Military salute
In the tradition of most armed forces as well as in other militarily organized or uniformed institutions, a military salute serves as a mutual tribute. It is carried out in a similar manner internationally, with details varying from nation to nation.
The military salute is today performed by placing the stretched fingers of the right hand on the umbrella of the headgear or the temple (if one is not wearing a headgear), although depending on the situation other forms of salute correspond to the military salute, for example saluting by turning one's gaze into a formation. In the broader understanding, honors made with a weapon also belong to the concept of a military salute.
Origin of honor
The origin of the military salute can be found in the knights of the Middle Ages . Folding up the visor meant giving up head protection and thus signaled peaceful intentions, especially among equals. It was unnecessary for identification, as there was the announcement and above all the coat of arms on the shield or helmet in the tournament.
In the German-speaking world, the oldest form of honor was the "presentation of the weapon", which had been prescribed for the guards by the "Saxon Guard" since 1692. In 1726 Flemmings "Sächsische Instruction" described how difficult it was when people greeted "with a rifle". There were a number of individual instructions for the soldier, some of which were quite confusing, which ended with the words: "Take off your hat and put it back on". In the “Bavarian Instruction” from 1774 it was expressed that “hats had to be taken off” only to the Elector.
In front of the officer it was necessary to “show the front”, ie the soldier stood still and looked at the “officer free, courageous and with a decent expression, without taking off his hat”. One of the reasons for this change was the change in headgear: the bearskin hat and the grenadier hat had a chin strap, both of which were difficult to remove. In order to compensate for this, it was decided to “lay hands” on the headgear with one hand - it was presented with a weapon.
Military salute with the gun
According to the Prussian regulations of 1743, the military display of honor with the weapon was the presentation of the rifle for inspection . The control officer gave the commands “Present the rifle” and “The rifle flat” so that he could check whether there was enough dry powder on the pan. From this purely expedient act, a display of honor developed in the 18th century, which served to express subordination to the controller.
Two main forms of showing honor with a weapon are still in use today:
- Presenting the rifle : The rifle is brought into a vertical position in front of the soldier's body, whereby the hand position is intended to underline that the weapon is unloaded, i.e. ready for inspection.
- Presenting / lowering the saber : Here, the handle of the drawn edged weapon is first brought to the face or chest and the saber is then lowered on the outstretched arm. Bringing the handle to the face or chest should make it clear that the weapon is wielded with conviction ("with heart" or "with mind").
These two basic forms are basically identical all over the world, they only differ in their designs. So is z. B. When presenting the rifle, the hand position differs depending on the military tradition and the necessary command sequences are different (for example, in the USA the weapon placed on the ground can be taken directly into the presentation handle, in other armies it must first be shouldered). More and more these historical forms of exercise with the weapon take a back seat, on the one hand because practicing them takes time that is more urgently needed for other training courses, and on the other hand because modern weapons differ considerably from the historical ones due to their shape and size Differentiate between weapons with which these grips were originally drilled.
The National People's Army ( NVA ), like the Bundeswehr today, only had the rifle presented by the honorary posts and the guard troops. So z. B. in the armed forces on the command "Attention - present!" The left hand quickly placed in the middle of the handguard of the rifle hung at an angle. The forearm forms a straight line with the extended fingers. Briefly hitting the handguard supports the presentation with a uniform, clearly perceptible hitting sound. On the command "Hand - down!" The starting form (standing still) is resumed. Here, the left hand is quickly taken to the left thigh again, the right hand always remains on the shoulder rest.
Especially in those units that are responsible for the implementation of the military protocol , the original forms of greeting with the weapon have been preserved due to their higher display and representational value (see Guard Battalion at the Federal Ministry of Defense ). Other, specialized forms of greeting with a weapon are now hardly widespread or are no longer used. In Germany, for example, the Prussian guard troops exercised a special ("Frederician") display handle until 1914 while they were marching past , and until 1945 military guards showed certain superiors the honor by kicking the rifle (shoulders of the rifle).
Germany
Wehrmacht
According to Reibert , there were three types of honorific in the Wehrmacht:
- walking by in a straight posture,
- standing still with the front to the superior,
- sitting still.
Honors were given:
- with headgear with the right hand placed on the headgear,
- without headgear or in civilian clothing by giving the " Hitler salute" or "German greeting",
- in the event of a handicap by carrying or holding objects etc. by walking past in a straight posture, by standing still or sitting still.
In closed rooms, the headgear had to be removed and held in the left hand in the case of official reports in the service suit with cap or in the reporting suit. The " Hitler salute" or "German salute" had to be given with the right hand .
The honors were to be carried out quickly and tightly. They started five paces ahead and ended two paces behind the supervisor or were shown entering or leaving rooms. The honors without a rifle were made:
- When approaching a supervisor, the right hand is to be quickly placed on the headgear and also brought into the basic position, before removing from the supervisor, the same display of honor is repeated,
- when walking without headgear by walking straight past and giving the Hitler salute,
- while standing without headgear by standing still with the front to the superior and giving the Hitler salute,
- While standing, the honor is shown by standing still with the front facing the superior and placing the right hand on the headgear for the duration of the honor,
- while standing, with head covering by placing the right hand on the head covering. The right hand is quickly placed on the headgear, the wrist is angled slightly downwards, the fingers as in the basic position. The index and middle fingers touch the lower edge of the headgear approximately above the outer corner of the right eye. The right arm is raised at about shoulder height. The left arm is in the basic position. After the show of honor, the arm is quickly lowered.
Greetings were given to members of all military organs, party organizations (e.g. the SS ) as well as the Reich Forestry Office , customs , the railway police or the SS railway protection and the police . Likewise, when playing the German national anthem and the Horst-Wessel song (which was usually played immediately afterwards), greetings had to be given to flags and banners of the NSDAP if they were carried in a closed train, and when approaching memorials.
armed forces
The regulations for military greetings were essentially adopted by the Wehrmacht. The biggest difference is when greeting without a headgear, which also existed for closed formations. The duty of greeting in the Bundeswehr is regulated by the central guideline A2-2630 / 0-0-3 "Forms and Celebrations of the Bundeswehr" (formerly ZDv 10/8), the execution of the greeting is in the central guideline A2-221 / 0-0-1280 " Formal service regulations ”(formerly ZDv 3/2).
For a greeting, the regulations provide for the possibilities of “putting the right hand on the headgear (or head)”, “assuming the basic position facing the superior” or “turning your gaze”, which are used depending on the situation. The greeting can be supplemented by a verbal greeting: “Hello, Herr Leutnant!” The greeting is generally given by soldiers in uniform to members of higher rank groups , but only at the first encounter of the day and only within enclosed military facilities. An exception to this are the immediate superiors and for soldiers up to and including sergeant-major the company sergeant: They are to be greeted at the first meeting of the day, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the barracks.
In principle, generals and admirals, the Federal Minister of Defense, the Federal President and Chancellor as well as heads of state and government of other countries are to be greeted. The military greeting within the same rank group or towards members of the armed forces of allied states is not mandatory, but is gladly seen as an expression of camaraderie.
Regardless of the rank of the soldiers involved, the person greeting has the right to a correct reply to the greeting.
Furthermore, the military salute is to be given when playing a national anthem in public, at flag parades, in front of troop flags, when embarking and disembarking a warship and at memorial services. If the soldier encounters a funeral procession, greetings are to be given at the height of the coffin. Greetings must also be given when lowering the coffin while simultaneously playing the song I had a comrade . The greeting is to be held until the song is over.
A message is always preceded by a greeting (without "Hello" or similar); From soldiers of the rank of sergeant (or equivalent: boatswain / ensign / ensign to the sea ) upwards (and only by these) this will be held until the end of the report.
Basically, the military salute is carried out by "putting the right hand on the headgear (or head)". The person greeting the right hand - fingers together, thumb placed - quickly with the fingertip to the temple or to the edge of the headgear so that the back of the hand points upwards, the forearm and the hand form a straight line and the elbow is roughly in Shoulder height. He ends the greeting by quickly taking his hand down and, if necessary, pointing his head straight ahead at the same time.
If the soldier greets while walking, he maintains his step and greets as soon as he is three steps in front of the person to be greeted. While standing, the soldier assumes the basic position facing the superior during the salute. Seated soldiers must rise in greeting.
If a soldier cannot carry out the described greeting, for example because he is prevented from doing so by carrying a weapon or another object, he greets by turning his gaze - in the same way as one greets other people in private life. Greeting with the left hand is also provided, but only in the event of injury or physical disability.
There are some exceptional situations in which there is no military salute. This includes staying in dining rooms, care facilities such as the team home, non-commissioned officers and officers' home company OHG as well as communal, shower and wash rooms or in the medical area. There are also special regulations for guard soldiers (only greet posts), as well as for soldiers in formation (only the leader of the formation greets), when driving vehicles (driver does not greet, only the commander of a vehicle) and when wearing civilian clothes or sports suits. Recruits greet recruits until they have learned the military salute, without putting their hands to their heads (i.e. only basic position and verbal salute).
National Peoples Army
In the NVA one was only allowed to greet with a head covering and with the right hand. All persons of higher rank were to be greeted . The greeting was to be returned immediately. People sitting in vehicles did not have to say hello. Drivers of parked vehicles should (in exceptional cases ) leave the vehicle to greet particularly high-ranking officers (e.g. generals ) and then say hello. If the person greeting was not wearing a headgear, at least the head had to be turned in the direction of the person to be greeted and eye contact made and held for a moment. This was also true when marching past in formations on the orders of the superior. In the technical service, the military greeting and the command "Attention!" Were forbidden for occupational safety reasons.
police
The German police only rarely greet them militarily by "laying hands on the edge of their hats" (e.g. when swearing in or greeting state guests).
Austria
Federal Army
With the Austrian Armed Forces , the situation decides how the soldier has to greet.
If the soldier is standing, he has to take the basic position (see below) with the front facing the higher rank, while the military salute is given. If the higher ranking person goes by, you follow him with face and look during the greeting.
At the meeting, the face is turned towards the higher-ranking officer, three steps in front of him the military salute is given by saluting or bowing (see below), not by taking the basic position. As soon as the senior is over, the hand is quickly lowered again.
Before entering military service rooms, headgear (with the exception of helmets) is always removed, except for day soldiers, guards and standby. Headgear with a visor (e.g. a cap) is held in the middle of the visor with the left hand and, with the arms naturally hanging down, placed on the thigh with the opening facing the body. Headgear without a visor (e.g. beret ) is pressed together from below with the left hand and held with the opening pointing downwards with the arm naturally hanging down. The military salute is then carried out by saluting or, if this is not possible, by taking the basic position.
Before reports or talks, the basic position is taken three steps in front of the higher ranking officer and the military salute is given. At the end of the report or the conversation, the military salute is given again and handed over with an about-face and roll call. If a soldier is addressed by a higher rank, he has to take the basic position and front to this. The resignation takes place as with the report.
If a higher ranking officer replies to a military greeting with a word greeting (e.g. "Good morning"), the soldier replies with the addition of his rank (e.g. "Good morning, Herr Oberleutnant!").
In the case of the national anthem or insignia carried by, the military salute must be given by saluting, with the hand only being removed when the national anthem has faded away or the insignia is over.
During the flag parade, soldiers who are in line of sight to the flagpole have to salute, both when the flag is hoisted and when it is being brought down. Soldiers in civilian clothes must stand in an appropriate position facing the flagpole.
The Austrian Armed Forces also have different ways of giving the military salute:
When saluting, the right hand (index fingers are stretched, thumb is close, back of the hand and forearm form a straight line) is brought to the right edge of the headgear or, if none is worn, to the right temple. The palm of the hand looks to the left and the arm is in no way stretched away from the body. The left hand is in the basic position during the salute (fist, thumb rests on the index finger, the inside of the fist rests on the thigh or, in the case of the guard, outstretched fingers and the outstretched thumb on the side of the index finger are placed with the palm of the hand on the thigh ). After three bars of march the hand is lowered again.
The military salute can, however, also be carried out by taking up the basic position. This is only allowed if the soldier is holding something in his right hand (e.g. the weapon) and is done as follows: The soldier has to stand straight and straight. The toes of the shoes are evenly opened so wide that the distance between the two is about half a shoe length; the heels remain closed, the body weight rests evenly on both legs, the knees are bent. The upper body is raised from the hips, with the spine extended and the chest moderately arched. The shoulders are level and slightly set back, but by no means pulled up. The arms hang naturally, the hand forms a fist with the thumb on the index finger. The inside of the fist rests against the thigh. The head is carried upright and naturally, the chin is slightly raised but not forward.
The principle applies that there is no salute when the soldier is carrying his weapon. Guards who, when they are on duty, carry their assault rifles slung over their chests, show their honor by briefly encircling the stock of their rifle with their left hand.
The last option is bowing. This is only permitted if saluting or assuming the basic position is not possible or does not appear appropriate (e.g. while sitting on public transport, etc.). Bowing is done by briefly tilting the head in the direction of the superior.
The members of the armed forces are instructed to also greet uniformed members of the Austrian police who meet them with a salute of honor. This is a sign of respect and the good relationship between the Austrian army and the police. The lower in rank should greet the higher ranking first. For example, almost all members of the police are ranked relatively higher for recruits. If possible, people of roughly equal rank should greet each other at the same time.
In combat service (deployment / exercise), the military salute in the above form is omitted. In the security service, the controlling guard takes a short stand and carries out his control task.
A mere smile - mischievous to helpless, because two full hands make it impossible to salute - can induce a respectful higher ranking officer to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the unit commander for not greeting by neglecting to nod, which can lead to a replacement fine if the military service service ends in the meantime.
Federal Police
The Federal Police is a civilian, but organized according to a military model. The display of honor at the Austrian Federal Police, of which the saluting is a variation, is therefore naturally based on the custom of the Federal Army. However, there are differences.
The honor is paid by briefly placing the right hand on the headgear (saluting), and at the same time the "basic position" must be assumed. When saluting, the attendant raises his right arm and places his right hand with closed fingers, palm to the left, on the right edge of the headgear. He bends the arm at the elbow without changing its length to the front line as it is lifted and without extending the elbow. Middle and ring fingers touch the edge of the headgear on the side of the right eye. The back of the hand forms a straight line with the forearm. The fingers are stretched out.
If the uniformed police officer does not wear a headgear (e.g. when working in the office) or if he has something in both hands or if there is some other disability, he must greet with an appropriate word of salutation or by turning his head.
The honorary display is to be given to superiors when they appear, when salutations, reports and conversations are made, and to be repeated when they leave. Also on the occasion of playing the national anthem or another national anthem as well as to flags , flags and standards of an executive body or the Armed Forces of the greeting is to be made. All uniformed servants must pay their honor, unless they are in closed formation.
When driving a vehicle and in the case of police measures, the honorary display must be omitted if this means that a service assignment cannot be complied with (e.g. during escorting or as part of the large police security service). A uniformed police officer who enters a closed room must - except when performing an executive official act - remove the headgear and show the honor by taking the "basic position". The basic position of the police in this case differs from that of the armed forces mainly in that the hands do not form a fist, but rather the palm of the hand is stretched out on the thighs.
During an executive field service and during office or journal work, a uniformed police officer has to report his duty and any incidents to a supervisor authorized to supervise the service, provided that his task allows it. If several uniformed employees are on duty together, the most senior employee must report this to the superior. “A supervisor authorized to supervise the service” does not only include direct superiors, such as B. the authority and the department head, the department commander or their deputy, but also the highest state officials ( Federal President , Federal Chancellor , Federal Minister of the Interior ). Uniformed police officers must also greet other police officers with a salute of honor.
If possible, every official act of a uniformed police officer in public must begin and end with a salute.
It is the duty of the police officers to greet uniformed members of the armed forces who meet them with a salute of honor. This is a sign of respect and good relations between the police and the Austrian army. The lower in rank should greet the higher ranking first. If possible, people of roughly equal rank should greet each other at the same time.
Switzerland
In the Swiss Army , the execution of the greeting is similar and can also be used among peers (but not common among soldiers). When the person greeting is sitting (at the desk, in the vehicle, etc.) or when he is holding something in his right hand, he simply takes a very upright position for a short time and nods his head. Greeting with the left hand is prohibited. Often the greeting hand goes to your (own) thigh with one blow immediately after you have touched your hand. With this stroke, the greeting should appear particularly “dashing”. This behavior is not noted in any of the regulations. If you carry the assault rifle 90 in front of you, there is a short grip on the rifle butt in addition to the normal greeting.
When two members of the army (in short: AdA) meet, it is customary for the lower-ranking officer to greet them first. You walk past each other normally, put your hand on and say a short: "Grüezi / Grüessech Herr Oberst etc." or just "Grüezi" or "Grüessech". Greeting is a question of decency and so a senior AdA can say hello first, which is rather rare. In either case, greeting the rank takes precedence over greeting the person.
If you want to have a formally correct conversation with someone of higher rank, you register correctly:
- You go into the "respectful position" in front of your supervisor, in which you hold your feet together and take an upright posture.
- Now you put your hand on in greeting and report z. B. "First Lieutenant! Recruit XY! "
- Now you wait until the lieutenant replies the greeting and then go into the so-called "rest position".
- When leaving, you take another brief look and say: "Log me off!"
- Then another greeting, which is returned by the superior.
The service regulations of the armed forces write under Article 59 on greeting and reporting:
Paragraph 1
The military forms are an expression of togetherness and the military order.
Paragraph 2
Anyone who speaks to or is addressed by senior or superiors greets and registers. If both know each other by name, the military greeting is sufficient.
Paragraph 3
In addition, members of the army greet each other in situations in which greeting is also common in civil life.
The reply to the greeting is mandatory.
Furthermore, there is an obligation to greet
- the unfolded standard;
- the Swiss flag (on federal buildings);
- your own or someone else's national anthem;
- closed associations;
- Conductors / hearse.
In repetition courses it is more like a companionable way. As a rule, everyone (cadre and team) within the company is on your terms and therefore the formal behavior is usually omitted.
Armies of other nations
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In France , Luxembourg , Great Britain and the armies of the former British Empire , when saluting, the right palm is usually turned in the direction of the person being greeted. In Israel , on the other hand, the hand is turned to the ground and a salute is made without touching the temple.
In Poland , the so-called two-finger greeting is mandatory, in which only two fingers are placed on the temple. The palm of the hand points in the direction of the person being greeted.
In the Red Army , only the direct superiors had to be greeted and not without exception all people of higher rank.
Other organizations
fire Department
In some nations this greeting is also common in the fire department :
- in France, which is in the Fire Services from Paris and Marseille anyway to units of the army or the navy is
- in Austria , when drills are carried out with a group (e.g. on festive occasions such as commemorations of the dead or Florian celebrations; in performance competitions)
- in Germany , if you start at an event or at the beginning of a service
Student associations
With many connections , the military salute is common when charging in Vollwichs . The command is: "Greetings!" There are also variants in which the hand is held on the back of the head. This is the greeting when wearing a barrel or a street cerevis (headgear for old men).
literature
- Hans-Peter Stein: Symbols and ceremonial in German armed forces from the 18th to the 20th century. Military History Research Office (Ed.) 1991, ISBN 3-89350-341-2 , p. 192 ff.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ A b Military History Research Office (ed.): Symbols and ceremonies in German armed forces from the 18th to the 20th century. Weltbild, Augsburg 1992, ISBN 3-89350-341-2 .
- ^ Friedrich von Rabenau: The emergence of our military salute. In: Military weekly paper. 126 (1942), p. 1294 ff.
- ↑ Central Directive A2-221 / 0-0-1280 "Formaldienstordnung" p. 18, Az. 32-11-06 valid from January 1st, 2015 as a replacement for ZDv 3/2
- ↑ cf. Wilhelm Reibert, Hellmut Bergengruen: Service instruction in the army: Issue for the gunner of the hauled battery. 12., rework. Edition. Mittler, Berlin 1940, pp. 94-99.
- ↑ Central Directive A2-221 / 0-0-1280 - Formal Service Regulations. In: https://www.reservistenverband.de/ . Office for Army Development , January 1, 2015, accessed on January 27, 2019 .