Here’s another snippet from Addlestone, the first book in the trilogy, The Addlestone Chronicles:

James and Louise are on their way to Munich and then Berlin, on assignment for the British Secret Services department, MI5.

“At the German border, it was sleeting heavily. Several armed soldiers brusquely ordered them to stand aside while they searched the Railton and their luggage. As they returned to their car, the guards raised their right arms in the air, palms forward, and shouted in unison, ‘Heil Hitler.’

James and Louise were too dumbfounded by this mechanical action to even consider what it might signify or how they should react.

Once in Munich, they spotted a soldier in a smart black uniform. Louise asked if he could direct them to the Hotel München Palace. He did so, saluted, and barked, ‘Heil Hitler.’

Louise commented, ‘James, I didn’t once encounter that bizarre greeting last summer. I expect that raised-arm salute with the palm forward has its roots in the pomp and circumstance of the Roman Empire. Do you know what else is strange? It’s identical to the Bellamy Salute. That’s what American school children are required to use every morning when they pledge their allegiance to their flag.’”

And from the Historical Background section at the end of the novel:

“In 1892, Francis Bellamy authored the American Pledge of Allegiance, instituting the obligatory salute involving a raised right arm with palm forward. It was used every morning by primary and secondary school children prior to the commencement of lessons.

Controversy arose in the late ’30s when fascist Italy and then Germany adopted a similar salute, apparently derived from images from the Roman Empire. In December 1942, fully a year after the U.S. entered WWII, Congress amended the Flag Code. The mandatory straight-arm salute was replaced by the requirement that students place their right hand over their heart as they recited the pledge.”

Today, in 34 U.S. states, there are stated exemptions reminding students that they cannot be forced to say the pledge.

The use of the Nazi Salute is illegal in modern-day Germany (Strafgesetzbuch section 86a), Austria, Slovakia, and the Australian state of Victoria. It appears this hasn’t impacted ‘President’ Elon Musk, as yesterday, January 20, 2025, he felt emboldened to use this salute twice while giving a speech at Trump’s inauguration.”