A video showing a group of people celebrating Oktoberfest by 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 opened an investigation after being informed of the existence of the video.
Footage captured on September 24 shows three men and a woman dressed in traditional outfits giving Nazi salutes while listening to the song Erika, a marching song extremely popular with the troops of Nazi Germany.
Herms Niel, its composer, was a member of the Nazi party and personally led the military parades during the regime’s congresses held in Nuremberg.
Public display of symbols associated with Nazism is illegal in Germany. Note, however, that the song is not covered by this ban.
Bautzen’s Oktoberfest organizers did not explain why the song was played during the celebrations.
On September 22, a few days before the video was published, five young people were seen giving a Nazi salute while shouting “Heil Hitler” in the city of Chemnitz, also located in Saxony.
Several regions in Saxony have seen a breakthrough by the nationalist right in recent years.
According to recent polls, the Alternative for Germany, a right-wing populist party, receives 35% support among the population in Saxony.
According to information from CBS News