A Defiant Gesture in a Sea of Salutes
In June 1936, a shipyard worker named August Landmesser stood among a crowd at the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg. While hundreds raised their arms in the Nazi salute during the launch of the naval training vessel Horst Wessel, Landmesser stood with his arms crossed, refusing to salute.
Love That Led to Persecution
Landmesser had joined the Nazi Party in 1931, hoping it would help his career. However, he fell in love with Irma Eckler, a Jewish woman, and was expelled from the party when they tried to marry. They had a daughter, but in 1938, Landmesser was arrested under Nazi racial laws and sent to a labor camp.
Tragic Fate
Irma was taken to a concentration camp, where she was later killed. Landmesser was eventually conscripted into a German penal battalion during World War II. In October 1944, he went missing in action and was presumed dead.
A Photo That Captured a Moment
A photograph of Landmesser’s act of defiance remained largely unknown until it resurfaced decades later. It became one of the most famous images from Nazi Germany, showing a man standing against the tide.
In June 1936, a man stood at the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg. As hundreds raised their arms in the Nazi salute for the launch of the Horst Wessel, August Landmesser did not. With arms crossed, he stood firm, refusing to comply.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/ohq8tV3xeT
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) March 15, 2025