The goose step goes back to the Prussian army of the 17th century according to Norman Davies. The body language of goose stepping was intended to tranmsime a clear set of messages to the army’s generals that the army was composed of men who were obedient no matter how uncomfortable, painful, or stupid the orders the wood comply. To civilians that no subinordination would be tolerated. etc.
It does make a tremendous noise that other marches don’t seem to exhibit. This, in and of itself, is hypnotizing (and intimidating, if you were the conquered people), especially if you were seeing it in person.
Years ago, there was a *Chicago Tribune * article about the India/Pakistan border whereby the guards try to outdo each other in all elements of pagentry. This included marching (from the photos, it appeared to be goosestepping), which was to be more ostentatious and noisy than the other guy. The article detailed that boots were often worn out in the process and IIRC, they received a “boot allowance.”
The “shock and awe” routine has been around in the military for a long time and the “goose step” is just one of these incarnations. It demonstrates that the body of men before you is not some rabble just raised out of the cornfield, but soldiers who have put time and effort into training, discipline, and cohesion. It helps foster a sense of esprit-de-corps, invincibility, and superiority in the soldiers. In onlookers it instills a sense of awe, intimidation, and fear or pride depending on whether they’re the home team or not.
For purposes of shock value, the goose-step has been succeeded by heavy armor and missiles, although it still has its adherents.
On the other hand, watching the Greek guardsmen do their extremely elaborate goose-step with the pom-poms on their shoes and the funny hats is quite a hoot!
It may seem strange in todays modern world, but there was a time when a large group of soldiers in their dress uniforms marching in unison was a proud and impressive sight. Even in the US military, where the marching isn’t overly sophisticated, it takes practice to get everyone coordinated and in step.
Add to the pageantry the sound of a thunderous heel beat, and the impression is just magnified.
Close order drill is a display of training and discipline. Not discipline in the punishment sense, but discipline in the sense of practice and control. It’s not supposed to instill fear in the populace, it’s supposed to give them confidence in the professionalism of their Army.
I saw - on the History channel? recently, about the goose-step being excellent for requiring so much focus, and being so rhythmic and jarring, that it makes the soldiers doing it really unable to think for themselves. It makes them automatons of a sort.
Makes sense, I suppose. One of my daughters required thumping to sleep every night. Bom, bom, bom, bom. Really jarring thumps on the diaper, sometimes for 15-20 minutes, to get her into a trance so she’d sleep. I think a goose-step might have the same effect.
I’ve never figured out where the term ‘goose step’ came from. I’ve owned geese and they don’t walk like that – more of a waddle. Not very intimidating at all.
Wing buffets, on the other hand . . .
Not to mention why ‘goose’ is a verb as well as a noun.