Put on your boots! Pack on your back! March forward!

Four days, 40 kilometers, ten kilograms of marching gear - the 4daagse is THE marching highlight of the year for the soldiers of the Bundeswehr. On July 16, around 340 participants started in Nijmegen, Netherlands. Impressions from the route, the march participants, the support staff, and why the last day went very differently than planned.

"Germany, are you ready?" booms out of the speakers. It is 6:00 in the morning, around 340 soldiers are waiting with their marching gear at the Kamp Heumensoord in the Netherlands for the start.

Soldiers from 34 Nations

It is the 65th Nijmegen delegation of the Bundeswehr participating in the Nijmegen March this year. The so-called 4daagse with around 6,000 military and over 40,000 civilian participants is one of the most traditional marches in the world. Over 80 nations participate. For everyone, the march is an absolute highlight, but also a huge challenge for body and mind. This was especially evident on the third day of the march when the temperature climbed to over 27 degrees. It was once again essential to drink a lot, take longer breaks than usual, seek shade, and above all, have even more perseverance. Day 4 even predicts temperatures of 30 degrees. The board of the 4Daagse decides to shorten the marching routes for the civilian participants. Soldiers march the prescribed 40 kilometers in formation - the ten kilograms of marching gear prescribed for them can stay in the camp.

At 3:45 am, the 65th Nijmegen delegation marches one last time from Kamp Heumensoord. It's 40 kilometers to the Charlemagne, where the awarding of the medals takes place. Afterwards, the last five kilometers are on the Via Gladiola to the finish.

Delegation leader Lieutenant Colonel Unkelbach: "Our marchers have a very good reputation in Nijmegen, the marchers are well-prepared and we as a delegation take care of the soldiers around the clock." However, the march is much more than physical performance: "Comradeship, esprit de corps, and good leadership are definitely at the center for us as a delegation. Of course, everyone is highly motivated on the first day of the march. The atmosphere along the route is unbelievably good, the spectators are incredibly friendly, and everyone cheers us on."

Boots on! Backpack on! Forward march!

Back at Kamp Heumensoord: At 6:05 am, it's time to say, "Attention, forward march!" Past the Commander of the State Command North Rhine-Westphalia, Brigadier General Hans-Dieter Müller, and the delegation leader, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Unkelbach, the 19 march groups of the Bundeswehr set off on the route. Before that, it's always: "Boots on! Backpack on! Forward march!" That's the battle cry of the German delegation.

The first meters lead the march participants through a forest area, then towards the city. Slowly the sun gets stronger, the temperatures rise. By the roadside, many out-of-town guests and even more locals are already standing early in the morning, applauding and offering snacks and drinks to the march participants. Staff Sergeant Pit F. is always thrilled by this great atmosphere among the people. The native of Stralsund is the march group leader of the "Panzergrenadiere 33/212" march group. He marches in uniform in the 4Daagse for the seventh time. It's over 16 kilometers to the first refreshment stop on this day. "Wahrschau - traffic island," F. calls out loudly to alert the comrades to the obstacle. Shortly afterwards, a traffic island appears - it's not an obstacle, but a challenge... for the flag bearers, who are part of every group: Traditionally, the flag bearer sprints around the traffic island, trying to be back on the route at the same time as their group. Not an easy task with 10 kilograms of marching gear and an average marching speed of over 6 kilometers per hour. What motivates the soldiers time and time again? The marching songs. Staff Sergeant F. starts one, and his group sings along loudly. After two hours and 50 minutes, they reach the first refreshment point for the day. Fruits, sandwiches, drinks, broth - the provisioning teams have already set up and prepared everything before departure from the camp. The medical team is also ready to care for the soldiers. While on days 1 and 2 mainly sore feet and cramped muscles are treated, the situations on day 3 become more serious.

In the heat, circulation problems occur. Another "pit stop" is set up temporarily to provide enough water to the soldiers on the last kilometers.

Delegation leader Unkelbach: "The soldiers are determined to complete the march. It is our duty of care to support them as best as possible during the march. It is truly phenomenal what the support staff achieves here. My utmost respect to the comrades."

The physical and mental challenge

At 19, Private Lennart B. is the youngest march participant in the delegation. The young officer candidate marches in the group of the Air Force Officer School. B. completed his basic training in Stetten am kalten Markt in Baden-Württemberg at the age of 17. This was followed by nine months with the Panzergrenadiers, then a switch to the Air Force. Because: "I want to become a pilot, a helicopter pilot." In October, he will start his mechanical engineering studies at the Bundeswehr University in Munich. So he had enough time to prepare for the 4daagse: "It is a very long distance; we march four times 40 kilometers - it also takes a toll on my body." B. is athletic, likes bodybuilding and hiking. But during one of the preparation marches in Bern, he realized: "It's already intense."

What does he have in his gear on the route? "Always some bars for sugar and a hydration bladder. Water is extremely important, as you can quickly dehydrate." The tips from experienced march participants also helped B.: "Keep your head up while running, always be cheerful, talk a lot with the person next to you - it distracts when the bones start hurting."

A salute to the support staff

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