Death march - Definition and Overview

For the use of this term in the software development industry, see death march (software development)

In World War II history, a death march was a march or excursion that was expected to kill some or all the marchers, who were usually prisoners.

Several death marches occurred in the course of the Holocaust in Europe, often towards the end of the war. The idea behind the marches was to force prisoners to walk, at gunpoint, without food, water, shelter, or amenities; those who couldn't keep up were often shot. In Asia, the Japanese forces also conducted death marches, including the infamous Bataan Death March.