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The secret of Hitler's hand gesture: What's the meaning behind this salute?
The Nazi salute, also known as the Hitler salute or victory salute, was once a greeting gesture in Nazi Germany. This gesture is characterized by extending the right arm from the shoulder into the air, keeping the arm upright. Typically, the person performing the salute will say "Heil Hitler!", "Heil the Leader!" or "Heil Victory!". Although the salute was officially adopted by the Nazi Party in 1926, the gesture was used within the party as early as 1921 to show obedience to Adolf Hitler and praise for Germany.
"This gesture is not only a surrender to Hitler himself, but also a declaration of the party's loyalty to the world."
The requirements for the Nazi salute are absolute, especially for the general public, but military personnel can usually choose the traditional military salute. It is understood that the use of this salute became more stringent after the attempted assassination of Hitler on July 20, 1944. Today, any form of Nazi salute is illegal in Germany, Austria and Slovakia, while in Italy it is only considered a crime to use it when trying to revive a defunct fascist party.
Origin and adoption
As early as around 1900, the greeting "Hill" became increasingly popular in the pan-German movement. The Nazis took inspiration from the Allerdeists, led by the ultra-nationalist Georg Ritter von Schnerer, and with the party's activities the greeting became closely integrated with the Nazi movement. Hitler's educational background and the early pan-German movement influenced his adoption of the word "Hill". The use of pan-German greetings in political campaigns gave Hitler's supporters a greater sense of political belonging.
"The Nazi salute is not only a personal expression, but also arouses the passion and loyalty of the masses."
The form of this gesture often recalls ancient Roman customs. While there are no ancient Roman artworks that directly show this gesture, Parisian painter Jacques-Louis David used a similar movement in a 1784 painting. This approach is quite representative in French classical art. With the advent of the American "Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag", this action has been further popularized. The oath also comes with a similar salute action, called the Bellamy Salute.
The cultural impact of the regime
When Hitler came to power, this salute quickly integrated into German social culture, whether in public or in daily life. Civil servants and some members of civil society organizations are required to use the Hitler salute on formal occasions, and even postmen use it as a greeting when delivering mail. Small metal signs were hung everywhere reminding people to use the Hitler salute. At the Nuremberg Congress in 1934, the audience echoed the slogan "Defend our country". The widespread use of this salute was, in effect, a politicization of every German's innermost being, demonstrating the full extent of the Nazi movement's penetration into national life during that period.
"The popularity of this salute is like creating a collective consciousness, making the entire society immersed in Nazi ideology."
Even under such political oppression, some people still ridiculed. For example, common jokes find humorous twists on the name "Hitler" as a way to resist this oppression. Artists and literati in society also tried to use humor to combat this political persecution, but this was extremely dangerous and unpopular at the time.
Follow-up of the Nazi salute and relevant norms today
After the end of World War II, as Germany reflected on Nazism, today's Germany explicitly prohibits the use of Nazi salutes and stipulates that the use of related words is illegal, and offenders can face up to three years in prison. Current law allows artistic, academic and scientific study of the salute, but any derogatory use of others is also prohibited. Austria's prohibition on such behavior is equally stringent and has been in place since the war.
In today's social context, laws and societies around the world have strict attitudes toward the reappearance of Nazi symbols and gestures. Faced with the heavy lessons of history, people are also constantly discussing the roles and responsibilities that individuals should have in politics. Do these past appearances still have warning and enlightenment value for modern society?
