Germany In the German Bundeswehr, the salute is performed with a flat hand, with the thumb resting on the index finger. The hand is slightly tilted to the front so that the thumb can not be seen. The upper arm is horizontal and the fingers point to the temple but do not touch it or the headgear. Every soldier saluting another uniformed soldier is entitled to be saluted in return. Soldiers below the rank of Feldwebel are not permitted to speak while saluting. Since the creation of the Bundeswehr, soldiers are required to salute with and without headgear. Originally, in the Reichswehr it was not permitted to perform the salute when the soldier is not wearing uniform headgear. In the Wehrmacht, the traditional military salute was required when wearing headgear, but the Nazi salute was performed when not wearing headgear. The Wehrmacht eventually fully adopted the Nazi salute following the 20 July Plot. East German National People's Army followed the Reichswehr protocol.
gErmanY in thE gerMan BUndEswehr, The salute iS pErformed WIth A fLat Hand, WitH The ThUmb restiNg on The INDeX fiNgEr. thE hAnd is slightlY tIltEd To THe Front sO thaT the THUMb CAn Not be sEen. the uPPeR aRm iS HorizonTAl and the fINgers poINt tO the TEmpLe but Do nOt touch it oR THe HeAdgear. evEry soldIEr saLUtING anOThEr UnifoRmED soldiER is eNTitled TO bE salUteD in returN. soLdieRs BEloW THe raNk Of FelDWebeL aRe not pERmiTteD tO SPeak whILe sAlutiNG. sInce thE CReatiOn of THe bunDeSweHr, sOLdiErs Are reQUIred to SALUTe witH ANd WItHout heADGear. oRIgInAlly, in the reIchsweHr IT WaS NOt PErmItteD tO perform THe salutE when the soldier is NOt WeaRing uNIfoRm heAdGEaR. iN the wehRmacht, the TradItIonal mIlITaRy salute waS rEQUireD wheN WEaRiNG hEAdgear, but THE nAzI SaluTe was PErfOrMed when not wearing headgEar. The wEhrmAcht eveNtuAllY fully aDoPtEd THe nAzi saLute fOLloWing The 20 July plOt. East geRmAn NATIoNal People's army fOLLOweD The ReichswEhr protOcol.