Mynock

And I do feel bad for the storm troopers.  They tend to get shat on. Especially by captains

And to clarify.  The German navy did not officially adopt the "Hitler salute".  They could use it if they wanted. But most did not.  Example in picture. I did a lot of research on the subject of ww2.  And was able to corroborate this info via several shows such as "ww2 in color.". And old news reals from a DVD called war at sea.   I hope that clears that up. But I'm always happy to answer questions on ww2.   And especially of my 101st airborne. " BALLS OF THE EAGLE!"

I would really like to know too, the only documents I have studied (I did a paper on nationalism for one of my promotion courses) only referred to the Civilian government and the Wehrmacht (Army) I have not seen much about the (Kriegsmarine) Navy. Any history buffs want to take up the challenge of finding some primary source material ?

I definitely would like to know. I have to try looking into it. If you do happen to find out give me a shout. 

I would really like to know too, the only documents I have studied (I did a paper on nationalism for one of my promotion courses) only referred to the Civilian government and the Wehrmacht (Army) I have not seen much about the (Kriegsmarine) Navy. Any history buffs want to take up the challenge of finding some primary source material ?

Well stated my fellow warrior

The  "Hitler Salute" was compulsory for civilians, an edict from the Reich Defense Ministry, in 1933, required the Hitler salute of soldiers and uniformed civil servants while singing the national anthem and another song that escapes me , and in non-military encounters both within and outside the Wehrmacht I.e. greeting members of the civil government). All over occasions they were permitted to use there service salutes.

It was not until a failed assassination plot in 1944 that military personnel were ordered to use the "Hitler Salute" in July of 1944. I believe but I do not know this for sure if you were military and not a Nazi Party member you could still use the "Hitler Salute" but I cant see any one facing charges for doing a "Hitler Salute"
 

Oh lord, the less said about the First Order salute, the better. :C

Here is the us army readings via the quartermaster school.
 
US ARMY QUARTERMASTER CENTER & SCHOOL
Historical Vignettes

ORIGIN OF THE HAND SALUTE
No one knows the precise origin of today’s hand salute. From earliest times and in many distant armies throughout history, the right hand (or "weapon hand") has been raised as a greeting of friendship. The idea may have been to show that you weren't ready to use a rock or other weapon. Courtesy required that the inferior make the gesture first. Certainly there is some connection between this old gesture and our present salute.
One romantic legend has it that today’s military salute descended from the medieval knight's gesture of raising his visor to reveal his identity as a courtesy on the approach of a superior. Another even more fantastic version is that it symbolizes a knight's shielding his eyes from the dazzling beauty of some high-born lady sitting in the bleachers of the tournament.
The military salute has in fact had many different forms over the centuries. At one time it was rendered with both hands! In old prints one may see left-handed salutes. In some instances the salute was rendered by lowering the saber with one hand and touching the cap visor with the other.
The following explanation of the origin of the hand salute is perhaps closest to the truth: It was a long-established military custom for juniors to remove their headgear in the presence of superiors. In the British Army as late as the American Revolution a soldier saluted bv removing his hat. But with the advent of more cumbersome headgear in the 18th and 19th centuries, the act of removing one’s hat was gradually converted into the simpler gesture of grasping the visor, and issuing a courteous salutation. From there it finally became conventionalized into something resembling our modern hand salute.
As early as 1745 (more than two-and-a-half centuries ago) a British order book states that: "The men are ordered not to pull off their hats when they pass an officer, or to speak to them, but only to clap up their hands to their hats and bow as they pass."
Whatever the actual origin of today’s hand salute, clearly in the tradition of the US Army it has always been used to indicate a sign of RESPECT – further recognition that in the profession of arms military courtesy is both a right and a responsibility of every soldier.
Compiled by the
U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps Historian
Fort Lee, Virginia

Australian Navy.
 
The personal salute with the hand, although borrowed from the Army, is full of interest and various theories have been evolved concerning its origin. There is the usual theory that it has been the custom from time immemorial for a junior to uncover to a superior, and even today men of the Brigade of Guards remove their caps instead of saluting when wearing fatigue dress. The holders of this theory maintain that the present salute is merely the first motion of removing one's head-dress. It was officially introduced into the. 1~Jtavy in 1890, but during the war a large number of old retired officers were in the habit of doffing their head-gear instead of saluting, this, of course, being the method to which they were accustomed.
In a book called ‘New Art of War', printed in 1740, it is stated that - When the King or Captain General is being saluted each officer is to time his salute so as to pull off his hat when the person he salutes is almost opposite him'.
Another tradition is that the salute and its return were given as mutual tokens of trust and respect, so that when two armed men met they both raised their visors, thus laying themselves open to attack. The old head-dress being clumsy and not easily removed, the preli4nary movement of the salute was considered sufficient.
That the hand is kept open is probably a relic of' very ancient times and denotes that no weapon is concealed therein.
The salute with the left hand was abolished in the navy in the year 1923, so as to bring our customs into line with our allies and also to conform to the practice in vogue in the Indian Army. Both on the continent and among Indian and African troops a salute given with the left hand was considered a gross insult.

As you can the origin details very service to service but many of the details are common regardless and it is never confusing I am in the Australian Navy but I work with a US Army unit in Hawaii we salute superior commissioned officers regardless of country.

This is how is the Army Salute in Australia.
 
Salutes are reciprocated at the highest levels up to and including Heads of State and are indicative of a feeling of mutual trust and respect.
The exact origin of the military salute has been lost in time but it is believed that it originated by showing that the right hand (the fighting hand)
was not concealing a weapon.
Another explanation is that when men-at-arms took to wearing armour, the approaching generals or king would ride forward and, holding the reins of the horse with the left hand, they would raise the visor with the right to identify each other.
By the beginning of the nineteenth century, the salute with the hand palm to the front was firmly established.

Not just Prior service a lot of currently serving (18 years in and still loving it) our Outpost has a large number of service personal the Troop on Saturday was 2 Navy and 2 Army 501st members. You are right in saying all military's salute the way and style differ but the mark of respect still remains. 

Do they salute in the Star Wars universe?
 
The clones did during the war.
 
 
Clones kept doing it after the war.
 
The clones saluted old commanders.
 
 
The rebels would offer salutes.
 
 
Imperial officers would offer salutes.
 
Imperial pilots would offer salutes.
 
The First Order would ju....... you might want to use your discretion with this one.  
 
Opened up some books on customs and courtesies.  While there are minor differences between armed services and services across the world, many of the same basics are the same.  I'll offer some here and if you know some, please share what you know.We have a number of prior military people here that know it better than any book.

And do keep your right hand free.  You never know.

From the recent Darth Vader series of comics by Marvel

Please do you accept cookie bribes ?

Yes, it's good idea. I will do that.
 
No, I don't need bribes - it's all for the glory of the Empire, right?

Thanks for all answers - they were very helpful.
I wrote article and it will appear in May (problem is that it will be in Polish, but if you want, I will show you photos of it).

Troop at the USS Bowfin. What it would look like if the Empire used Watercraft. ID-90271, ID-81176, and ID-51575 of the Pacific Outpost on duty!

Yes, being part of the great cog.

Mate I have to agree with you I have spent 18 years in and am still in and plan to hang around for a while yet lol I think I identify with the uniformity respect and discipline of the Empire.

Respect,  most people see a person in a sharp looking uniform. Then just like with a military member think respectfully of them.  I was in the army for ten plus years. A sharp looking uniform with medals opened doors for you. Not to be too funny, but most of my ex-girlfriends were because of the uniform and job it represented. That respect earned as an infantryman and the rank on my arm showed.  Its an unspoken thing to most. But some people thank you for your service. 
 
But the respect of the uniform is where I believe most of us unconsciously want to wear a specific imperial uniform. And we have cookies. :). 

Ha awesome, need to do more IOC meetups.

Ha awesome, need to do more IOC meetups.

I'm still a student this year, so I don't exactly have "co-workers" but I do have school-mates, so in this case, we really have a lot of laugh from it (in a good sense)- a few of them openly comment on my FB photos, and are genuinely interested in what we do here, and (although they'd probably never admit it) I think a few of the teachers are also "moved" by the fact that I am a member of such an organisation (international, hobby, charity, etc.). But even if I'd meet someone discouraging I wouldn't mind that- it's my life, my decision, and nobody can tell me that I've made a wrong choice, cause I know for myself, that even though there are some troubles from time to time, thanks to the 501st I get to meet other interesting people, expand my hobby and help people in need while doing something that I genuinely love- and there's not much more that you can ask for life to give you on it's own. And so I am proud of being a 501st member- and I won't let anyone take it away from me. Ever.