If you collect all the data at our disposal, all the quotes from Ceasar to Tacitus, the equipment used by some Germanic tribes/warriors, it surly looks rather impressive, so that it seems that some Tribes/warriorgroups did use a "Phalanx"...

@Ptah: Your a right that the socio-economic enviroment doesn't seem it likely that the standard warriors, mostly free farmers with a contained interest of war fielded a "professional" phalanx. However the socio-enviroment is not equal for all members of the comunity and also not for all warriors. Professional warriorgroups did exist in the free Germania as Tribal leaders and influent men collected around them devoted warriors. The size and their grade of discipline or quality was determined mostly of the influence; Marbod the Marcomanni for example could field a strong army, trained "almost up to Roman discipline" according to Tacitus.

But the socio-economic enviroment can change due to interior or exterior evolution, for the example migration. The Cimbri and Teutoni for example became terrible enemies, as they became men basing their wealth on their strengh alone; They became richer, getting better gear, and more experienced due to the many fights they had to sustain.

This resulted in three crushing victories over Rome, triggering the reform of Marius. This men were surly capable of a higher degree of military organization, having had time and ressources to refine their military strenght, which was absolutly vital for them. With all the men, women and children in the big treck every battle could mean the end, making warfare a matter of live or death, a matter of existence...

OA