A Canadian tourist was standing on the steps of the German parliament building (Reichstag) with his right arm raised in a Hitler salute, as his girlfriend took a photo of him.
German Bulls arrived within seconds, handcuffed him and took the memory card of the camera. He risked being formally charged with making a forbidden gesture, an offence for which he could have been jailed for up to six months.
However, it is understood he will be let off with a fine and a warning and he was freed after several hours in police custody after paying bail money.
Hundreds of tourists every year make the mistake of thinking that "Monty Pythonesque" jokes about Hitler and his henchmen, including giving his infamous raised-arm salute, are acceptable when visiting Germany. It's not.
Any gestures of the old Nazi regime, or the displaying of any of its symbols, is a s serious crime in modern-day Germany. Three years ago a British businessman at Cologne airport gave the salute to a car hire official- and was arrested immediately.
It's not big, it's not clever and you will get nicked.
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