Giving someone the marching orders (Laufpass)
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Giving someone the marching orders - in German this saying implies a piece of paper, which is roughly translated to "running passport" (Laufpass). But did something like that really exist? And who needed it?
Maybe "Laufpass" and "marching order" do not have identical meanings in German and English. In German a "Laufpass" means to send somebody away. I use "marching order" here in the sense of "to have somebody marching away or leaving".
A marching order was given to soldiers in the 18th century when they were discharged from the military. The marching order served as proof that the holder was not a deserter.
Prisoners of war who, after being disarmed, made a promise that they would no longer fight in that campaign were also given a marching order. In this case, they were allowed to travel on a specific itinerary to their home towns.
Marching orders were also given to deserters or scattered soldiers of the opposing side who, for example, reported to Prussian patrol corps as prisoners after the Battle of Leipzig.
The expression "to give someone the marching order" ("Laufpass geben") - for dismissing someone or to send someone away - also dates from this time.
Nowadays, this phrase is often used for terminated relationships or terminated employment.
