German students face suspension over Nazi salute video recorded in Auschwitz-Birkenau
Incident during a trip of German students to Krakow and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum. The 17-year-olds posted a video online in which they performed the Nazi salute. The police are investigating the matter.
Thirteen students from a primary school in Laatzen arrived in Krakow last week. The following day, they visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum in Oświęcim.
According to "Bild", while staying in a hotel in Krakow, Poland, five of them watched an Adolf Hitler speech on YouTube, and while lying in bed, they performed the Hitler salute. The entire situation was recorded and shared on the Snapchat application.
Students suspended, investigation launched
The matter came to light when the group returned to Germany. The school principal told "Hannoverschen Allgemeinen Zeitung" that he is "deeply shocked and appalled by this immature behaviour".
The five students were suspended, and a meeting was arranged with them. The 17-year-olds reportedly expressed remorse.
The school reported the matter to the police, who launched an investigation into the illegal use of symbols of anti-constitutional organizations.
