Marche de l'Armée Diekirch,

About the event

ORIGINS OF THE MARCHE DE l’ARMEE ( www.marche.lu )

Post WWII Luxembourg Army consisted of mandatory military service introduced by law of November 30, 1944. Following the adherence to NATO in 1949, the size of the Luxembourg Army peaked in 1954 when a “Regimental Tactical Group” (French: Groupement Tactique Régimentaire – GTR) was formed up as Luxembourg’s contribution to NATO. Among other units such as Infantry battalions, independent companies and a logistic support group, the GTR comprised also one Artillery battalion. In 1959, one realized in fact that the GTR was beyond Luxembourg capacity. It was dissolved and replaced by one artillery battalion.

After training of the personnel and the transformation of the guns (from British 25Pdr to 105mm NATO calibre), a light Artillery Battalion with 18 howitzers was placed at NATO disposal.

In 1966, the “Grand-Ducal Guard”, which had remained entirely independent at the time of the GTR, was disbanded and by 1961 its tasks were transferred to and performed by the Artillery battalion.

The law of June 22, 1967 brought to effect the Luxembourg Government’s decision to abolish the compulsory duty in the Army, to be replaced by a volunteer Army set up by law of June 29, 1967.

Because of the disappearance of the Artillery battalion in the new Army, some NCOs founded the “Amicale des Anciens Artilleurs Luxembourgeois” (AAAL), an association whose aim was to remember this battalion by gathering all former members at a special event. The idea to organise an Army-march was born, named “Marche Internationale de Luxembourg” and first organised on May 11 & 12, 1968. Joined by a lot of civilians, the number of participants grew from 267 in the first year to more than 9000 in the past.

During the upcoming years, the number of participants was continuously growing. As a consequence, the support of the Army was following up resulting in changing the name of the event into “Marche de l’Armée” by 1977.

Until 1983 the march was organised and held by the AAAL in co-operation with the Luxembourg army. Since 1984 this task has been taken over by the ”SECTION DE MARCHE DE L’ARMEE” (SMA) except the organising of a 12 kilometre distance and the stamping of the FLMP and IVV-booklets for all distances, which are still under the responsibility AAAL.

ORGANISATION

The main task of the Army March is done by a committee composed of 9 members, supported by an organisation committee of about 40 people working the last two month before the event.

The MARCHE DE L’ARMEE takes place every year on the first week-end after whitsun (Pentecost).

The following categories can be chosen: 2x40km (Cat.A) – 2x20km (Cat.B) – 1x20km (Cat.C) or 1x12km (IVV). The distances are completed in one or two days depending on the chosen category and can be done individually or in groups. The 12km course can only be completed individually.

THE ROUTE

On the two days of the march the walkers have the opportunity to admire wonderful country sides of Luxembourg. Whereas the first day, the way leads to the north of DIEKIRCH, the region called OESLING, the route of the 2nd day goes to the east and south of DIEKIRCH. Walking through these parts of the country with narrow twisting valleys and windy hills, the touch of the atmosphere of old Luxembourg before the great industrial revolution in the 19th century is growing up. Villages are scattered far apart, solitarily at the bottom of a valley or on top of a high plateau.

The good reputation of the Army March is not only due to the pedantic and excellent organisation but also to the charm and the diversity of the course. The routes are chosen to offer a great panoramic view of the OESLING to the walker. Leading trough woods, walking beside calm rivers and rivulets, crossing prairies and passing by and trough little tourist villages, the route is perfectly suitable to practise individually, in groups or with the family, a sport without stop-watch and compulsion, depending on individual physical condition.

Check-points (controls), rest areas where refreshments are given free to the walkers as well as first-aid posts are set up on the different routes and are under the responsibility of the organiser.

ACCOMMODATION

About 1000 walkers may find accommodation in the tent city, erected some 350 meters from the starting area. Other possibilities are hotels, youth-hostels and camping-sites in and around DIEKIRCH.

AWARD

Each walker who has successfully completed the march in the respective category (A-B or C) gets the official award of the Army March a bronze medal. Participants of categories 2x20km and 2x40km obtain also the specific distinction of the covered distance.

In the following years the walker earns the corresponding number or medal of his successful participation.

REGISTRATION

All kind of information can be downloaded from the web-site www.marche.lu where the walker can also apply for the registration (either individually, either as a group).

Last minute registration is also possible on the day of the event.

Every walker who has participated on the Army March is registered in the computer index system which is updated every year before and after the event. This registration index contents name and address of the walker, number and year of the participations and the successful completed category.

MEMBERSHIP

Since 1984, the SECTION DE MARCHE DE L’ARMEE is a member of the LUXEMBOURG WALKING FEDERATION (FLMP) within the INTERNATIONALER VOLKSSPORT VERBAND (IVV).

In 1987, the SECTION DE MARCHE DE L’ARMEE, together with 7 other international walking organisations, became a founding member of the IML WALING ASSOCIATION (IML). The aim of this league is to promote walking throughout the world.

The 1997 General Meeting of the IML, held in Japan, set the division of the IML in two major regions, namely the “European Region” and the “Pan Pacific Region” still under the banner of the IML. Actually both regions consist of the following member countries (in alphabetical order of the countries):

EUROPEAN Region:

Austria IML 3 Tage Einhornmarsch (Seefeld)
Belgium Int. Tweedaagse van Vlaanderen (Blankenberge)
Czech Rep. Two Days’ march (Brno)
Denmark Haervejsmarchen (Viborg)
England Int. Waendel Walk (Wellingborough)
Finland Vaasan Marssi (Vaasa)
France Randonnée de 4 jours en Chantonnay
Germany Zwei-Tage Wanderung (Fulda)
Ireland Int. Four Days’ Walks (Castlebar)
Israël Two Days’ March of Gilboa
Italy Mare et Monti (Arenzano)
Luxembourg Marche de l’Armée (Diekirch)
Netherlands De vierdaagse van Nijmegen
Norway Sagamarsjen (Verdal)
Spain Ass. CaminadaInternacional de Barcelona
Sweden Linnémarschen (Boras)
Switzerland Marche Internationale de Bern-Belp

PAN PACIFIC Region:

Australia Canberra Two Days’ Walk
China Dalian Int. walking Festival
China Beijing Int. Mountain Waling Festival (Mentougou)
Indonesia Jogja International Heritage Walk (Yogyakarta)
Japan Japan Int. Three Days’ March (Higashimatsuyama)
Japan Kyushu – International Three Day March (Yatsushiro)
Korea (ROK) Two Days’ Walks Won-Ju (Seoul)
New Zealand Int. Two Days’ Walks (Rotorua)
Taiwan Two Days’ Happiness March (Taipeh)
USA US Freedom Friendship Walk Festival – Washington (DC)

Why should you sponsor?

Marc Muller

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