The Hitler Salute: On the Meaning of a Gesture

"Good morning." "How do you do?" "Hello." We issue this sort of greeting dozens of times every day, and probably don't even think about how greetings work, what function they perform, or what things would be like without them. We certainly don't consider them something we have to do, or something compulsory, but we all do them anyway, so they must be important. What if a specific greeting became compulsory, though? This... Read Full Review

Tilman Allert's The Hitler Salute proves to be a highly informative book on the usage and meaning behind the most obvious symbol of Nazi Germany next to the swastika. In a relatively short book, the author clearly explained the meaning, symbolism and social ramifications of this salute that not only was used among Nazi Party members but in all aspects of German life. From what the author appears to be saying, any German living... Read Full Review

This book teaches us that "Heil Hitler" was the official, expected, even demanded greeting of choice in Germany for over a decade. Even the washroom attendants greeted people with it and some churches replaced "Gruss Gott" with the new deity: Hitler. Gone were the Ei Ei Dufe Wie, Gruss Gott, Servus, Moin Moin, and Guten Tag. Heil Hitler was the replacement. It was a simple, daily-repeated gesture of communication, an offer-acceptance... Read Full Review