Ask Lemmy

As other people have said, it was borrowed from the Italian fascists, who themselves got it from an 18th century painting showing a famous event from Roman history/legend. There's no evidence that it was ever actually used in Ancient or Classical Rome.

Funny side story is that some Nazis and other German nationalists thought it wasn't 'German' enough, so the leading Nazis felt they had to invent an older 'Germanic' tradition to justify its usage. So, it's a fake German tradition that was in fact borrowed from the Italians, who got it from a fake Roman tradition that was actually made up by a French guy.

Long story short, an italian nationalist through an made up interpretation thought it was used io ancient rome, used it in a film and the fascists in italy liked it so started using it. Then the nazis copied them.

Put yourself back in the day. No TV or internet. Public spectacles were pretty much the only entertainment. Any kind of parade was a big deal. Ever heard the phrase 'get on the band wagon?' On election days the political parties used to have wagons with a band and beer that would drive around town to get people to the polls.

Now look at some old Nazi documentaries. Those masses of people throwing their arms out like that? That looks great.

https://youtu.be/3_VeIf1M0M4

10 minute documentary on Hitler's best propagandist

The Bellamy salute was invented in the United States for peaceful purposes. The Nazis stole it (as they did with the swastika and the term Aryan) and applied it to evil. As Nazi symbols, they became more strongly associated with the humanitarian atrocities of that regime than with their original meanings, to the extent that decent people hesitate to use them anymore.

No one mentioning Hitler trying to gauge air current of his car and the audience picking up on it? Was this a myth?