Mandžukić's Salute to Generals Raises Alarm in Germany
On the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm, we recall the day Mario Mandžukić delighted Croatian fans with his goal celebration, while German prosecutors launched an investigation.
On the 31st anniversary of Operation Storm, we recall the day Mario Mandžukić delighted Croatian fans with his goal celebration, while German prosecutors launched an investigation.
Croatia today, August 5, 2026, celebrates the 31st anniversary of the military-police operation Storm, a day when we also remember the acquittal of Generals Mladen Markač and Ante Gotovina. More than 14 years ago, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague acquitted them on all charges, after which the generals shouted: "God exists!"
The celebration then spread among Croats worldwide, and it had a particular resonance in Germany, where Mario Mandžukić played for Bayern. In a match against Nürnberg, which ended 1:1, Mandžukić scored a goal and celebrated with a salute.
The way Mandžukić celebrated his goal delighted many Croatian fans, but he was not the only one who saluted; Xherdan Shaqiri, then a Swiss international of Kosovar origin, did the same.
However, the celebration came under special scrutiny because some believed Mandžukić's salute resembled a Nazi one. The German prosecutor's office reacted and stated: "We will determine whether this was a Hitler salute or the most ordinary goal celebration." A procedure was initiated, but Mandžukić was ultimately cleared of all guilt.
Mandžukić denied to the German newspaper Bild that he saluted Generals Gotovina and Markač with his goal celebration. "Full of emotion, I ran towards our fans to celebrate the goal with them. I often celebrate goals this way. I am a completely apolitical person, and the celebration has nothing to do with what was happening with the generals," he said at the time.
On the other hand, his manager Ivan Cvjetković did not hide his enthusiasm for Večernji list: "I am proud of Mario and delighted with the way he celebrated the goal, thus joining all Croats in the celebration and joy over the return of our generals."
Mandžukić later won everything there was to win with Bayern. In the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, which ended in a 2:1 victory, he scored in the 60th minute. Eight minutes later, Gündogan equalized, and in the 89th minute, Robben scored for the final Bavarian triumph.
