Controversial video: the Swiss army is investigating a Nazi salute

Uniform soldiers in front of a Swiss flag, one of them advances in the middle of what seems to be a small hedge of honor. As he addresses a military salute to the man in front of him, two of his comrades in the background raise the right arm, well tense, at 45 degrees. The scene was posted this weekend, without context or information on the date of the shooting, on the Instagram account Armysieche, which usually shares humorous videos from the Swiss army. But this time, the reactions were not unanimous.

Before the publication was deleted, several Internet users were indignant, in comment, of the gesture made by the soldiers in the background. For them, there is no doubt: it was a Nazi salute. A staging all the more shocking as it was accompanied by the “Erika” march, popular with the soldiers of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War. “It is no coincidence, but an audiovisual coding of the identity of the extreme right,” said a reader. However, it is not known whether the music was broadcast at the time of the alleged ceremony or if it was added to the assembly.

Contacted, army spokesman Mathias Volken confirmed to be aware of the case: “We take this situation very seriously. Military police have opened an investigation ”. As this is underway, no other comments were made on the video in question. The spokesman nevertheless wanted to recall that the institution applied a “zero tolerance” with regard to behaviors contravening the human rights and dignity. The executives are also trained to identify and fight against any inappropriate conduct, according to him. And to conclude: “There is no room for extremism in the Swiss army”.