Nazi Salute Illegal in Germany

I had absolutely no idea that anyone caught doing the Nazi salute (or Hitler salute) in Germany would be fined and thrown in jail. At the time of the Nazis it was common to hold the right arm at an upward straight angle and utter the words “Heil Hitler!” and after the Nazis were taken out of power the gesture was not looked upon with much fondness. And it’s not only in Germany that the activity is illegal. Austria, Czech Republic and Sweden all have regulations against it categorizing it as either a hate speech crime or criminal act. Tour guides here will warn you against doing it in jest while touring the various sites in Berlin and elsewhere (apparently it is a common favored pose to be used by tourists around various Hitler related attractions).