[philman_36]

Easy enough...get enough people to grab each side of the shields in the shield wall and simply start pulling backwards or drag the wielder to the ground by the shield simply by falling down and backwards, keeping him on top of you so you don't get hit by his buddies!
He'll either release it or be on the ground with you and if he releases it then you get up and run off with the shield. LOL
Even if they attempt a baton strike if you just pull backwards they're breaking the integrity of the wall.

[circlecity]

"Easy enough...get enough people to grab each side of the shields in the shield wall and simply start pulling backwards or drag the wielder to the ground by the shield simply by falling down and backwards, keeping him on top of you so you don't get hit by his buddies!"

Or just lob a few Molotov cocktails into that phalanx - that shield wall will disburse is seconds.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

You could not do that if the carrier had spears and swords.

Maybe the attackers could throw armour piercing pilums at the carriers.

http://romanmilitary.net/tools/pilum

[Georgia Girl 2]

Paintball the front line of sheilds and you will have blind man’s bluff.