German word for the greeting that was promoted by the Nazi party during their rule in Germany. Consists of extending the right arm straight forward and upward at about 45 degrees. Was often accompanied by shouts of Sieg Heil or Heil Hitler.

It was not actually throught up by Hitler or the Nazis; they imported it from ancient Rome via the Italian fascist movement of Benito Mussolini.

In school, an old teacher (he retired shortly afterwards) told us that it was popular among men because greeting someone on the street otherwise required one to lift one's hat or at least touch the brim (remember than at that time, almost every man wore a hat most of the time). This eventually caused a dirty or worn-out spot on the brim, which could be avoided by using the Hitlergruß. Small and trivial are the steps towards corruption...