Video shows conscripts raising their hands to the Hitler salute

Alert DateSeptember 4, 2010 Country: Austria Address: Salzburg General Type: Racist discourse Racism and discrimination phenomena: Extremism - organised Racist Violence
Groups affected / Interested in: Majority Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Policing - law enforcement
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Victims Gender N/A
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number N/A
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Austrian
Perpetrator Gender Male
Perpetrator Age 18-25
Perpetrators Number 3
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

At the beginning of September a video – filmed with the camera of a mobile phone – was found posted on the web platform „YouTube”. It showed conscripts in basic military service yelling Nazi slogans and exchanging Hitler salutes. After a local newspaper made the public aware of the video, the Austrian armed forces acted immediately. The Minister of Defence, Norbert Darabos, announced that there was “zero tolerance” for such actions. Two days later a similar video appeared. Altogether four conscripts were suspended from their service and reported to the public prosecutor for being suspected of National Socialist revitalisation interdicted by the Prohibition Statute. They can face one up to ten years of imprisonment.

Both videos have been removed. This incident received far-reaching national as well as international media attention. Sequences of the video were shown on public television. Furthermore, it generated a debate among politicians and officials of the Austrian army on the role and responsibility of the army.

Source:

Salzburg.orf.at, http://salzburg.orf.at/stories/219899 (2011-10-04) 

BBC, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6980953.stm (2011-10-04)