When Is a Nazi Salute That’s Not a Nazi Salute a Nazi Salute?
10th May 2026
As ought to be self-evident, it is only possible to clearly recognize a Nazi salute, or what Germans call the ‘Hitler salute,’ in live action or in a video, but not in a still image. In a still image, anyone waving or beckoning—even, say, hailing a taxi—may appear to have been giving the Nazi salute when they were not. In certain still images, given other congruent elements, we can safely assume that those portrayed are indeed giving the Nazi salute. Thus, for example, in the historical photograph below, we can safely assume that the assembled Wehrmacht officers are not just waving to the Führer. But, otherwise, without such congruent elements, we cannot know from a still image if an outstretched right arm is a Nazi salute or not.
When seen by a disapproving proglodyte, obviously.