A video showing a group of people celebrating Oktoberfest and giving Nazi salutes in Bautzen, a town in the eastern German state of Saxony, has sparked outrage among many online users around the world.
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German authorities launched an investigation after being informed of the existence of the video.
The footage, taken on September 24, shows three men and a woman in traditional clothing giving Nazi salutes while listening to the song “Erika,” a marching song that was extremely popular among troops in Nazi Germany.
Herms Niel, its composer, was a member of the Nazi Party and personally led the military parades during the regime’s congresses in Nuremberg.
The public display of symbols associated with National Socialism is illegal in Germany. However, please note that the song does not fall under this ban.
The Bautzen Wiesn organizers did not explain why the song was played during the celebrations.
On September 22nd, a few days before the video was published, five young people were seen shouting “Heil Hitler” in the Nazi salute in the city of Chemnitz, also in Saxony.
In recent years there has been a breakthrough for the nationalist right in several regions of Saxony.
According to recent surveys, the Alternative for Germany, a right-wing populist party, reaches 35% of the population in Saxony.
According to CBS News