Schwurhand
Videos
The Schwurhand is a traditional hand gesture and heraldic charge that is used in Germanic Europe and neighbouring countries, when swearing an oath in court, in office, or while swearing-in. The right
Elisabeth Kopp's oath of office after her election to the Swiss Federal Council in 1984
Beatrix displays the Spreekgebaar during her inauguration in 1980
Finnish conscripts and women serving voluntary military service swearing the military oath in 2005
Polish military recruits being sworn in
Reichswehr
Videos
Reichswehr was the official name of the German armed forces during the Weimar Republic and the first two years of Nazi Germany. After Germany was defeated in World War I, the Imperial German Army was
Schwurhand
…serving voluntary military service swearing the military oath in 2005 Polish military recruits being sworn in A Swiss Guard recruit being sworn in German Reichswehr soldiers swearing the Hitler oath in 1934 See also Benediction Hand gestures (Oath) Three-finger salute (Serbian) References…
Structure of the Reichswehr, 1920–1934
Gustav Noske (right) with Walther von Lüttwitz (1920)
General Hans von Seeckt at a Reichswehr exercise in 1925
General Otto von Lossow, commander of Reichswehr troops in Bavaria during Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch