General's Foot Guards and The Canadian Grenadier Guards, together with the Governor General's Horse Guards and guard of honour detachments from both the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force take part in these events. In addition, the CG and optionally both the GGHG and the CGG take part in military parades such as the more common Trooping the Colour, also in Ottawa and special parades during the jubilee years of the monarch or of a national foundation. The CAF personnel, as well as the Canadian Cadet Organizations and military veterans also parade during national holidays such as Remembrance Day, Victoria Day, Canada Day or Canadian Forces Day, as well as during parades celebrating anniversaries of regiments, brigade groups or wings, and divisional level formations and passing out parades of the Royal Military College of Canada, Royal Military College Saint-Jean and recruit training bases, as well as in local holidays in the provinces and major cities. Across the country, the annual Warriors Day military parade has since 1921, been a traditional event of the Canadian National Exhibition. It is specifically devoted to formally recognizing veterans of the CF.^[14] Like in the UK, the regimental march of the unit being honored is played by the band and/or pipe band if present.

Chile

The tradition of military parades in Chile has origins not just in Spanish tradition, but also a mix between those of France, the United Kingdom, and particularly Germany, given the fact that Imperial German Army officers trained the army and navy in the mid-1890s in the Prussian-German traditions of military parades that are continued until today.

Currently, the Chilean Armed Forces and the Carabineros de Chile hold public parades in front of state leaders and the public on

• 21 May - Navy Day - honoring the fallen of the 1879 Battle of Iquique, also marked as a day to celebrate the service personnel, veterans, heroes and martyrs of the Chilean Navy
• 19 September - Army Day - while honoring the 1810 anniversary of the formal inauguration of the First Government Junta, is also marked as a day to celebrate the service personnel, veterans, heroes and martyrs of the Chilean Army

Local level parades are marked on the following days aside from 21 May:

• 4 February - anniversary of the victorious Capture of Valdivia
• 17 February - anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Chacabuco
• 21 March - Air Force Day
• 2 April - anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Maipu
• 27 April - Carabineros Day
• 7 June - anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Arica
• 16 June - Chilean Marine Corps Day
• 9 July - Flag Day
• 20 August - birthday of Bernardo O'Higgins
• 18 September - Independence Day
• 2 October - anniversary of the Battle of Rancagua
• 2 November - anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Pisagua
• 30 November - Chilean Gendarmerie Day

China

The first military parade on the Chinese mainland can be dated to over 4,000 years ago, when Yu the Great, a legendary ruler in ancient China, hosted a gathering of tribal forces from northern and southern China.^[15]

People's Republic of China

External videos
Parts 1 2 3 and 4 of a documentary on the history of Chinese military parades
1981 新疆 大阅兵 Chinese Uighur Military Parade in Xinjiang (Eng narration)

The People's Republic of China holds extraordinary military parades in Beijing to celebrate National Day. The first parade of this nature took place right after the Proclamation of the People's Republic of China by Chairman Mao Zedong on 1 October 1949. Originally celebrated annually, the parade was suspended in 1960, before returning in 1984 to mark the 35th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is now held to mark every tenth anniversary, starting in 1999. Parades were also held in 1964, 1966, 1969 and 1970.^[16]

In 2015, China held a military parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Victory over Japan. This was the first time China held a military parade for an event other than its National Day. It is currently unknown if China will continue to celebrate the end of World War II, through.

In 2017, the 90th anniversary since the Nanchang Uprising and the beginning of the People's Liberation Army was marked by a military parade, the first time ever that a military parade had been held in its honor and the first time it was held outside of the capital, having been held at Zhurihe Training Base in Inner Mongolia under the direction of General Han Weiguo of the Central Theater Command.^[17] This was also the first field parade to take place since September 1981 when a parade consisting of troops participated in an exercise in Zhangjiakou in the presence of Deng Xiaoping to commemorate Deng's assumption to the post of Chairman of the Central Military Commission. During that parade, Deng reportedly said "Let's hold a large-scale one if we are to hold a military exercise, so that it can be of use" in reference to the size of the parade.^[18] Naval parades have also been reintroduced in recent years with a parade (which was the biggest naval review since 1949 and according to the Chinese government, the biggest in 600 years.^[19]) being held in the South China Sea in 2018 and a parade for the platinum jubilee of the People's Liberation Army Navy being held in early 2019.

Smaller scale parades are also periodically held in Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet and Xinjiang. Every year on 10 March (Tibetan Uprising Day), a military parade in Lhasa to mark the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan rebellion.^[20] The first military parades in the HKSAR and the MSAR took place on their first and fifth anniversaries in 1998^[21] and 2004 respectively.

Republic of China

In the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Republic of China Armed Forces held its national parades in Taipei from 1949 until 1991 during the Double Ten Day celebrations. This practice was abandoned in 1991 though parades were recently held every five years beginning in 2011 during the Xinhai Revolution centenary and again in 2016. Special parades were held outside Taipei in 1995 and 2015 marking the 50th and 70th anniversaries, respectively, of both the Allied victory in the Second World War and the conclusion of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Colombia

Both the Military Forces of Colombia and the National Police of Colombia hold important national parades to celebrate the anniversary of national independence as well as of the Armed Forces. Such parades are a mix of the Spanish, German, French, American and British influences owing to the long history of the country's military and police forces. National level parades are held on:

• February 15 - Air Force Day
• July 20 - Independence Day
• July 24 - Navy Day
• August 7 - Army Day and Battle of Boyaca Victory Day
• November 15 - National Police Day

Local level parades by the personnel and veterans of the armed forces and police are held on the following:

• April 7 - Barranquilla Day
• July 3 - Cali Independence Day
• November 11 - Cartagena Independence Day

Cuba

The Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces generally holds military parades in honor of the Day of the Cuban Armed Forces and the Triumph of the Revolution on Havana's Plaza de la Revolución. The first parade took place in 1960 for the latter event and over time, importance was transferred to Armed Forces Day in relation to military parades. In 2011, a special honor parade was held on April 16 to commemorate the golden jubilee since the 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion.^[22] The largest parade to be held took place in December 1986 in honor of the 30th anniversary of the revolution, in which General Humberto Ortega from Nicaragua, as well as officials from the Soviet Union, attended.^[23] The diamond jubilee parade planned for 2016 was postponed for 1 month due to the death and state funeral of Fidel Castro, and took place during the Victory Day celebrations on 2 January 2017.^[24][25]

Czech Republic

External videos
Czechoslovak Military Parade "Shield-84" - Vojenská přehlídka ČSLA "Štít-84

Large military parades in the Czech Republic are today held every 10 years in the capital of Prague, encompassing personnel from the Czech Army and the Police of the Czech Republic. The first of these parades occurred in 2008 in honor of the founding of Czechoslovakia on 28 October 1918.^[26] Another one took place in 2018 and included foreign troops.^[27]

Prior to 1918, military parades followed the tradition of their larger sovereign entity, including the military tradition of Austria-Hungary. Regular military parades were held during the period of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, with the first parades being organized in the 1950s. The first parade of the Czechoslovak People's Army (ČSLA) took place in 1951 in Letná. Since then, parades were held every five years on 9 May to mark the end of World War II and the Liberation of Czechoslovakia. To honor the latter's celebrations, the State Anthem of the Soviet Union would be performed by the massed bands on parade preceded by the Czechoslovakian national anthem. The last of these parades took place in 1985.^[28][29]

Ecuador

Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=Military_parade
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