Did the early Pledge of Allegiance actually use a stiff-arm salute?
The salute used until 1942 that accompanied the pledge of allegiance was called the Bellamy salute. It was discontinued after US entry into World War II due to its similarity to the Nazi salute. Both the Bellamy salute and the National Socialist party salute were based on the Roman salute dating back to the days of the Roman Empire. So the Roman salute, rather than the Bellamy salute, is the more likely inspiration for the Nazi salute. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.
